To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT: Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 21-0219-000-SA known as the California Organic Program Contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture in the amount of $5,010.00
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Cooperative Agreement No. 21-0219-000-SA, known as the California Organic Program Contract between Humboldt County and the California Department of Food and Agriculture;
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the original agreement and return all signed copies to the Agricultural Commissioner’s office for further processing; and
3. Grant a waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
DISCUSSION:
The Agricultural Commissioner’s office receives annual subventions from CDFA to help offset the local cost of enforcing certain state-mandated programs. Pursuant to the California Food and Agriculture Code, Cooperative Agreement No. 21-0219-000-SA provides funds to Humboldt County for the local enforcement of State organic program requirements associated with the California Organic Foods Act. The county will receive payments as appropriate for activities related to organic producer registrations, renewals, amendments, inspections, pesticide residue monitoring and complaint investigations. Per terms of the agreement, Humboldt County staff will conduct spot inspections of organic program registrants at their production sites and at farmer’s markets to verify compliance with organic program requirements by program participants. County staff are also required to attend CDFA state organic program trainings and National Organic Program online trainings. In Humboldt County there are currently more than 142 producers registered with the California Organic Program which produce a variety of organic commodities on 102,762 acres of agricultural lands registered to produce organic crops. These organic crops include; fruits and vegetables, dairy products, livestock and forage crops.
The waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance is requested because the State of California will not modify its cooperative agreements to accommodate local ordinances.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 21-0219-000-SA provides $5,010.00 for the period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Payments are made in arrears in two blocks for work completed from July 1, to December 31, 2021 and from January 1 to June 30, 2022. Payments are based on invoices submitted to CDFA, with Humboldt County receiving $60.00 for each new or amended organic registration, $225.00 for each spot inspection, and $75.00 for each initial visit and first organic inspection. An additional $10.00 is paid for each organic program participant inspected at farmers’ markets. For approved complaint investigations the county will be reimbursed by CDFA for the actual costs of conducting the investigation. Random surveillance samples collected as part of organic program residue monitoring will be paid at the flat rate of $130.00 for each sample collected. No supplemental budget is necessary as revenue (1100261-525734) and expenditure accounts in the department’s FY 2021-22 budget were funded in anticipation of this agreement.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CDFA
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
One complete Cooperative Agreement No. 21-0219-000-SA
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-1
Meeting of: 7/14/2020
File No.: 20-837