Title
Agriculture Department recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign an amendment to contract 23-0529-007-SF-1 for additional funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 from the California Department of Food and Agriculture for Emergency Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) Delimitation for $500,000 for a new agreement amount not to exceed $567,234 with no change to the expiration date of June 30, 2025; and
2) Authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing revenue by $500,000 and appropriations for Salaries and Benefits by $98,778, Professional Services by $385,000, Fuel by $6,733, and Printing by $9,489 for the FY 2024-25 Budget for GWSS Delimitation Efforts. (4/5 votes required)
(Districts 1, 2 & 4)
FUNDING: 100% California Department of Food and Agriculture Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Program.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Between October 1, 2024 and October 15, 2024, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed the presence of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS), the invasive vector of the bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease in grapes, in the area of El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County. Based on these detections and recommendations from CDFA GWSS staff entomologists, CDFA concludes that an infestation of GWSS exists in the area. This pest presents a significant, clear, and imminent threat to the natural environment, agriculture, economy, and private and public property. Unless emergency action is taken during these GWSS’s life cycles, there is high potential for sudden future detections in El Dorado County.
The GWSS is a dangerous, invasive, aggressive vector of Pierce’s disease (PD). PD is considered one of the most devastating diseases of grapevines in the world. The bacterium that causes the disease, Xylella fastidiosa, kills grapevines within two to five years of infection. There is no cure for Pierce’s disease. There are currently 274 properties of grape production within the County at risk from the recent GWSS detections. Over the last 10 years, El Dorado has seen grape values fluctuate between $4.2 and $12.1 million dollars. A total of 4,678-acres of grapes, valued at $4,180,365, was grown in El Dorado County in 2022.
CDFA hosted a public webinar on January 23, 2025 for residents within the area of the CDFA emergency proclamation. The webinar shared information about GWSS, how the infestation threatens California’s natural environment and agriculture, and how treatment of the GWSS would be applied. All residents within 150-meters of a positive find of GWSS will be notified at least 48 hours before the scheduled application.
The Agriculture Department is requesting a budget transfer to increase labor, professional services, and printing services to allow for the delimitation of this pest. The Department is working with Procurement and Contracts to establish a pest control vendor, with licensing requirements to complete the pesticide applications.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve this budget transfer; however, GWSS threatens a crop production value of $5.41 billion and associated economic activity within California of approximately $73 billion. If unabated, the spread of GWSS in California would cause significant harm to the natural environment as it would lead to increased unmonitored use of pesticides by residents and, where control and eradication measures are not used, increased disease in agricultural and landscape plants.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Procurement and Contracts
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no General Fund impact or increase in Net County Cost. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) funds the delimitation efforts, which will be added to the FY 2024-25 Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain the Chair's signature on the budget transfer and forward to the Auditor/Controller for processing.
2) Obtain Chair’s signature on the amendment to contract #23-0529-007-SF-1 and forward to Myrna Tow in Agriculture Department.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Safe and Healthy Communities. Strengthen Emergency Response Capabilities and Effectiveness
CONTACT
LeeAnne Mila, Agricultural Commissioner
Corrie Larsen, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner