(60) Agricultural Commissioner-Sealer of Weights & Measures

Recommended Budget FY21/22

Department Overview

The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures promotes and protects San Benito County's agricultural industry, protects the environment, protects the general public, and provides consumers, buyers, businesses and sellers a fair marketplace.

Divisions

Ag Comm/Sealer W&M
Mosquito Abatement

Strategic Plan Focus Areas

  • Operational Development and Excellence
  • Technology
  • Community Engagement
  • Healthy and Safe Communities
Detailed Information can be found here: Strategic Plan Overview

Staff

Recent Departmental Accomplishments

  • Protection of the County’s and State’s agricultural economy from serious non-native pests that
    could be artificially introduced through pest detection trapping surveys.
  • Provided outreach and training to growers and ranchers of new laws and regulations.
  • Inspected and certified over 750 measuring & weighing devices to ensure fair business practices
    and consumer protection during financial transactions involving weight, count or measure.
  • The department distributed more than 227,000 face masks to agricultural workers in response
    to COVID-19 and unhealthy air quality due to wildfires.

Top Departmental Concerns

  • Emerging pests detrimental to agricultural crops and the environment
  • Production Agriculture and Urban Interface
  • Increasing demand of resources managing the industrial hemp regulatory program
  • Recruitment and Retention of Agricultural Biologists
  • Succession Planning and Staff Development
  • Sharing of staff with mosquito abatement and cannabis activity is impacting the agricultural and pesticide programs
  • Maintain the maintenance of effort (MOE) required as required to receive unclaimed gas tax (UGT) subvention.

Long Range Planning Goals (3-5 years) For Department

  • To become fully staffed in order to provide services beyond our legal mandates, such as becoming an organic certifying agency for cannabis under the new O-Cal program
  • Develop resources and expand outreach to non-English speaking customers
  • Addition of one (1) FTE regular position Agricultural Technician
  • Facility cannot accommodate an increase in personnel