Spotted Wing Drosophila, a significant fresh fruit pest, has been found in Kern County for the first time.

Seedless mandarin growers now have a one month period to register their acreage with the County Agricultural Commissioner commencing on February 24, 2010 and concluding on March 24, 2010 pursuant to the Seedless Mandarin and Honeybee Coexistence regulation.

The February 2010 issue of CACASA E-News includes information on apiary colony strength inspector training and details on implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill.

CDPR announces a web-based tool for calculating VOC emissions from agricultural applications of nonfumigant pesticides.

Read a Fresno Bee article on Judge Oliver W. Wanger's decision to place on hold a management plan to protect salmon which will deliver an additional 40,000 to 50,000 acre-feet of water to California growers over the next two weeks.

Napa County and the UC Cooperative Extension now offer a periodic European Grapevine Moth newsletter with updates on trapping and treatment programs.

The 2010 Spray Safe event will be held on February 5, 2010 at the Kern County Fairgrounds.

Director Ruben Arroyo advises citizens to use caution when selling scrap gold. Included are tips to help ensure a fair transaction.

CDPR issues a request for comments on the Draft Complaint Response Protocol. Public comments are due March 4, 2010.

CDFA seeks members for the new Specialty Crop Grant Program Technical Review Committee authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill.

The January 2010 issue of CACASA E-News includes an update on PCIT and federal funding for LBAM.

CDPR releases the 2008 Pesticide Use Report Summary which shows a decline in pesticide use for the third consecutive year.

USDA implements a new crop disaster assistance program in accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill. The Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments program (SURE) is available through the Farm Services Agency.

Kern County 2010 General Permit Conditions ban all applications of Restricted Materials within ¼ mile of a school in session or during school sponsored activities when children are present. Effective 01-01-10.

UC-Riverside sets January 25, 2010 as the deadline for the second copper spray to oranges in the Korea program.

USDA expands the California ACP quarantine boundary and adds a portion of Arizona.

Save the Date: The 2010 SPRAY SAFE event will be held February 5, 2010 at the Kern County Fairgrounds from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (lunch included).

The December 2009 issue of CACASA e-news includes State and Federal legislative reports and an update on the new GIS-based permitting system now under development.

The 2010 permitting season will begin December 14, 2009. The Department will also begin registering beekeepers and licensing PCAs, PCOs, maintenance gardeners, and structural PCOs for 2010 on the same date.

US-EPA revokes carbofuran tolerances finding that dietary exposures to carbofuran from all sources combined are not safe.

CDFA updates State interior quarantine boundaries for Asian Citrus Psyllid, Light Brown Apple Moth, and Mediterranean Fruit Fly.

The FDA, in collaboration with USDA FSIS, announces a public meeting on tracing systems for food. Register for the December 9-10, 2009 teleconference.

CDFA establishes an interior quarantine for ACP host material with boundary maps included.

Kern County schedules public comment meetings on the proposed changes to school buffer zones and restrictions for the 2010 General Permit Conditions.

Kern County now provides a Microsoft Excel template for completing Federal Phytosanitary Certificates for use by local shippers.

USDA lifts the restriction on citrus movement from Florida saying finished fruit does not pose a significant risk of spreading citrus canker.

Napa County detects the European Grapevine Moth, an invasive grape pest, for the first time in the United States.

USEPA proposes new pesticide labeling to control spray drift and protect human health.

The State Board of Food and Agriculture calls a special water meeting on October 14, 2009 to address the California drought.

View the Kern County memo describing charges and exemptions to the USDA Administrative Fee as it pertains to voided phytos.

Federal EPA places additional limitations on organophosphates in an effort to protect west coast salmon and steelhead. The EPA issued this letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service describing implementation.

For the latest news on Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB) refer to the CDFA ACP site which includes a weekly CA Infestation Map.

USDA, APHIS, PPQ announces the collection of an Administrative Fee for exporters who obtain federal phytosanitary certificates from state or county cooperators.

The 2008 Kern County Crop Report is now available. All Kern County Crop Reports dating back to 1930 are available for download.