Services

Ag Pass

What is the Ag Pass program?

The purpose of creating a county-based "Ag Pass" program is to provide a uniform way to identify vetted commercial farm and ranch owner-operators and their employees to firefighting personnel, California Highway Patrol officers, Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement officers, and other emergency personnel. Possession of an Ag Pass during a flood, storm, fire, earthquake, or other disaster, potentially allows the agriculturalist limited emergency access to areas that may otherwise be restricted to the public, in order to:

  1. Protect or care for agricultural assets (such as irrigating crops or feeding, watering, and transporting livestock) and/or
  2. Provide support information to emergency personnel (such as identifying access roads and water points)

Ag Pass Cards

Ag Pass cards are applied for by, and distributed to, eligible agriculturalists before a disaster. The application process is designed to confirm that the cardholder is a legitimate agricultural owner-operator or employee whose services are essential to providing protection or care to agricultural assets, such as livestock, croplands, vineyards, and orchards. Individuals eligible for the Ag Pass card must be key personnel who have a working knowledge of the agricultural property, including access to irrigation systems, farm equipment, and other essential infrastructure.  Prior to receiving an Ag Pass card, eligible recipients will receive training in emergency procedures and understand that their role is to provide limited protection and/or care to the agricultural operation, not to act in a fire fighting or first responder capacity during a disaster.

Possession of an Ag Pass card does not grant special rights or privileges and does not necessarily mean the cardholder will be able to pass through road closures to get to their farm or ranch. If there is imminent danger, front-line emergency personnel are empowered to use discretion when it comes to protecting emergency crews and the public from unnecessary exposure to risk. However, in those cases when the boundaries of the closure area include agricultural land not deemed at imminent risk, the cards may allow employees or owners access to the agricultural property, at the discretion of front-line emergency personnel.

Eligibility

For the initial program rollout, no more than three (3) individuals from any agricultural operation (not each individual site of the operation) will be eligible to obtain an Ag Pass. To reiterate, the purpose of the Ag Pass is to potentially allow an agriculturalist access to his or her farm or ranch for limited emergency response activities to protect or care for agricultural assets only. It is not a pathway that allows for normal agricultural operations or activities (i.e. harvesting, packing, planting, etc.). The Ag Pass will only be available to agriculturalists who meet the following criteria:

  1. Property must be located in the State Responsibility Areas (SRA) of San Luis Obispo County. Visit map link below for property location.
    • Because properties in the Wildland Urban Interface are subject to rapid change during wildfires or similar disasters, Ag Passes are only appropriate in the SRA.
  2. The operation must be either:
    • A commercial agricultural enterprise, or
    • Property used for conducting agricultural research or instruction by an educational institution
  3. Property must be zoned agricultural and a minimum of 40 acres in size.
  4. The Applicant is key personnel of the operation that has a working knowledge of the agricultural property, including access to irrigation systems, farm equipment, and other essential infrastructure.
  5. The Applicant and employer (if different than the Applicant) must sign a document waiving and releasing the County of any liability related to participation in the Ag Pass Program.

Resources

Sponsors

The Ag Pass program is a coordinated program that is made possible to San Luis Obispo County residents through the sponsorship and coordination of the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures Office, San Luis Obispo County Fire Department, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Luis Obispo County's Sheriff's Office, and the California Highway Patrol.

Training

In order for an applicant to be issued an Ag Pass Card or to renew your current Ag Pass Card, you must first attend a mandatory training.  Trainings will be posted here as they become available. For any questions, please contact us at [email protected] or by calling 805-781-5914. 

Fill out an Ag Pass Interest Form Here

 

Agriculture Statistics and Mapping/GIS

The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures submits an annual report to the Director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture on the acreage, production yields and value of agricultural products. The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' annual Crop Report publication contains this information as well as other useful data about local agricultural production.  

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures maintains GIS data layers which are made available to the public, other County departments and agencies for the purposes of tracking and identifying agricultural production. Information is gleaned from various Departmental processes including field visits and local knowledge of the county.

In the event of natural disasters such as severe frost, drought or excessive heat conditions occurring over a widespread area of the county causing crop damage, the Annual Crop Report and GIS data are used to develop supporting statistics to validate the degree of crop loss.  If certain criteria are met for state and federal disaster declarations, the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures will submit disaster declaration requests to the California Emergency Management Agency.

Apiary Complaints

Staff from the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures will respond to questions or complaints regarding aggressive or excessive bee activity related to a specific apiary or set of beehives in San Luis Obispo County.  The response will focus on ensuring that the requirements listed in the San Luis Obispo County Ordinance Title 5 Agriculture Chapter 5.04 BEES are met.

Our department is unable to remove wild bees, yellow jackets, or feral honeybee hives from walls, stumps, trees, or other like places. We are also unable to collect swarms of honeybees that may be at your property. If you suspect that you have a honeybee swarm on your property, please see the FAQ located below, under "What do I do if I see a swarm?

Contact the Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures Office by phone or e-mail to file a complaint.  For life threatening stinging incidents, please call 911.

Apiary Registration

Per the California Food and Agriculture Code, all beekeepers operating within the state of California must register annually with their chosen home county. A beekeeper operating within the County of San Luis Obispo must place bees at a site that meets the requirements set forth in the San Luis Obispo County Ordinance Title 5 Agriculture Chapter 5.04 BEES.

Beekeepers, whose home county is San Luis Obispo County, shall register their hives by either of the following methods by January 1 of each year:

  • Submit an Apiary Registration Form, along with the annual registration fee of $10, to the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures.
  • Register online using the BeeWhere database at beewherecalifornia.com, and submit the annual registration fee of $10 to the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures.

Regardless of home county, all beekeepers shall notify the Department when moving registered hives.

When filling out the Registration Form or updating BeeWhere:

  • Please provide us/the Department with the most accurate location of all hives, or consider using the new, easy, and secure BeeWhere database at beewherecalifornia.com.
  • All hives registered through this department will be updated on BeeWhere by our staff, as BeeWhere is the method of notification for pesticide applications. 

When selecting locations to place hives:

  • Each county may have additional, county-specific ordinance requirements for apiaries. In San Luis Obispo County, please review Ordinance Title 5 AGRICULTURE: Chapter 5.04 BEES.
  • Adequate water must be provided and accessible to the bees at all times, and be of a quality and in close enough proximity that it is used.
  • Apiaries must be well marked with the beekeeper’s name, city, state, and accurate phone number.
  • Apiaries must be located no less than 200 feet from any public road, unless pollinating a crop.
  • You must receive permission from landowners before placing bees in any location not owned by you.
  • Let the grower(s) around your bees know of their existence and location.
  • Request additional notification of pesticide applications directly from the grower(s) and/or PCA.

When moving hives to/from/within a county:

  • You must inform the County Agriculture Commissioner(s) involved of the new location(s) of the hives, and/or of their entry or departure from the county.

 Fee:

  • The annual $10 registration fee is only due to your home county.

Certified Farmers' Market Registration

A registered Certified Farmers' Market is a place where California producers can sell what they grow directly to consumers, giving consumers access to California-grown produce and a chance to meet the farmers. This registration is for agricultural producers, non-profit organizations, or government agencies that administer a Certified Farmers' Market.  (Producers that desire to sell at Certified Farmers' Markets shall obtain a Farmers' Market Certified Producers Certificate).

For a list of market locations and times, refer to the Farmers Market Schedule.
 

Certified Farmers' Market Scale Inspection

Scales used in direct sales at Certified Farmers' Markets are required to be inspected for accuracy on an annual basis.  Scale owners are responsible to have their scales inspected before use.  Contact the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures office to set up an appointment to have scales tested.  Appointments are available through the San Luis Obispo and Templeton offices.

For a list of market locations and times, refer to the Farmers Market Schedule.

Commercial Industrial Hemp Registration Requirements

Information site for Commercial Industrial Hemp Registration Requirements that will be updated as information is available

Commercial Industrial Hemp Sampling & Testing

All registered commercial industrial hemp crops must be sampled and tested, according to applicable California state regulations, to ensure compliance with the legal thresholds for THC (no more than 0.3%).  Our staff must take official samples from your growing site(s) and send them to an accredited laboratory.

The sampling and testing process is initiated by the grower’s submission of a Pre-Harvest Report form (PHR). The PHR must be filled out and submitted to the SLO County Agricultural Department at least 30 days prior to your intended harvest date.  Incomplete PHRs could delay your sampling date which could lead to your official sample exceeding the legal THC threshold and being subject to possible crop destruction.  PHRs must be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to (805)781-1035.

Prior to submitting your PHR, you must do the following:

  • Arrange for transportation and lab analysis with an approved lab.  A list of approved labs serving our county can be provided upon request.  Approved labs are required to have ISO accreditations and the capability to meet the industrial hemp sample regulations. If you are interested to work with a particular lab, please check with us first, to make sure it meets the required accreditations.  In addition, any lab you choose to work with must offer a courier service for transportation of the samples to their respective labs, unless it is a local lab.
  • Set up an account with the lab you chose for courier and lab analysis services prior to submitting the PHR. Sampling will not be scheduled until we confirm you have met this requirement. To ensure the integrity of the chain of custody requirements and due to the restrictions currently imposed by private parcel delivery services (e.g. FedEx & UPS), only lab couriers will be allowed to transport these official samples. We expect that there will be additional lab options in the future.
  • Within two business days after receiving your completed PHR, our staff will contact you to make an appointment to sample your field(s). You will be billed for staff time and mileage related to sampling activities.  You (or your representative) need to be present at the site during the sampling process.  You have the option to request sampling for an entire site or for portions of a site.  Please remember that you will only be allowed to harvest the portion(s) of the site that were sampled, tested, and determined to have a THC level of 0.3% or less.  If sampling portions of a site are requested, those areas need to be conspicuously marked, and a map displaying the areas must be submitted to the SLO Ag Department.
  • Each composite sample for a specific site or area will include five primary samples from at least five random plants. The chain of custody for the collected composite sample(s) will be maintained by Ag Commissioner staff until officially provided to one of the certified lab’s courier service.

When you receive lab results confirming that the THC content is 0.3% or less, you will be allowed to harvest your crop.  You have 30 days to harvest from the sampling date.  For example, if your samples were taken on Aug. 1 and you received lab results on August 10, you have 20 days remaining to complete your harvest.  Harvesting is not allowed until acceptable lab results are received.

 

Device Inspection/Registration Services

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/ Weights and Measures' Weights and Measures Program serves the community by safeguarding measurement accuracy and assuring confidence and integrity in the marketplace.

This is accomplished in part by the annual inspection of all the weighing and measuring devices in the county. The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures team completes these inspections on behalf of the consumer and the business owner to ensure accuracy and compliance of all weights and measures laws and regulations.

Emergency Preparedness Planning

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures collaborates with local, state and federal emergency responders to plan for response to natural disasters and emergencies that could impact agricultural operations.  Staff with expertise in hazardous materials such as pesticides, radiological ingestion pathway exposure and general knowledge about local agricultural processes and operations are trained to respond as requested by the County Office of Emergency Services or others.  

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures is a source of information that farmers, ranchers, food and nursery stock producers,distributors and others involved in the growing, transport, processing and sale of agricultural commodities should know in the event of an emergency at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant as outlined in the Nuclear Power Plant Emergency Information for Agriculture Booklet.

Employee Pesticide Training and Safety

Any grower, pest control business, or Farm Labor Contractor who has employees handling pesticides must insure that employees are properly trained on the safe use of pesticides.

In addition, fieldworkers who are working in agricultural fields that are considered a treated field (a pesticide has been applied in the past thirty days or a restricted entry interval (REI) has been in effect in the past thirty days) must also receive safety training. 

For the most current laws and regulations concerning employee training, please contact your district Pesticide Use Enforcement Inspector  at the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures for details. If you do not know who your district inspector is, please call the nearest Agriculture Department office to find out those details.

Additional training information and training forms can be found on the Department of Pesticide Regulations Website.

Farmers' Market Certified Producer Certificate

San Luis Obispo County is home to numerous weekly Certified Farmers’ Markets, with at least one operating almost every day of the week.  The markets give consumers the chance to meet and buy products directly from many Certified Producers.  Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, plants, flowers and certain processed agricultural goods available year-round offer shoppers the bounty of each season.

California Certified Farmers’ Markets allow producers to offer certain types of products directly to the public. To sell within a Certified Farmers’ Market, a producer must be Certified. Certification is done by obtaining a Farmers' Market Certified Producers Certificate issued by the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures. The Certificate documents what crops producers are growing and where crops are grown.

Contact your nearest County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures office for a Certified Producer's application or print from the website. Return the completed form to the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures office. Additional paperwork may be requested such a notarized copy of the growing site lease agreement.

The application will be reviewed and a growing site inspection will be scheduled.  A site inspection is performed to ensure that all of the commodities listed on the application are actually grown by the applicant.

Once a Certified Producer’s Certificate is issued, it must be conspicuously displayed at any Certified Farmers’ Market where the producer is selling.

For a list of market locations and times, refer to the Farmers Market Schedule.

Glassy-winged Sharpshooter/Pierce's Disease Control Program

Staff from the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures routinely inspect incoming Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) host shipments to slow or stop the spread of GWSS. These shipments originate from GWSS infested areas and are destined to San Luis Obispo County.

Nurseries and garden centers, landscapers, plant brokers, and residents purchasing GWSS host plants from nurseries in a GWSS quarantined county must contact one of the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' three offices to set up an inspection.

It is important that you follow these step-by-step instructions. 

 

More information about GWSS:

 

Hold Plants for GWSS Inspection

Instructions for holding plants entering San Luis Obispo County from Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) infested counties for inspection.

Image of Blue Hold Tag

It is important that you request an inspection and follow these step-by-step instructions:

  • Look for a "Blue Hold Tag" with the invoice. The hold tag is required for all plant shipments coming from GWSS infested counties.
  • Unload plants to a location that minimizes exposure to existing plants and allows inspectors access.
  • Do not plant or stage the plants.
  • Keep plants and accompanying paperwork at the site until an inspection is complete.
  • Do not spray foliage with water.
  • Contact any of the three Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures Offices to set up an inspection.
  • Please include the address, any gate codes, phone numbers, and relevant information necessary to access the plants. You may also call ahead to arrange a specific inspection time. 
  • Staff will typically arrive within two hours for GWSS inspections.
  • Staff will inspect plant shipments for viable GWSS egg masses, nymphs, and/or adults and verify the required certification accompanies the shipment.  If the plants are free from GWSS and other invasive pests, they will be released for sale or planting.  Your invoice will be stamped with a green and white "PASSED CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE" sticker.  Please retain this documentation for two years.

 

More information about GWSS:

Insect Trapping

 
The County of San Luis Obispo’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures’ Pest Detection Program is focused on finding destructive insect pests and the plant diseases they may carry.  The Program is part of a three-pronged approach to keep destructive insects out: pest exclusion, pest detection and pest eradication.  County Pest Detection Trappers, working year-round, act as detectives, examining strategically placed insect traps located in plants favored by specific invasive insects.  With homeowners’ cooperation, traps are placed throughout local urban communities which are likely points of introduction.  Traps contain lures that attract targeted insect species, intercepting any that may be in the surrounding neighborhood.
 
An example of one targeted pest is the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly). The Medfly attacks over 250 types of crops, including many common home garden fruits and vegetables, turning them into maggot-infested, inedible mush.  It is extremely important to find these types of pests before they become established and do serious damage. 

The most important component of the successful Pest Detection Trapping Program is the partnership and cooperation of homeowners in granting permission to host insect traps on private property. You can help protect your neighborhood and our county from new invasive and destructive insect pests by volunteering your fruit trees, gardens, and landscape for placement of out insect traps.  

Submit an "Approval To Trap In My Yard" form online.

Be sure to indicate the types of trees you have, street address, phone number, if you have a dog in the yard, and any other information necessary to enter your yard to place the trap.

Land Use Planning/Resource Protection

For any member of the general public who has questions or complaints regarding certain agricultural practices, such as dust, noise, or odor, you may contact our office with your questions and concerns. For questions or complaints regarding pesticide applications, please see the Pesticide Complaint section. 

Due to State law and the County Right to Farm Ordinance, we may not be able to resolve every concern regarding typical agricultural operations but we can assist in determining if certain practices are allowed and, in some cases, mediate between neighboring parties. 
 

Nursery License

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' Nursery Program insures local nurseries sell clean, healthy, and properly identified plants to their customers. Nursery stock produced within San Luis Obispo County is inspected at least once annually.  Nursery Stock Certificates are issued to nurseries that ship both interstate and intrastate.

On Line Payments

The Department of Agriculture / Weights and Measures offers an on-line payment option using the On-Line Payment Portal button below.

To make a payment on-line using a credit card, you will need your account number or Bill # often found in the top right corner of your bill, and the name on the account as it appears on the first line of your bill. If you have a fine that you would like to pay on-line or need help looking up your account information, please contact our office.

A receipt will be emailed to you if you would like to provide an email address during the payment process.

On-Line Payment Portal

Organic Production Registration

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures assists growers to become registered as organic producers by providing information about  local, state and national organic regulations, and assistance with the California Department of Food and Agriculture's online organic registration process.

Staff from the San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures  inspect producers, handlers, retailers, and Farmers’ Markets for compliance with all organic production regulations, investigates complaints relating to organic production and/or handling, verifies integrity of organic produce by sampling for residue of certain pesticides and reviews pesticide use report information.  Verification of the history of reported pesticide applications to a specific site can be requested through the Request for Public Information process.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has many resources available to organic producers including; national and state regulations, a list of approved organic pesticide materials, contact information for all registered organic certifiers, and other helpful information.

Registration, cost share applications and complaint information can be found on The California Department of Food and Agriculture's Organic Registration website. Printable forms are available if you prefer to file by mail, however registration through the online database at  is the preferred method.  
 

Pest Exclusion Inspections

Pest Exclusion Program staff from the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures routinely inspect incoming plant shipments for invasive and exotic pests. Staff also inspect for compliance with federal, state and local quarantine regulations. The shipments inspected may come from all over the world (other countries, states or counties).

The Pest Exclusion Program is part of a three-pronged approach to keep destructive pests out of the county: pest exclusion, pest detection and pest eradication.

If you are moving from outside the state or from one county to another, within California, please call our main office number to find out if you need an inspection.  Pests usually come in on plant material including firewood, but others such as gypsy moth and brown marmorated stink bug can come attached to outdoor tools or appliances such as lawn mowers, BBQ grills, outdoor furniture, etc.  You are welcome to visit the National Plant Board website and check the pests California is concerned about. 

If you are moving from one county to another, within California, the following quarantines may apply to the plant material you are bringing to the county.   

Southern California

  • Asian Citrus Psyllid
  • Brown Marmorated Stink Bug- LA
  • Citrus Greening Disease
  • Citrus Tristeza
  • Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
  • Golden Spotted Oak Borer-San Diego
  • Light Brown Apple Moth
  • Ozonium Root Rot
  • Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer
  • Red Imported Fire Ant
  • South American Palm Weevil
  • Tropical Fruit Flies
  • Small Hive Beetle

Northern California

  • Asian Citrus Psyllid
  • Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
  • Light Brown Apple Moth
  • Sudden Oak Death
  • Small Hive Beetle
  • Tropical Fruit Flies

Do not move citrus or firewood.

If you are moving into San Luis Obispo County, we encourage you to have any plant material inspected by a county inspector as soon as possible after you arrive.  Please call (805) 781-5910 to make an appointment.  We are flexible and will try to fit our inspections into your schedule. 

Pesticide Container Inspection

To protect the environment and the public's health, Disposal Certificates ensure only empty and properly rinsed containers are delivered to local landfills or other proper facilities.

Local agriculturalists and growers who wish to dispose of empty and properly rinsed pesticide containers must first obtain a "Pesticide Container Disposal Certificate" from the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures prior to taking the containers to a local landfill. 

Emptied and properly rinsed pesticide containers must be inspected by Inspectors from the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures Pesticide Use Enforcement Program prior to issuance of the certificate. 

Contact the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures for an appointment for a container inspection.  Please see the document "Pesticide Container Disposal Info" (Spanish) for details on the requirements.

Pesticide Use

Pesticide Use Inspectors work with growers to inform them on current pesticide laws and regulations and help ensure compliance. This can be conducted during an annual Pesticide Use Permit or Operator Identification Number renewal appointment or as a voluntary site inspection requested by the grower. 

Contact the Agricultural Inspector that issued your Pesticide Use Permit to set up an appointment. If you do not know who your district Inspector is, call the nearest County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures office to find out those details. 

Pesticide Use Complaints

Questions or complaints regarding a specific pesticide application, or general questions regarding pesticide laws and regulations can be made at any time. Response is during weekday business hours and most weekends and holidays.

To report a pesticide complaint, contact the San Luis Obispo County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures as soon as possible.
For complaints made outside of normal business hours, call the main office line at (805) 781-5910 or the Pesticide Complaint Line at (800) 528-9333.
Call 911 if the situation is life threatening.

Pesticide Use Registrations

Information and Forms for the different Registrations offered from the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture

Pesticide Use Reporting

Translate to Spanish

All growers with a current pesticide Restricted Materials Permit or Operator Identification Number are required to submit Pesticide Use Reports detailing all pesticide applications to the County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures. It is important to have a current pesticide Restricted Materials Permit or Operator Identification Number prior to making any pesticide applications.

Both Pesticide Use Reports and Monthly Summary Pesticide Use Reports can be submitted to any of  the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures'  three offices in person, by fax, or via regular mail. Also, there are mail slots at each office for submission of use reports during non-business hours. 

For growers interested in submitting Pesticide Use Reports online utilizing the CalAgPermits reporting program, contact the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures'  San Luis Obispo office at (805) 781-5910 for assistance in gaining access into the CalAgPermits reporting program. 
(Pest Control Businesses must  also submit Pesticide Use Records, either via the online reporting system, CalAgPermits or paper copies).

For growers who have questions regarding how to properly fill out and record pesticide use information, contact the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures'  Pesticide Use Enforcement Inspector that issued the pesticide Restricted Materials Permit or Operator Identification Number.

 

Petroleum Inspections

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' Petroleum Program oversees the advertising and labeling of motor fuels and lubricants for compliance with state law.  Fuels and lubricants are sampled and tested to ensure they meet mandated specifications and tolerances for public safety along with vehicle and equipment performance. 

For Additional information, see the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA's) Petroleum Site.

Phytosanitary Export Certificates

Commodities with a destination other than California may require Phytosanitary Certification. These certificates attest that shipments of plants and plant products are free from regulated pests, and conform to other phytosanitary requirements as specified by the importing state or country. Certification depends on the type of commodity and destination. Federal Phytosanitary Certificates may be required for shipments going to other countries while State Phytosanitary Certificates may be required for shipments going to other states within the USA. Pest Exclusion staff are qualified to issue State and Federal Phytosanitary Certificates. Certificates are issued after inspections determine the shipments are free from pest of quarantine concern to the importing state or country.

Phytosanitary Certification clients are required to obtain an account with the U.S Department of Agriculture Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance & Tracking System (PCIT).

For more information, call the Quarantine Duty Officer at (805) 781-5910.

Plants on Hold for Inspection

Hold Incoming Plants for Inspection in San Luis Obispo County

Plants coming into San Luis Obispo County are required by law to be held for inspection by County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures staff prior to being planted or made available for sale if they are accompanied by a “Blue Hold Tag” or other hold notice, arrive from outside of California, or fall under State or Federal quarantines. This applies to plants brought in by nurseries, garden centers, landscapers, and plant brokers, as well as residents.

 

Price/Device Accuracy - Customer Complaint

Questions or complaints from consumers or business owners regarding the accuracy or proper use of any type of weighing and measuring device, can be submitted to the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures.  The On-Line Complaint Form will assist staff to appropriately respond to complaints.

Private Applicator Certificate Exams

Pesticide Use Enforcement Inspectors can administer a Private Applicator Certificate examination which will enable growers to earn the certification required prior to obtaining a Restricted Materials Permit. 
Additional information regarding the certification requirements can be found at the following Department of Pesticide Regulation website.

Please contact the nearest Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures Office if you have questions regarding becoming a Certified Private Applicator or questions regarding the renewal process.
 

Quantity Control

The County of San Luis Obispo's Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' Quantity Control Program ensures that items sold by weight, measure, or count meet the stated net content statement.  The Program oversees compliance with the Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, providing customers a fully informative package statement to facilitate a fair and equitable marketplace.  Price verification inspections performed by staff from the County of San Luis Obispo's Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures'  verify customers are charged the lowest advertised price when purchasing a commodity at a point of sale. 

For more information, see the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA's) Control Program.
 

Request for Public Information/Records - Agriculture/Weights and Measures

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures will respond to requests  for records in accordance with the California Public Records Act. The fillable form is one way requests for public records can be submitted to the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures. Requested records are usually delivered via email, but can also be made available, by appointment, at the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' office during normal business hours.  

Restricted Materials Permit

Pesticide Use Enforcement Inspectors can issue certified growers a Restricted Materials permit which will enable growers to purchase, store, and use certain restricted use pesticides under specific permit conditions. 

Inspectors can also administer a Private Applicator Certificate examination which will enable growers to earn the certification required prior to obtaining a Restricted Materials Permit. 

Additional information regarding the certification requirements can be found from the California Department of Pesticide Regulations.

Prior to the issuance of a Restricted Materials Permit, growers must be certified as a Certified Private Applicator or hold an equivalent certification. A Private Applicator certificate can be obtained by taking an exam or can be renewed by obtaining the required amount of continuing education credits (or by re-examination). 

Please contact your local district Inspector if you have questions regarding becoming a Certified Private Applicator or questions regarding the renewal process. 

If you are currently a Certified Private Applicator, contact your local district inspector to make an appointment for a new or renewed Restricted Materials Permit.

If you do not know who your district inspector is, please call the nearest Agriculture Department office to find out those details.
 

Seed Certification

Staff from the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures inspects crops grown for seed, during the growing season, to facilitate seed producers in exporting seeds throughout the world. The inspections focus on plant diseases that may be present in seed and are of concern to the receiving country (ies). This type of inspections ensure the seed crop meets the receiving countries’ requirements.

Seed Law

The San Luis Obispo County's Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures staff conduct inspections at business registered as seed labelers to verify the accuracy and accessibility of seed label statements listing variety and type, purity, and germination.

The Labeling Requirements Checklist for Seed law can be found at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pe/nsc/docs/seed/SeedInspRec.pdf
For more information, please visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pe/nsc/seed/

Vertebrate Control Program

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures has an active Vertebrate Control Program that focuses on education and outreach to local growers and ranchers regarding how to control ground squirrels and other vertebrate pests detrimental to agriculture and public health.

The Department acts as an informational resource for both agriculturalists and the public dealing with various vertebrate pests. There are considerable challenges for growers and landowners faced with vertebrate pests, including the loss of registration for many previously used rodenticides, increased ecological concerns, and increased pesticide regulations. The Department’s Pesticide Use Enforcement staff can help answer questions regarding available control options and assist growers in remaining compliant with shifting regulatory requirements when using rodenticides.

Through a collaborative effort with the University of California Cooperative Extension and others, the Department hosts an annual workshop detailing the latest ground squirrel control methods. Items covered typically include squirrel biology, developing an integrated pest management plan, and current regulatory requirements. The workshop also offers Continuing Education hours for Private Applicators and other licensed individuals.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW INFORMATION ON THE OCTOBER 2021 WORKSHOP
The Department anticipates hosting another annual workshop in fall 2022. Details will be added here as the workshop date gets closer.

The Department no longer sells California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) labeled oat groat based rodenticide baits: 0.01% Chlorophacinone, (a broadcast/scattered bait) and 0.005% Diphacinone (used in bait stations). However, both of those baits are available for purchase – for properly registered and certified growers - through the Kings County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.

Weeds Program

Throughout California, invasive plants displace native plants and wildlife, increase wildfire and flood danger, consume valuable water, degrade recreational opportunities, destroy productive range land, and increase production costs of agricultural commodities.

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' Weed Management Program conducts surveillance throughout the county and coordinates with the San Luis Obispo County Weed Management Area (WMA) to efficiently identify new pest plants and signs of spread of existing noxious weed populations.  Once plants are found, physical removal, herbicide treatments, and biological control are the tools used to mitigate the spread of invasive pest plants.

The impacts of invasive plants are widespread across economic and environmental interests.  Coordinated efforts made by landowners, land managers and residents are essential for early detection, control, and possible eradication of these plants.  To learn more about the county’s weed pests, and current or past projects, please visit the SLO Weed Management Area (WMA) page.

Everyone can help reduce the spread of invasive weeds by purchasing hay and straw from local sources, cleaning footwear, camping gear and tires after hiking or biking, and informing the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures of unusual plants.  

For information about a certain invasive weed species, please visit:

Weighmaster Enforcement Program

The County of San  Luis Obispo Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures' Weighmaster Enforcement Program seeks to provide customer confidence when buying or selling bulk products based on quantities represented on a Weighmaster certificate by ensuring uniformity, fairness and honest competition in the marketplace

A Weighmaster certificate is always needed when both parties are not present and commodity is bought or sold by count or measure. 

For additional information related to the Weighmaster Enforcement Program, see the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA's) Weighmaster Site.

For a list of public scales in San Luis Obispo County that are current Weighmaster locations, See CDFA's Public Scales site.