Pest Management
The County Agricultural Commissioner is charged with the responsibility of managing nuisance pests of agriculture and human health. Many of these pests are recently introduced species that have become established despite the best efforts of the agricultural commissioners and the California Department of Food and Agriculture to keep them out. An example would be the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter that is under intensive control efforts in several southern counties while eradication efforts continue in counties further north.
Others are common pests such as ground squirrels, voles, gophers and noxious invasive weeds that can be serious pest of agriculture and urban areas alike. The County Agricultural Commissioner also conducts programs to establish and distribute biological controls for troublesome pests.