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Your Farm Bureau
Speaking Out
Farm Bureau press releases, public comments,
and communications with lawmakers over the past 12 months
June 28, 2007
Letter to State Lands Commission Chairman John Garamendi in support of the Carlsbad Desalination ProjectJune 5, 2007
Letter to Dr. Edwin Lewis, Dept. of Entomology at U.C. Davis re: Specialty Crops Grant Program application for a research project on treatments for D. abbreviatus larvae in ornamental nursery productsMay 15, 2007
Letters to all California State Senators and Assembly members
re: equitable distribution of voter-approved bond fundsMay 3, 2007
Letter to San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board re: Bacteria Impaired Waters TMDL Project 1 for Beaches and Creeks.April 13, 2007
Letter to Sen. Abel Maldonado re: SB 486, the California Avocado Pest and Disease Prevention Act of 2007March 22, 2007
Letter to North County Times in response to developer Michael Pattinson's letter to the editor re: agricultural runoffMarch 14, 2007
Letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein re: restoring agriculture inspections to the USDAMarch 14, 2007
Letter to Congresswoman Susan Davis re: Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America ActMarch 7, 2007
Letter to Denise Moreno Ducheny re: Diaprepes root weevilMarch 7, 2007
Letter to Denise Moreno Ducheny re: California's Border Protection StationsFebruary 12, 2007
Letter to Congressman Brian Bilbray re: Immigration ReformFebruary 12, 2007
Letter to Denise Moreno Ducheny re: her appointment to Vice Chair of the Senate Agriculture CommitteeDecember 21. 2006
Letter to all California State Senators and Assembly members re: Diaprepes root weevilDecember 15, 2006
Letter to State Water Resources Control Board re: Carlsbad Desalination ProjectSeptember 7, 2006
Letter to Congressman Brian Bilbray re: H.R. 4049 (Pombo)July 14, 2006
Letter to CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura re: Diaprepes root weevil
Chairman John Garamendi
California State Lands Commission
State Capitol, Room 1114
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Carlsbad Desalination Project - File Ref: W26202; R15906
Dear Chairman Garamendi:
The members of the San Diego County Farm Bureau understand that a reliable local water supply is crucial to the survival of our industry. That is why we have offered our full support to the City of Carlsbad and Poseidon Resources’ desalination facility.
San Diego County is the 12th largest farm economy among all counties in the nation and our local agriculture industry ranks as the fifth largest industry in the county, contributing more than $1.5 billion to the local economy and sustaining more than 5,000 farmers. For the San Diego farming community, an environmentally responsible and affordable water supply is critical to the preservation of our open space and agricultural land.
Due to San Diego’s excessive dependence on imported water supplies, our region endures water prices that are among the highest in the nation. For many local farmers, the cost of water can adversely impact their daily operations. With the heavy demand and lack of supply of water in this region, we feel it is imperative that San Diego develop new supplies to meet this demand and escalating costs.
The Farm Bureau is committed to water recycling and water conservation best management practices, but these approaches alone won’t be able to sustain the farming industry. By relieving the pressure on existing supplies through desalination, San Diego’s farm economy will be able to flourish for years to come.
It is apparent to the Farm Bureau that the cost of importing water to this region will only continue to escalate and desalinated water has become an affordable alternative source of reliable high quality water. Additionally, the proposed desalination project is consistent with Governor Schwarzenegger’s overall goals to improve water supply reliability through investments in infrastructure capable of producing new water supplies.
After a comprehensive multi-year environmental and permitting review process both the City of Carlsbad and the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board determined that the Carlsbad desalination project will have no significant environmental impacts. Siting the desalination facility with the existing Encina Power Station also ensures that no agricultural operation will be displaced in locating it. Finally, the applicant’s commitment to providing higher quality water at an affordable price will ensure existing agricultural operations in the project service area will remain viable for years to come.
We applaud the efforts of the City of Carlsbad and Poseidon Resources for taking the steps to develop new potable water supplies and we urge the State Commission to give careful consideration to the New General Lease Application for the Carlsbad Desalination Project. It will bring this region one step closer to a safe, dependable and cost-effective water supply and greatly reduce our region’s dependence on imported water.
Sincerely,
Eric Larson
Executive Director
San Diego County Farm Bureau
cc:
Commissioner John Chiang
Commissioner Michael Genest
Commissioner Cindy Aronberg
Commissioner Anne Sheehan
Mr. Paul D. Thayer
Ms. Barbara Dugal
Ms. Susan Young
Ms. Judy Brown
Ms. Marina Brand
Ms. Mary Howe
Mr. Mark Meier
Mr. Tom Fillar
Ms. Jessica Jones
Dr. Edwin Lewis
Department of Nematology
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
Dear Dr. Lewis:
On behalf of the nursery industry of San Diego County, I am writing in support of the Specialty Crops Grant Program application for a research project on treatments for D. abbreviatus larvae in ornamental nursery products.
San Diego County currently ranks as the leading county in the United States in the production of ornamental nursery crops. The most recent statistics available are for 2005 when nursery crops were valued at $914 million. That value is trending up as nursery producers work and expand to meet growing national market demands. The current infestations of D. abbreviatus in San Diego County pose a direct threat to that production.
It is our hope that the current effort by the California Department of Food and Agriculture to eradicate the D. abbreviatus population will be successful, but nursery producers are under real threat of inclusion in a regulatory area as work continues to discover the full extent of the infestation. In addition to the current situation, preparations must be made to help nursery producers quickly defend themselves in the event of future introductions of D. abbreviatus into California.
One of the keys to success in fighting D. abbreviatus will be full discovery of preventative and curative treatments for larvae. Full knowledge of these treatments is needed to make certain nursery producers will be able to treat and ship their finished products. We respectfully request that the Specialty Crops Grant Program application for a research project on treatments for D. abbreviatus larvae in ornamental nursery products be supported.
Sincerely,
Eric Larson
Executive Director
San Diego County Farm Bureau
California State Assembly and Senators
Sacramento, CA
Dear Senators Hollingsworth, Wyland, Kehoe, and Ducheny and Assembly members Jeffries, Walters, Garrick, Plescia, Saldaña, Anderson, Horton, and Salas:
The San Diego County Farm Bureau supports the County of San Diego’s efforts to ensure the distribution of voter-approved bond funds to the San Diego region. With nearly $43 billion of voter-approved bond funds from the November election to be distributed, it is essential to develop a fast and equitable method to distribute the funds statewide.
We would like to see the bond funds distributed using a formula based on fact to guarantee the San Diego region receives its fair share of funding.
The 2006 bonds provide important funding that will be used for projects that will help sustain agriculture and improve the environment through water quality protection, farmland preservation, water supply enhancement, and natural resource protection.
San Diego voters have an expectation that bond funds will be used promptly and wisely to fund local projects. We ask you to make certain that funds are distributed fairly. Thank you for your assistance to see to it that our region gets equitable funding from the bond proceeds.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President, San Diego County Farm Bureau
Christina Arias
Water Resource Control Engineer
San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
9174 Sky Park Court, Suite 100
San Diego , CA 92123-4340
Dear Ms. Arias:
On behalf of our members and all farmers in the region, the San Diego County Farm Bureau would like to offer a few comments on the Bacteria Impaired Waters TMDL Project 1 for Beaches and Creeks.
As mentioned in our letter of September 6, 2005, we remain concerned about building a TMDL while an acknowledged gap exists in the link between indicator bacteria and human pathogens. The lack of epidemiological studies that might establish a link, or lack thereof, between nonhuman sources of bacteria and the risk of illness must be resolved. The Revised Technical Report states, “The San Diego Water Board recognizes that there are potential problems associated with using bacteriological WQOs to indicate the presence of human pathogens in receiving waters free of sewage discharges.” The failure to establish this critical link will lead to expensive and costly testing, structural investments, and changes to accepted cultural practices by farmers that might not be needed. While the authority to establish the TMDL is clear, there is a responsibility to the public not to do it in a manner that is arbitrary and capricious.
We are also concerned about the fact that the wet weather allowable load for controllable nonpoint sources is zero. This puts farmers in the untenable position of controlling one-hundred percent of indicator bacteria when, as mentioned above, there is a lack of evidence for the need for control. It is critically important that this TMDL return to the reference stream approach as used in the interim TMDL. At a minimum, farmers should be granted the load that is given to like acreages of uncontrollable nonpoint sources. This is given the fact that if the farm didn’t exist and the land was in its natural state an allocation would be granted.
The issue of uncertainty about the linkage between indicator bacteria and human pathogens is worsened by the fact that farmers may choose to use composted manures and greenwaste mulches to reduce the use of manufactured nutrients and control runoff. Studies have shown substantial increases in the presence of indicator bacteria, but no human pathogens, when composted manures and greenwaste are used. If farmers administer those practices in an effort to come into compliance with stormwater regulations they may find they are running afoul of the TMDL because of the production of indicator bacteria.
Should this TMDL move forward as written it is our suggestion that farm sites identified as sources of indicator bacteria be further tested by the Regional Board to make the positive identification that human pathogens are present. While we have no reason to question that farm sites could be sources of indicator bacteria, it is imperative that positive linkages be established to avoid punitive measures that will do nothing to improve water quality on our beaches and in our creeks.
Sincerely,
Eric Larson
Executive Director
San Diego County Farm Bureau
The Honorable Abel Maldonado
Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 4082
Sacramento, CA 95814
VIA FAX: (916) 445-8081
Dear Chairman Maldonado:
On behalf of the avocado growing members of the San Diego County Farm Bureau who make our county the top avocado producing region in the nation, I would like to express my support for SB 486, the California Avocado Pest and Disease Prevention Act of 2007.
These growers produce more than $250 million in fruit per year, comprising an important part of San Diego County’s agricultural economy that must be protected from invasive pests and diseases. Our growers currently contend with infestations of Persea mite and avocado thrips that were introduced from foreign locations. The cost of fighting new pests could cripple the industry and require treatment with tons of additional pesticide. The avocado growers of California and the State Secretary of Agriculture need every means at their disposal to fight exotic pests and diseases; SB 486 will provide that means.
Thank you for your continued support of the California avocado industry.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President, San Diego County Farm Bureau
cc:
Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny, Vice Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee
Senator Jeff Denham, Member, Senate Agriculture Committee
Senator Dean Florez, Member, Senate Agriculture Committee
Senator Shelia Kuehl, Member, Senate Agriculture Committee
North County Times letter to the editor published 3/22/07
Columnist and developer Michael Pattinson regularly rails against runoff regulations. His recent statements leading readers to believe local nursery growers have an exemption from complying with clean water rules are wrong.
In a March column Mr. Pattinson refers to nurseries being “exempt.” His reference was to a technical correction made to the regulations that will now give nurseries the same ability as most everyone else to allow clean stormwater to infiltrate into the ground. If nurseries had to capture and store every drop of rainwater that fell onto their farms, their businesses would have to shut down before the next rain. A reading of that rule shows home builders are exempt as well. Pattinson sought an angle to attack the RWQCB and disparaged nurseries in the process. His comments, at the least, were a misrepresentation.
Commercial nurseries are working hard to meet clean water rules by investing millions of dollars in irrigation retrofits and water recycling. Not only must nursery growers meet clean water standards, pricing on perishable products means they cannot pass the cost along to their customers as can developers.
The farm community has no quarrel with Pattinson’s self-protection. He just needs to correctly state the facts.
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
U.S. Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington , DC 20510
Dear Senator Feinstein:
The San Diego County Farm Bureau supports your introduction of a bill that will restore import and entry agricultural inspection functions to the United States Department of Agriculture. As a border county, we are especially vulnerable to the introduction of exotic pests and diseases. We share your belief that agricultural inspections warrant attention from highly qualified and dedicated personnel. Thank you for recognizing this need.
Sincerely,
Eric Larson
Executive Director
San Diego County Farm Bureau
The Honorable Susan Davis
U.S. House of Representatives
1526 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Davis:
San Diego County currently ranks as the 12th largest farm economy among all counties in the nation. While that in itself is an interesting statistic, it is further worth noting that nearly all of the annual $1.5 billion in local production is composed of specialty crops. As a county of specialty crop growers, we want to encourage you to sign on as an original co-sponsor of Congressman Dennis Cardoza’s Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (Act).
As proposed, the Act will provide a variety of programs that will be particularly beneficial to the long-term economic viability of farming in San Diego County by addressing several of the issues facing specialty crop producers today. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Eric Larson
Executive Director
San Diego County Farm Bureau
The Honorable Denise Moreno Ducheny
Chair, Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 5035
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Chairwoman Ducheny:
Despite the high cost of water and land in San Diego County, farmers have worked hard to create an agricultural economy that is now ranked as the 12th largest among all counties in the United States. The leading commodities are nursery crops and avocados with citrus production making a significant contribution. Combined, these three crops account for $1.3 billion in annual production, which is more than 80% of the county’s total farm value. With the recent discovery of several populations of Diaprepes root weevil in San Diego County these crops stand at risk.
Likely introduced by illegal shipments of plant material from Florida, the Diaprepes root weevil is an indiscriminate feeder with more than 270 species of plants listed as hosts. Among this insect’s favorite foods are the leaves and roots of avocado and citrus trees as well as a majority of the nursery crops produced locally. This pest must be eradicated to protect the ability to produce and ship farm products from San Diego County. Stopping this pest here will spare the rest of California from this threat.
On January 3 rd this year, the leading Diaprepes root weevil entomologists from across the country met in San Diego as a Science Advisory Panel to review the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s eradication efforts to date. The Science Advisory Panel agreed that eradication should continue to be pursued and they recommended a realistic course of action. If this pest is to be eradicated and San Diego’s farming future protected, the Science Advisory Panel’s recommendations must be followed. It is our plea to you to support the eradication effort by the following:
- Advocate the eradication of the Diaprepes root weevil in California.
- Ensure that full funding is provided to meet the recommendations of the Science Advisory Panel for eradication.
- Work for securing California from future infestations.
We thank you for your consideration and your continued support for a viable farm economy in our community.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President, San Diego County Farm Bureau
cc: Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, Senator Mark Wyland, Senator Christine Kehoe
The Honorable Denise Moreno Ducheny
Chair, Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
California State Senate
5035 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Chairwoman Ducheny:
California’s Border Protection Stations (BPS) have historically played a vital role in protecting the health of the state’s forests, waterways, neighborhoods, farms, and environment from damaging invasive pests. While traditionally seen as a means to shield the number one agricultural state in the nation from pests, the BPS are needed by every Californian. With looming threats from zebra mussels, Diaprepes root weevils, red imported fire ants, gypsy moths, and noxious weeds, to mention a few, the present failure to operate the BPS on a daily around-the-clock schedule inspecting both commercial and private vehicles leaves the state’s population and farmers vulnerable.
A recent California Department of Food and Agriculture pilot project at the Needles BPS revealed that prohibited commodities are entering the state in alarming numbers. As would be expected, pests are arriving as well. From July through November 2006 there were a total of 6193 interceptions at Needles of prohibited commodities that would not have otherwise been discovered due to the current lack of funding to inspect private vehicles. 252 of those interceptions were infested with significant exotic pests. It can easily be deduced that thousands of exotic pests are entering the state each year through the 16 BPS that are not inspecting all vehicles.
At this time, we are asking that you support full funding for California’s Border Protection Stations. The $16,000,000 annual cost is affordable insurance against the inevitable introduction of exotic pets that could lead to multi-million dollar eradication projects or irreversible damage to the state’s environment.
Thank you for your consideration on this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President, San Diego County Farm Bureau
cc: Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, Senator Mark Wyland, Senator Christine Kehoe
The Honorable Brian Bilbray
United States House of Representatives
227 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Bilbray:
Thank you for recently joining us at the San Diego Farm Bureau Board of Directors meeting. Recognizing how full your schedule is when you are in the district, we want you to know that you are always a welcome guest.
It was good to hear that you understand the special needs of agriculture that can only be met through congressional action on immigration reform. We remain hopeful that meaningful legislation can be enacted this year. You are certainly aware that we have been working long and hard in support of the AgJOBS bills that have been introduced in the House and Senate.
In your comments at our meeting you suggested some intriguing and workable ideas, all of which are not necessarily in conflict with AgJOBS. However, we are apprehensive that any new legislative proposal could gain sufficient support in a timely manner to meet the critical needs of the farm community while addressing the immediate concerns of the greater population. We ask that you take a thorough look at AgJOBS to see where your concepts might enhance the legislation and lead to greater acceptance. Much progress has been made on AgJOBS to create bipartisan acceptance through nearly a decade of work.
Again, we appreciate your time and willingness to speak with your farm constituents on this important matter.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President, San Diego County Farm Bureau
The Honorable Denise Moreno Ducheny
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 5035
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Senator Ducheny:
On behalf of the members of the San Diego County Farm Bureau I want to congratulate you on your recent appointment to the position of Vice Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. As California’s eighth largest farming county and the national leader in the production of nursery crops and avocados, we are pleased to have you evaluating and acting on agricultural legislation.
Please know that the members and staff of the San Diego County Farm Bureau are willing to assist should you have any questions or concerns about agricultural legislative proposals. Likewise, the California Farm Bureau’s Governmental Affairs Division in Sacramento stands ready to offer counsel on pending legislation as well.
Again, congratulations and best wishes for a successful session.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President, San Diego County Farm Bureau
California State Assembly and Senators
Sacramento, CA
Dear Senators Hollingsworth, Wyland, Kehoe, and Ducheny and Assembly members Jeffries, Walters, Garrick, Plescia, Saldaña, Anderson, Horton, and Salas:
As 2006 comes to a close the farming community of San Diego County is uneasy about the prospect of a growing threat from a highly dangerous pest, the Diaprepes abbreviatus, commonly referred to as the Diaprepes root weevil. This Caribbean native spends much of its lifecycle as larvae in the soil feeding on plant roots. When it emerges as an adult it consumes the plant’s foliage. With more than 270 known plant hosts and the one-two punch of root and foliage destruction leading to the death of the plant, this pest poses a threat unlike any other introduced into our community.
At this time there are six Diaprepes root weevil agricultural quarantines in San Diego County ranging from La Jolla to Oceanside. Because the Diaprepes root weevil is found throughout Florida and in just one isolated spot in Texas, common speculation on the source of the infestation is plant material from Florida that was not grown in accordance with required phytosanitary standards and then smuggled into California to avoid inspection. Without decisive action we fear that that the Diaprepes root weevil will spread throughout our county.
This situation puts the majority of farmers in San Diego County at risk. As we have seen for fourteen consecutive years, we expect 2006 will once again prove to be a growth year for San Diego County. Now ranked as the 12th largest farm economy among all counties in the nation, farming has an estimated impact to our local economy of $5.4 billion according to the County’s Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures.
San Diego County is the largest producer of nursery crops in the nation with nearly $1 billion in annual production and nursery operators would be the first to be damaged from an expanded infestation. A nursery caught in a quarantine for the Diaprepes root weevil could face six months of mandatory treatments before being allowed to sell plants because of the risk of exporting larvae in the plants’ soil. There are few businesses that could withstand a six month business shutdown.
The other crops immediately threatened are avocados and citrus, which make up the second largest segment of San Diego County farming with a combined production value of $290 million. Because the Diaprepes root weevil consumes both roots and foliage, thousands of acres of productive fruit trees in Florida have been abandoned. That is a devastating situation we don’t want to see here.
Two courses of action must be successfully navigated if this threat is to be abated. First, every effort must be made to eradicate the current infestations before they spread. Second, the pathway on which this insect arrived must be closed if serial infestations are to be avoided.
Finding remedies to this unwanted invasion is the responsibility of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. This issue presents such a threat to farmers in San Diego County and throughout the state that every effort must be made to eliminate the Diaprepes root weevil and defend against its return. If we find that there is a chance of losing this battle despite CDFA’s best effort with their current resources, we want you to know that we will to turn to you and your colleagues in the California Legislature for assistance.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Eric Larson at the Farm Bureau office at (760) 745-3023.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President, San Diego County Farm Bureau
Ms. Karen O’Haire
State Water Resources Control Board
Office of Chief Counsel
1001 I Street, 22 nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Interested Party SWRCB/OCC File A-1773
Dear Ms. O’Haire:
On behalf of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, a party interested in the referenced petition for the Carlsbad Desalination Project, I encourage you to deny the appeal of the water discharge permit issued by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board to Poseidon Resources. For farmers in San Diego County a reliable local water supply is critical to the survival of our industry. That is why we have offered unwavering support to the City of Carlsbad and Poseidon Resources’ desalination facility.
San Diego County is the 12th largest farm economy among all counties in the nation and local agriculture ranks as the fifth largest industry in the county, contributing more than $1.5 billion to the economy and sustaining more than 5,000 farmers, their families, and employees. For farmers anywhere in the world, there is one irreplaceable ingredient—water. For the San Diego farm community, water supply is and always has been critical to the preservation of our open space and agricultural land.
To maintain agriculture in San Diego, water must be abundant and affordable. By creating new water supplies through desalination, San Diego’s farm economy will flourish for years to come.
If Southern California doesn't embrace desalination, greater reliance will be placed on imported water, which will be increasingly expensive because it will carry with it the costs of transportation, storage, and likely economic and environmental mitigation costs for the damage caused by extracting that water from its current use. Increases in rates will make water unaffordable for many San Diego County farmers, and local farming will diminish.
It is apparent that the cost of importing water to this region will only continue to escalate and desalinated water will eventually become the more affordable source of water.
We urge the State Water Resources Control Board to reaffirm the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s approval of the discharge permit, which will bring this region one step closer to a safe, dependable and cost-effective water supply, and greatly reduce our region’s dependence on imported water.
Sincerely,
Eric Larson
Executive Director
San Diego County Farm Bureau
The Honorable Brian Bilbray
U.S. House of Representatives
Rayburn Building #2350
Washington, D.C. 20515
RE: Request to cosponsor H.R. 4049 (Pombo)
Dear Representative Bilbray:
San Diego County’s farmers are under constant threat of exotic insect pests and plant diseases arriving from around the world. Once here, they can flourish and cause immense damage as well as cost millions of dollars to eradicate. In recent memory the Fallbrook Mexican fruit fly quarantine, the Valley Center Mexican fruit fly quarantine, and the southern California Exotic Newcastle’s disease quarantine cost well over a combined $100,000,000 in lost crops and eradication costs. Today, local farmers are again threatened by the prospect of multiple quarantines because of the arrival of the Diaprepes root weevil.
H.R. 4049 by Representative Richard W. Pombo takes aim at curbing future infestations by authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with state and local governments for the prevention and eradication of exotic pests and diseases. It is our hope that you will agree to add your name to the list of the bill’s cosponsors.
San Diego County agriculture ranks 12th among all counties in the nation and makes a significant contribution to the local economy. Every single crop produced in our county is susceptible to an exotic pest or disease. We hope you will agree that agriculture in San Diego County is worth protecting.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President
San Diego County Farm Bureau
A.G. Kawamura
Secretary, California Department of Food & Agriculture
1220 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Secretary Kawamura:
You are certainly aware by this time that San Diego County has the unfortunate distinction of hosting three separate quarantines for Diaprepes root weevil. While it is our hope that no more infestations are discovered, the rapid escalation of finds leaves us wondering when more of these pests will be encountered. Once established, the Diaprepes root weevil is not very discriminating with more than 270 plant species on the host list. In addition to a large host list, this pest is extremely hard to eradicate due to its long life span both above and below the soil surface. We are very concerned about the potential damage to farmers in our county if this problem is not contained.
For growers of permanent crops, particularly citrus, the damage and loss of trees can devastate a thriving grove. For ornamental growers crop losses and treatment costs could be staggering if a quarantine’s boundaries included nurseries.
While we know you place pest exclusion and eradication as top priorities within the California Department of Food and Agriculture, we must ask that every possible resource available be used in the effort to make certain that the Diaprepes root weevil be contained and eradicated.
Sincerely,
David E. Van Ommering
President
San Diego County Farm Bureau
San Diego County Farm Bureau
1670 East Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92027
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