Kings County Department of Agriculture & Measurement Standards

Kings County Inspectors inspecting pomegranates for export.

SCHOOLS IN SESSION REMINDER!! Important to keep in mind that anyone making pesticide recommendations and pesticide applications; school has started! The start of school means buses are transporting students, children are outside on school grounds, and they are also waiting and being dropped off at school bus stops before and after school. With proper and open communication between you and your neighbors (including schools) within the area of application I believe complaints and potential problems can be mitigated. Visit our website for more information: https://www.countyofkings.com/dep/agricultural-commissioner

Job opening at the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealers Office $34,736 - $42,390 Ag & Standards Aide https://agency.governmentjobs.com/kingsco/job_bulletin.cfm

At this time, Asian citrus psyllid populations in the Central Valley are still very low and well controlled by coordinated treatments. ACP are feared because they can spread huanglongbing (HLB) disease, an incurable condition that first causes yellow mottling on the leaves and later sour, misshapen fruit before killing the tree. The best defense we have against the spread of HLB is to continue to keep psyllid numbers as low as possible. This can be accomplished by following good practices in being aware of signs of affected citrus trees and following treatment procedures. For more information visit: https://ucanr.edu/sites/ACP/

PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN BUYING FIREWOOD! Fall is here and consumers buying firewood need to be aware of a few basic facts when making their purchase. - Kings County Agricultural Commissioner Sealer Jimmy Hook. For more information visit our website!

NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET WEEK!!! Visit * http://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/?p=15883 * for more infor OR check out our website *https://tinyurl.com/yctqe6mu *

Now on display in the County Administration building!

Come join us for a FREE Small Flock Egg Producers Workshop on July 19, 2018!!!

Promoting and Protecting Agriculture!!! Stop by our booth at this year’s Kings County Fair, June 7-10!!!

Cherry season is well under way in Kings County!!!

HAPPY AG DAY!! A day to acknowledge and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture in our lives!! This day is about encouraging individuals to understand how food products are produced and to value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy. For more information about Ag day, check out www.agday.org

Did you know?? - Kings County traps EGVM in grape vineyards! European Grapevine Moth (EGVM) is a significant pest to grapes and other distinct hosts. Larvae preferably feed on grapes, blackberries, carnations, cherries, nectarines, persimmons, plums and pomegranates. Adults have forewings that are tan to cream in color, mottled with gray-blue, brown, and black blotches, while the hindwings are gray with a fringed border. Larvae colors vary from light green to light brown depe...nding mainly on larval food. Pupas are brown and encased in a thin whitish silken cocoon. This moth is originally from Europe, northern and western Africa, the Middle East, southern Russia and Japan. A permanent home in California would result in significant production and export issues for grapes. EGVM damage on grapes makes them vulnerable to fungal infections with webbing and excrement left behind by larvae. The county works together with CDFA to detect, delimit, and eradicate EGVM. Each year Kings County traps for EGVM in grape vineyards from March to September. See more

DID YOU KNOW?? - Nutria Returns to California! Nutria is a large light to brown semi-aquatic rodent about 2 feet in length and weighs 15-20lbs. This is roughly 1/3 the size of an adult beaver and 5 times the size of a muskrat. Nutria has white muzzles with white whiskers, and has a rounded tail. They can cause damage by burrowing into levee banks and other water retention structures. They can consume up to 25% of their body weight in above-ground and below-ground vegetation, ...but can destroy up to 10 times that much, wrecking havoc on native vegetation and soil structure. Besides causing damage to nearby agricultural crops, nutria also is hosts for various diseases that can threaten humans, livestock, and pets. Additionally, they also carry tapeworms, a nematode that causes a rash known as nutria itch, and blood and liver flukes that can contaminate water supplies. There have been findings of Nutria in other counties, but none in Kings County. If you find nutria, call the Kings County Agricultural Commissioner at (559) 852-2830 to report your findings. You may also report the sighting on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Invasive Species Website (www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/report), email to [email protected], or call CDFW at (866) 440-9530. See more