Agricultural Commissioner outlines pest‑detection work, funding and future needs including EV‑charger testing

Jesse Fowler, Calaveras County Agricultural Commissioner and Director of Weights & Measures, presented an extended departmental overview Nov. 25 covering statutory duties, program priorities, funding and staffing needs.

Fowler explained that county agriculture offices implement state and federal regulatory programs locally, including pest exclusion and detection, nursery inspections, pesticide‑use enforcement and weights and measures device testing. She said the department currently operates five full‑time permanent positions plus a new extra‑hire technician, and that much of its program funding comes from state subvention, mill tax receipts and modest contract/grant dollars.

Fowler cited recent receipts — including a CDFA contract for pest exclusion and mill‑tax funding for pesticide enforcement — and listed workload metrics: hundreds of nursery and device inspections and hundreds of pest traps checked annually. She said the county met the state’s maintenance‑of‑effort requirements and should receive unclaimed gas‑tax subventions next fiscal year.

Looking ahead, Fowler told the board that electric‑vehicle charger testing (required under state law as installations age) will raise equipment and staffing needs: tester units cost roughly $55,000–$60,000 and the county may need to borrow state equipment or purchase an electric test vehicle. Fowler said any future requests for additional staff or equipment would be brought forward with budget justification.

Supervisors asked about invasive weeds (yellow star thistle and oblong spurge), herbicide options and coordination with UC Extension and master gardener programs. Fowler encouraged residents to report suspect pests and noted outreach efforts and interagency partnerships.