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County agent requests access to a county vehicle for mandatory USDA crop scouting
Summary
A county agricultural employee (Nancy) told commissioners she logged nearly 2,000 miles last year scouting fields for mandatory USDA and statewide reporting and formally asked to use a county vehicle during the growing season; commissioners indicated support and asked staff to coordinate scheduling.
Nancy, a county crop‑scouting employee, told the board she logged nearly 2,000 miles on her personal vehicle last year to perform required weekly crop scouting for USDA and statewide crop and pest reports. She asked the commissioners to allow her use of a county vehicle to reduce wear on her personal vehicle and ensure timely, accurate field reporting.
Nancy said this scouting is not optional: the weekly reports she files can directly affect whether producers qualify for federal financial assistance. She asked to use one of the county vehicles primarily on Mondays (the day she typically conducts scouting) during the growing season and to receive priority scheduling when possible.
Commissioners responded that the county maintains two fleet vehicles for fieldwork and that other counties provide similar support to extension agents. They discussed scheduling, mileage reimbursement (Nancy said she receives 70 cents per mile for her USDA work) and the logistics of state fleet vehicles (which in county practice cannot usually be kept at an employee’s residence). Commissioners indicated they had no objection and asked staff to formalize priority scheduling and policy language so Nancy can rely on a county vehicle when available.
Next steps: staff will coordinate scheduling and vehicle assignment during the growing season and clarify any policy language needed for consistent use by extension or field staff.
