A program that will allow farmers and ranchers to access their land to help animals during natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, storms, and wildfires was approved by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.
The agricultural pass program, also known as "Ag Pass," will give trained farmers and ranchers access to their property, when deemed safe, to deliver food or water, provide medical treatment, or evacuate livestock in emergencies.
"They can present this pass at the roadblocks during disasters for potential access onto their property, and once these passes are issued, we will have a database which we will share with our law enforcement, with our sheriff's office, and with our (office of emergency services) department," Agricultural Commissioner Kamaljit Bagri said.
Ag Passes will be issued by the county's agricultural commissioner after farmers and ranchers submit an application, and complete a mandatory four-hour training with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Continuing education or re-certification is required each year, county officials said.
The passes will only be available to those who run commercial livestock operations. Small homestead operations will not be eligible to receive passes.
Protecting 'our livelihood'
In October 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1103 into law. The bill allows counties to establish a livestock pass program and sets a statewide framework for them to follow.
Several other counties have implemented their own Ag Pass programs, including Sacramento, Shasta, Siskiyou, Monterey, and Napa.
It's a program that farmers and ranchers in San Joaquin County say is much needed.
When the Corral Fire burned down a home and forced residents to flee the area near Tracy in June, many farmers expressed fear for the safety of their animals.
"At the time, I was with Cal Fire and they asked, 'Are you going to evacuate?' I said, 'No way ... I cannot leave my animals,'" San Joaquin resident Diana Conley told the board of supervisors. "I had animals in the corral. I had animals that I needed to move."
Conley said the Ag Passes are "very important" for livestock owners in emergency situations.
"We need to be there for our animals and this is our livelihood."
San Joaquin County is California's seventh largest producer of agriculture, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The San Joaquin region produced $3 billion in agriculture in 2020.
What documentation is required to apply?
According to Bagri, the Ag Pass program is expected to roll out at the end of August.
During the application process, farmers and ranchers will be asked to submit documentation to the office of the agricultural commissioner.
Some of the documentation that can be used to qualify for an Ag Pass includes:
- An operator identification number issued by the county agricultural commissioner.
- APN confirming agricultural zoning for the property or agricultural land lease.
- Brand registration with the Bureau of Livestock Identification.
- IRS form 1040.
- Paperwork from the USDA Farm Service Agency.
- Williamson Act contract.
To develop the program, the agricultural commissioner is working with the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, and the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow .
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin supervisors OK passes to allow farmers to rescue animals behind fire lines
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