Monterey County Pest Detection and Exclusion Programs

ERIC LAURITZEN 

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER & SEALER of WEIGHTS & MEASURES 

Monterey County 

Pest Detection and 

Exclusion Programs 

1

Pest Detection Program 



A. The primary responsibilities: 

A. Early Detection and Eradication 

B. Statewide Trapping Program 

B. The primary objectives 

A. To find insect pests before they infest an area 

B. Insects targeted for detection: 

a) Fruit flies (Oriental, Medfly, etc.) 

b) Japanese beetle, 

c) Gypsy moth 

d) Asian Citrus Psyllid. 

2

Exclusion Program 



A. The Agricultural Commissioner, in cooperation with 

CDFA and USDA work to enforce: 

A. Federal, Foreign and Domestic Quarantines 

B. California and County Quarantines 

Pest exclusion is the cornerstone of keeping exotic 

pests from invading 

3

Exclusion Inspections 



A. Exterior Pest Exclusion 

A. border station inspections of vehicles 

B. Interior Pest Exclusion 

A. Enforcement of quarantines 

B. Inspection of packages 

C. Phytosanitary certification 

C. Nursery and Seed 

A. Licensing 

B. Plant cleanliness 

C. Registration and certification 

D. Truth in labeling 

4

Export Requirements 



A. Phytosanitary Certification 

A. Shipments for export must be certified 

B. Certify the commodity is free of pests of concern 

B. Agricultural Commissioner staff 

A. Provide inspection and certification 

B. Issue federal and state certificates 

5

Nursery Program 



The mission of the Nursery Program 

A. Prevent the introduction and spread of pests 

B. Protect against economic losses 

The Nursery Program fulfills two roles: 

A. Coordinate inspection and regulatory activities 

B. Provide registration and certification 

6

Seed Law Enforcement 



Seed Program 

A. Regulates the marketing of seeds 

B. Tests for seed purity and germination 

C. Investigates seed complaints 

D. Works to prevent the transmission of weed seeds 

The goal of seed law enforcement is to protect 

consumers 

7

Field Communications 

Monterey County 

Agricultural Commissioner’s Office

Grower/Packer communication 

Communication with irrigators 

Communication with nearby residents 

Different types of posting signs 

Neighbor responsibilities with fumigants 

Phase II fumigant update

Grower/Packer Communication

Purpose of Regulations 

• Worker right-to-know 

• Potential work site 

pesticide hazards 

• Unimpeded to their 

pesticide use records 

• Prevent employees 

from entering fields 

before it is safe

Field Worker Pesticide Safety Training 

Training is required: 

• Before working in a 

treated field 

• At least once every 5 

years 

• Conducted by a 

Qualified trainer 

• In a language 

employee 

understands

Application-Specific Information: 

• Must be at a central 

location 

• Within 24 hours of 

completed application 

• Prior to fieldworkers 

entering a field 

• Displayed for 30 days 

plus REI 

Fieldworkers

Notice of Application 

Employer’s Responsibility 

Employers must tell 

employees and 

contractors working 

within ¼ mile: 

• REI 

• Date of application 

• Location 

• Not to enter the field

Emergency Medical Care Knowledge 

• Planned in advance 

• Employees or 

supervisor informed 

• Employees must be 

taken to a physician 

immediately when you 

suspect an illness

Communication with Irrigators

Basic Requirements of an 

Restricted Entry Interval (REI) 

• Employees must not go 

into a field for any reason 

for at least four (4) hours 

following any pesticide 

application 

• Unless they will not touch 

surfaces with pesticide 

residue 

• No hand labor tasks are 

allowed during the REI

Accepted Irrigation Activities 

During an REI

Workers With No Contact 

• Greenhouses - After any 

inhalation exposure 

level, or ventilation 

criteria has been met 

• WPS provides for entry 

without PPE only when 

there will be no contact 

with the pesticides or 

pesticide residues

Accepted Irrigation Activities 

During an REI (No Contact continued) 

• Workers may walk, or 

perform other tasks 

• In furrows after the 

pesticides have been 

applied to the soil 

surface 

• Provided there is no 

contact with treated 

surfaces

Communication with 

Nearby Residents

Label Buffer Requirements 

• Certain pesticides have 

label specific air or ground 

application buffer 

distances 

• Read and follow the label 

• Check your permit for 

additional conditions

Posting Requirements 

• Federal Requirements 

• State Requirements 

• Monterey County Posting Regulation

State Posting 

Regulations 

Field Posting Required if: 

• Label requires double 

notification 

• REI > 7 days 

• Field Fumigations 

Mty County Posting 

Regulation 

Field Posting Required if: 

• REI 24 hours, or more

State Posting 

Regulations 

• Dormant, pre-plant 

and pre-emergent 

applications 

• Post every 600 feet 

along public, unfenced 

right-of-way 

Mty County Posting 

Regulation 

• No posting for 

dormant, pre-plant, or 

pre-emergent or 

applications not made 

directly onto plant 

foliage 

• Additional language 

when REI > 7 days or 

when a fumigant is 

applied

Posting at Greenhouses

California Code of Regulations Requires: 

• Posting for all 

greenhouse 

pesticide 

applications 

• Regardless of 

restricted entry 

interval (REI)

Label Required Field Postings

Fumigation Posting

Neighbor Responsibilities & 

Fumigants

What are my 

responsibilities after 

signing a Buffer Zone 

encroachment agreement? 

• Allow Inner Buffer Zone 

(IBZ) signs to be on your 

property 

• Assure no one enters the 

IBZ for the duration of the 

Restricted Entry Interval 

(except to transit) 

• Notify employees, Farm 

Labor Contractors, and 

Pest Control Businesses of 

the IBZ

What are my 

responsibilities 

after signing an 

Outer Buffer Zone 

(OBZ) agreement? 

• Assure that one enters the 

OBZ except to transit, or to 

perform farm labor 

activities 

• Provide notice to employees

Phase II Fumigant Updates

Difficult to Evacuate Sites 

Labels now specifically identify 

“Difficult to Evacuate Sites” 

• State licensed daycare 

centers 

• Assisted living facilities 

• Schools (K-12) 

• Nursing homes 

• Hospitals 

• In-patient clinics 

• Prisons

Emergency Preparedness and 

Response Measures 

Intended to: 

• Prevent risks from 

the use of fumigants 

• Prepare in case of an 

emergency 

• Requirement based 

on size of buffer 

zone and distance to 

people

Summary 

Grower/Packer communication 

Communication with irrigators 

Communication with nearby residents 

Different types of posting signs 

Neighbor responsibilities with fumigants 

Phase II fumigants update

Questions ?

Monterey County Pest Detection and Exclusion Programs

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