Logo courtesy of Sutter County

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – The 2025-26 Sutter County Grand Jury concluded the Sutter County Agricultural Department effectively supports local farming and protects consumers but recommended changes to improve transparency in pesticide enforcement and strengthen internal communication.

The June report found the department fulfills its mission of promoting agriculture, protecting the environment and ensuring fair business practices while responding to public concerns that included Industrial Hemp regulation, pesticide enforcement, pest exclusion and weights and measures inspections.

Jurors identified two areas needing improvement. The first involves how the department determines civil penalties for pesticide violations.

According to the report, investigators reviewed Notices of Proposed Action issued by the department but could not determine how final penalty amounts were calculated because no written standard exists.

"Without a clear guide, the process can be confusing for the public," the report stated. "It also makes it hard to prove that the fines are uniformly applied."

The Grand Jury recommended the department establish a written standard for assessing pesticide fines and document how final dollar amounts are determined for each enforcement action by Jan. 31, 2027. The Sutter County Board of Supervisors is required to respond to that recommendation within 90 days.

The second finding focused on internal communication.

Jurors found employees were sometimes assigned work outside their normal job duties without changes being communicated through supervisors. The Grand Jury recommended department leaders consistently follow existing office policies and written duty statements when assigning work to employees. That recommendation carries a target completion date of Oct. 31.

Despite those findings, the Grand Jury described the Agricultural Department as an effective operation with broad responsibilities supporting one of Sutter County's largest industries.

"The department works well with other government groups and does a good job of answering complaints from citizens," the report stated.

In 2024, Sutter County farms produced crops valued at more than $683 million. Department staff oversee pesticide enforcement, pest exclusion, crop quality inspections and weights and measures programs to protect both producers and consumers. The report noted inspectors recently tested commercial weighing devices at 130 locations and found 96 percent complied with state standards. The department also has operated an agricultural plastics recycling program since 2007, collecting more than 1.5 million pounds of plastic while supporting organic farming on more than 19,000 acres.

The investigation also examined the county's handling of Industrial Hemp, a subject that generated significant public debate before the Sutter County Board of Supervisors voted in December 2025 to prohibit commercial cultivation.

The Grand Jury reported that Agricultural Department staff provided documentation detailing the amount of staff time devoted to enforcing hemp regulations, evidence of violations by growers and the costs associated with destroying noncompliant crops and cleaning production sites. The report stated that department staff also described additional public safety concerns and law enforcement costs tied to hemp production.

The report concluded the information supported the board's decision to ban Industrial Hemp cultivation in Sutter County.

The Grand Jury's report requires responses from the Sutter County Board of Supervisors and invites a response from the Agricultural Commissioner addressing the recommendations for improving pesticide fine documentation and internal communication procedures.