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Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm
Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.
www.cfbf.com/agalert/2003/10_15_03_c_aa.aspx
Budget woes close 11 of state's border inspection stations
Issue Date: October 15, 2003
By By Kate Campbell
Assistant Editor
All 128 employees in the California Department of Food and Agriculture's border
inspection unit have been notified they're on the "120-day surplus staff list" and are
subject to layoff. In addition, the department said it will close 11 of the 16 border
inspection stations.
Since 1922, employees at the stations have stopped vehicles coming into California to
check for fruit, vegetables and livestock, to prevent damaging pests and diseases from
entering the state. The stations have long been viewed as an essential barrier to invasion
by damaging pests and organisms.
"These actions are being taken to meet the 16 percent General Fund reduction mandated
by the Legislature," said CDFA spokesperson Steve Lyle. "Cuts to the red imported fire ant
program that have already been announced also are part of these reductions."
He said the current cuts in staffing and programs do not reflect the additional 20 percent
cut in funding that the state Department of Finance has announced for January 2004. All
state departments currently are going through program reviews to determine where and
how further cuts will be made.
"Currently, we are in the 16 percent mode in terms of the reductions that are actually
being executed," Lyle said. "Like all state agencies, we had to take a 16 percent General
Fund cut and a 12 percent special Fund reduction in response to the Legislature's budget
passed in August. The cuts are going to continue to come at a very deep level."
Two years ago, the border inspection unit had a budget of about $10.3 million. Currently,
the budget is about $8.9 million, but will be reduced by an additional $4 million. That will
make the final budget $4.9 million. That funding level does not reflect the 20 percent cut
in funding that will follow in January.
As a result of the closures, the only agricultural inspection stations remaining open will be
at Yermo on Interstate 15; Vidal, I-95; Truckee, I-80; Needles, I-40; and Blythe, I-10. Lyle
said about 80 percent of the vehicle traffic entering the state passes through these
inspection stations.
Prior to the announcement of these most recent cuts, Lyle said CDFA had already
eliminated seasonal inspection workers and, beginning about three months ago, private
passenger vehicles were no longer inspected.
The Pest Exclusion Branch keeps dangerous plant pests out of the state and stops or
reduces the spread of newly arrived pests or diseases. The branch operates inspection
stations along California's borders to screen vehicles for unwanted pests.
Large shipments entering by land, sea or air are inspected at unloading and transfer sites
within the state. The branch also manages programs for nursery crops, seeds and cotton
to ensure that quality standards are met and provides a certification program for
exporters who want to ship pest-free agricultural products to other states and countries.
The costs to manage and eradicate recent pest infestations and disease outbreaks have
been considerable. For example, the recent Mexican fruit fly quarantine in San Diego
County cost state and federal governments about $22 million. If red imported fire ants
were to become established throughout California, experts have estimated the cost of
treatment and control would be between $387 million and $989 million per year.
The Southern California quarantine for exotic Newcastle disease cost more than $160
million and resulted in the depopulation of 3.16 million birds, including destruction of 21
commercial flocks.
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm
Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.
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