Ag Pass Training- North County

6100 Wallace Becknell Road,Santa Barbara CA 93117

08 May, 2023

Description

In order to attend training, please fill out an application and submit it to the Ag Commissioner's Office. Once you have completed the application it will be reviewed and you will receive a communication from the Ag Commissioner's Office with further instructions. Ag Pass holders renewing their pass just need to attend the training and do not need to submit another application. Ag Pass Website The purpose of creating a county-based “Ag Pass” program is to provide a uniform way to identify vetted commercial farm and ranch owner-operators and their employees to firefighting personnel, California Highway Patrol officers, Sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement officers, and other emergency personnel. Possession of an Ag Pass during a wildfire or a similar disaster (or, “all-hazard” emergency) potentially allows the agriculturalist limited emergency access to areas that may otherwise be restricted to the public, in order to 1) protect or care for agricultural assets (such as irrigating crops or feeding, watering, and transporting livestock) and/or 2) provide support information to emergency personnel (such as identifying access roads and water points). Ag Pass cards are applied for by and distributed to eligible agriculturalists before a disaster. The application process is designed to confirm that the cardholder is a bona fide agricultural owner-operator or employee whose services are essential to providing protection or care to agricultural assets, such as livestock, croplands, vineyards, and orchards. Individuals eligible for the Ag Pass must be key personnel who have a working knowledge of the agricultural property, including access to irrigation systems, farm equipment, and other essential infrastructure. Before the Ag Pass is provided, they will be provided training in emergency procedures and understand that their role is to provided limited protection and/or care to the agricultural operation, not to fight fire or act as first responders during disaster. Possession of an Ag Pass card does not grant any rights or privileges and does not necessarily mean the cardholder will be able to pass through road closures to get to their farm or ranch. If there is imminent danger, front-line emergency personnel are empowered to use discretion when it comes to protecting emergency crews and the public from unnecessary exposure to risk. However, in those cases when the boundaries of the closure area include agricultural land not deemed at imminent risk, the cards may allow employees or owners access to agricultural property, at the discretion of front-line emergency personnel.