The County of Monterey elected to include an Agricultural Element as part of the County’s General Plan, administered by the County’s Housing and Community Development Department. The Agricultural Element establishes policies directed at enhancing and supporting long-term productivity and commercial viability of the County’s agricultural industry.

The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office is involved and consulted on a wide variety and often controversial agricultural land use issues in the County of Monterey. To learn more about the work of the Agricultural Commissioner’s relating to agricultural land use topics, committees and programs, see below:

Agricultural Advisory Committee
Our staff facilitates the Agricultural Advisory Committee, a committee established to advise the Board of Supervisors on land use and issues affecting, or of interest to, the agricultural industry.

Williamson Act Program
Agricultural Commissioner staff serves on the Agricultural Preserve Review Committee to monitor the County Williamson Act Program and review applications for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones. Learn more about the program and qualification process.

AG Pass Program
Program created for commercial agricultural operation or educational institutions to potentially access their agricultural assets during disaster situations.

Emergencies & Disasters
Information for the agriculture industry concerning current local emergencies and disasters.

Erosion and Runoff Control
Information for growers dealing with erosion and stormwater runoff - plan ahead, protect & maintain, resources for assistance.

Environmental & External Affairs
The Agricultural Commissioner actively engages in locally-relevant issues such as food safety and environmental resource protection, and provides support for county-wide educational and leadership programs.

Questions about agricultural land use and resource protection may be directed to:
Nadia Ochoa, Agricultural Resources and Policy Manager
County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
Email: OchoaN1@countyofmonterey.gov
Phone: (831) 759-7384.