Ag Pass Offers Help During Disaster, County Says

LA MESA, CA — San Diego County's Agricultural and Livestock Pass is now a permanent fixture for farmers throughout the county thanks to a vote by San Diego County Supervisors during its April 4 meeting approving the immediate rollout of full implementation of the program.

The Ag Pass allows for farmers to return home to care for livestock in the event of a mandatory evacuation due to a disaster such as a wildfire or earthquake.

"Disasters and wildfires threaten lives and businesses in San Diego County each year," the county explained in a news release. "Often people are forced to gather up their most important possessions and evacuate to safety. But commercial livestock operations may be too large to evacuate all their animals immediately and need to return as quickly as possible to care for animals."

The Ag Pass also allows for farmers to return to care for crops, irrigation systems, farm equipment and other essential infrastructure, the county said.

While the Ag Pass will allow farmers and farm operators to return to their farms while a mandatory evacuation is ongoing, they are still required to evacuate when mandatory evacuation orders ares given, the news release said.

"When fire and law enforcement leaders allow, Ag Pass holders will be able to return to the area to move, feed and provide veterinary care of livestock, or work on irrigation systems, farm equipment and other essential infrastructure," the news release said.

According to the county the Ag Pass access is limited to daylight hours and doesn’t guarantee entry to an evacuated area.

"Fire and law enforcement officials make the decision for entry based on fire behavior and public safety," the county said.

To take advantage of the program, commercial operators and managerial employees must attend a four-hour fire safety training and take annual refresher training, the county said, adding that to date, 76 Ag Pass identification cards have been issued to individuals at 28 companies in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County.

The pilot program started last year was limited to cattle and equine operations, but with the last week's approval by the county supervisors, the program is now offering access to more than 4,000 commercial agriculture and livestock operators in the unincorporated area, the county said.

Farmers and farm operators can apply for the Ag Pass program to return to an evacuated area to help when the threat diminishes by clicking here.