Placer County Approves Plan to Strengthen Local Farming
Mar 25, 2026 04:30PM ● By Placer County News Release
“Agriculture is at the heart of what makes Placer County special,” said Placer County Department of Agriculture, Parks and Natural Resources Director Josh Huntsinger." Photo courtesy of Placer County
AUBURN, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to invest in the future of local farming, approving a contract with PlaceWorks Inc. to create the Placer County Agriculture Resilience Initiative.
The total cost is $549,665. The state of California will pay $500,000 of that through a grant from the California Department of Conservation. Placer County will add the remaining $49,665.
The initiative will create a roadmap for the county’s farming industry.
It will cover six key areas: the economic value of farming, which farmlands are most at risk of being developed, how to protect the best farmland, housing for farm workers, how farms can better prepare for climate challenges and how to grow agricultural tourism.
“Agriculture is at the heart of what makes Placer County special,” said Placer County Department of Agriculture, Parks and Natural Resources Director Josh Huntsinger. “This plan will give us the tools to protect our farming heritage, support the people who work the land and grow the agricultural economy for the next generation. We are grateful for the state’s support and look forward to working closely with our farming community every step of the way.”
Farmers, ranchers and other community members will have a chance to share their ideas through meetings, interviews and online events.
The team behind the plan — PlaceWorks and its partners, Ag Innovations Network and BAE — will use that input to shape the final document.
The work is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2027. The final plan will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval. It is timed to align with the county’s General Plan Update, making sure farming needs are built into long-range county planning.
For more information, contact the Department of Agriculture, Parks, and Natural Resources at 530-889-7372 or visit https://www.placer.ca.gov/1505/Agricultural-Commissioner.
AUBURN, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to invest in the future of local farming, approving a contract with PlaceWorks Inc. to create the Placer County Agriculture Resilience Initiative.
The total cost is $549,665. The state of California will pay $500,000 of that through a grant from the California Department of Conservation. Placer County will add the remaining $49,665.
The initiative will create a roadmap for the county’s farming industry.
It will cover six key areas: the economic value of farming, which farmlands are most at risk of being developed, how to protect the best farmland, housing for farm workers, how farms can better prepare for climate challenges and how to grow agricultural tourism.
“Agriculture is at the heart of what makes Placer County special,” said Placer County Department of Agriculture, Parks and Natural Resources Director Josh Huntsinger. “This plan will give us the tools to protect our farming heritage, support the people who work the land and grow the agricultural economy for the next generation. We are grateful for the state’s support and look forward to working closely with our farming community every step of the way.”
Farmers, ranchers and other community members will have a chance to share their ideas through meetings, interviews and online events.
The team behind the plan — PlaceWorks and its partners, Ag Innovations Network and BAE — will use that input to shape the final document.
The work is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2027. The final plan will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval. It is timed to align with the county’s General Plan Update, making sure farming needs are built into long-range county planning.
For more information, contact the Department of Agriculture, Parks, and Natural Resources at 530-889-7372 or visit https://www.placer.ca.gov/1505/Agricultural-Commissioner.
