Yuma County pushing for AG Tech lease termination amid uptick in fly infestation

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Yuma County officials have formally requested that the state terminate a lease held by a biosolids company, arguing that its operations are negatively affecting local residents, agriculture, and businesses.

In December, the County sent a letter to the State Land Department seeking to end the lease for AG Tech LLC. County leaders stated that the company’s activities have contributed to ongoing environmental and quality-of-life concerns in the region.

Yuma County has dealt with a persistent fly infestation for several years, which officials believe may be linked to AG Tech’s operations. In its letter, the County wrote, “Residents, agricultural producers, and community stakeholders have experienced persistent nuisances attributed to AG Tech’s operations, including overwhelming odors, severe fly infestations, and the spread of dust and debris from the use of biosolids on state land.”

The County also cited economic impacts on local agriculture, noting in the letter that “local date growers have reported significant crop losses, amounting to millions of dollars every year, which they attribute to conditions aggravated by the biosolid application.”

Yuma County District 2 Supervisor Jonathan Lines emphasized the County’s efforts to address the situation, saying, “We have asked for accountability and compliance from [the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality]. We’ve also asked that their contract be reviewed. They are now on a month-to-month because their lease expired and we’ve asked for ADEQ to shut down their operations in Yuma County.”

The issue gained widespread attention after Tyler Woodman - owner of The Lemon Grove - shared his concerns on the challenges faced by his business.

“It’s been affecting us in a multitude of ways," Woodman said. "I mean - number one - our customers have to swat at everything and it’s hard for us to keep our kitchen clean we’re having to bleach every square inch of this place,” he said.

Following the County’s letter, a vector control team - working on Yuma County's behalf - according to Lines, inspected the land for evidence of fly breeding but did not find any. While the land in question is owned by the State Land Department, the Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for overseeing biosolids management.

Lines added that County officials have escalated their concerns to state leadership, stating, “We have sent letters to every director, and the governor, as well, asking for them to intercede on behalf of the County, to give the County rights in accepting into our land on behalf of our residents.”

AG Tech LLC was not available for comment. County officials say their efforts to address the issue are ongoing.