The region's agriculture industry already has highly productive lands, plentiful water and top-notch research at UC Davis. But officials say there's something missing.  

"…put an ombudsman for agriculture in place."

Jim Allen is Solano County's Agriculture Commissioner. He told Yolo County Supervisors that creating an ombudsman position to handle both counties would help entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality…and help deal with regulatory issues that block growth.

"They don't just help the growers or the wannabe producers or people who want to have value-added find their way through the regulatory structure. They also work on the regulatory side so that the regulators give the most efficient answers and the people don't go down a bad path."

Yolo and Solano county officials say they'll find the money for a public-private partnership to create an agriculture ombudsman program.