Wildfire update from the California Farm Bureau Federation

» Posted Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007 «

Updated 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007

Wildfires and strong winds have harmed crops and livestock in many parts of Southern California. Percentages of damage and dollar-loss figures will be hard to come by for several days, because farmers, ranchers, nursery owners and agricultural officials will need time to assess losses once the fires and winds have died down.

The California Farm Bureau Federation reports the following impacts on individual crops and commodities, based on interviews today with individual farmers and ranchers and with representatives of commodity organizations:

Avocados: Avocados have been affected by both wind and fire. Marketers have estimated that at least 10 percent of the state’s overall crop will be lost. Impact on prices and supplies will be moderated by the availability of avocados from other growing regions. A California Avocado Commission representative says fierce winds blew fruit from trees in Orange, Riverside, San Diego and Ventura counties. Groves have also been damaged by fire, particularly in San Diego County. The commission will survey farmers to gather updated information about losses, but the combination of wind and fire causes serious concerns.

Lemons: Farmers report wind damage in lemon groves, as lemons knocked against limbs during the windstorms. That can cause scarring on the outside of the fruit. There are no estimates yet as to how much of the crop has been affected. The grower organization California Citrus Mutual says it does not expect significant damage to the crop.

Winegrapes: Most winegrapes have been harvested in Southern California, but there’s concern about fire damage to vineyards, particularly in the Ramona Valley region of San Diego County. The California Association of Winegrape Growers reports that one Ramona-area winery was destroyed by fire. The Los Angeles County agricultural commissioner’s office says winegrapes grown near Malibu escaped damage; one farm in that area has resumed harvest.

Nursery crops: The California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers says it is working to assess damage. Many nurseries have been evacuated and their owners have not been able to return to learn if there has been damage. San Diego County leads the state in production of nursery crops and a number of plant nurseries sit in the path of wildfires.

Pumpkins: Dust blown by high winds scarred pumpkins awaiting sale for Halloween; the Riverside County Farm Bureau said pumpkins there had been “sandblasted.” A popular pumpkin patch in the Saugus area suffered fire damage. The Los Angeles County agricultural commissioner’s office said the fire scorched pumpkins and also burned storage bins, hay bales, antique vehicles and one home on the property.

Strawberries: Most strawberries grow in regions near the coast. The California Strawberry Commission says farmers have not reported damage to date. Southern California farmers have just planted berries to be harvested near Christmas. Farmers express concern about the hot, dry weather, which is not good for the strawberry plants. Farmers are irrigating their plants to compensate and the commission says it expects little impact on production.

Chickens:The Pacific Egg and Poultry Association reports fire damage to some egg ranches in San Diego County. It has received no reports of hen losses, but it says outbuildings have burned. In addition, ranches have lost power at times. Most farms have backup generators to keep cooling and ventilation systems in operation. Local authorities have worked with the Highway Patrol to maintain deliveries of feed to egg ranches and to assure that eggs can be delivered.

Dairy cattle: The state Department of Food and Agriculture and other agencies have been working to make sure milk tanker trucks can reach dairy farms in the fire area. Cows must be milked regularly to protect their health and the perishable milk must be moved quickly to processing facilities, which is complicated by road closures in Southern California. Dairy farms in the Ontario area have suffered structural damage from the strong winds. Farmers have been removing wind-blown debris from their farms to protect their cows, and keeping the cows cool by using misters.

Beef cattle: Ranchers in Southern California say they expect to see beef cattle and other livestock lost in the wildfires. Many ranchers have been unable to return to their land to determine the fate of their animals. Most California rangelands were already in very poor condition because of dry weather, and a San Diego County cattle rancher told us the fire had burned what forage remained on his land. As a result, he said he would be forced to sell his remaining heifers, though he will keep any pregnant cows and feed them hay. A Ventura County rancher and brand inspector says she expects it will take a week after the fires are out for anyone to be certain how many cattle have been lost. She expects the number to be low, though, in part because herd sizes had already been reduced because of the drought.

Horses: Thousands of horses have been evacuated to fairgrounds and other facilities. More than 2,400 have been sheltered at the Del Mar fairgrounds in San Diego County. The California Department of Food and Agriculture says it is working to supply hay for the animals. For every 100 horses being sheltered, officials need to find about 1 ton of hay per day.

Goats: Fire killed 52 goats that gathered in a shelter near Malibu, according to the Los Angeles County agricultural commissioner’s office. In a sad irony, the owner kept the goats to lease to landowners for brush clearing, in order to reduce fire danger.

The California Farm Bureau Federation, the state’s largest farm organization, works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 92,000 members.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

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