Wildfire update from the California Farm Bureau Federation

» Posted 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 «

Here are the estimates we have gathered to date about losses attributed to the windstorms and wildfires that struck Southern California in late October:

Riverside County: An updated estimate issued Friday shows nearly $15 million in losses, mostly from the windstorms. Affected crops include nursery products, avocados and lost production of milk and eggs. The Riverside County agricultural commissioner’s office attributes $1.3 million of losses to wildfire, which it includes in the figure of $14.98 million in crop losses.

San Diego County: The county agricultural commissioner estimated that farmers had suffered $30 million in losses related to a single wildfire, the Rice Canyon fire that hit the Fallbrook and Rainbow regions. The estimate includes $17.6 million in losses to 218 acres of ornamental nursery plants; $4.7 million in losses to 217 acres of cut flowers; $2.5 million in losses to 486 acres of avocados; and smaller losses for crops including lemons, persimmons and macadamia nuts. San Diego County says it plans future reports on agricultural losses from the Harris, Poomacha and Witch Creek fires.

Ventura County: A preliminary estimate of losses to windstorms suggests $10 million to $15 million in damage to avocados that were blown from trees. The county agricultural commissioner says the true extent of losses won’t be known for awhile, in part because wind scarring to lemons can’t be factored in until farmers learn how much of their crops will be downgraded at harvest.

The California Avocado Commission continues to estimate a 10 percent loss in avocado production in the current crop year, which it values at approximately $35 million. That figure includes losses both due to wind and fire. It does not include losses or damage to avocado trees, which could affect California avocado production for several years to come. Despite the losses to the current crop, the Avocado Commission says it expects overall supplies of California avocados to remain near average levels achieved in recent years.

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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