Heavy rains have soaked California, with many of the state’s key agricultural areas now battling a “catastrophic level of water.”
Those words come from Tricia Stever Blattler, executive director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. Blatter estimates that as many as 100,000 acres of San Joaquin Valley farmland are underwater, including cropland used to grow staples like tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Things are equally damp in areas like Watsonville and Salina, where one-fifth of the region’s strawberry farms have been flooded.
“When the water recedes, what does the field look like — if it is even a field anymore?” asks Jeff Cardinale, spokesperson for the California Strawberry Commission in Watsonsville. “It could just be a muddy mess where there is nothing left.”
Last month, Governor Newsom responded to recent weather events — including rainfall, heavy snowfall, and an atmospheric river — by declaring a state of emergency for southern California counties like San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and Ventura. In addition to providing some tips for storm safety, Gov. Newsom also pledged his help, stating that “California is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to the impacts of this storm.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has now offered its own assistance, too. Growers and livestock producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA office, report their losses, and learn about the department’s current options for technical and financial help. These options currently include the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Tree Assistance Program, the Emergency Conservation Program, and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish.
“USDA stands ready to assist California farmers, livestock producers, landowners, and communities clean up and restore farmland, forests, and watersheds in the aftermath of these devastating storms,” promises Robert Bonnie, the Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at USDA.
Click here to find your local USDA service center and begin researching your options for weather-related financial assistance.
In the meantime, your friends at the nearest FGS supply store are standing by to supply you with any weather-related tools for the job, including tarps, sandbags, canopies, and rain gear. We’re just a short drive away.
Stay dry!