Cherry farmers experience huge losses this year; county seeking disaster declaration from USDA

Aug. 17--A warm winter with a late frost devastated many local cherry growers this year, adding another year to the string of difficult growing seasons cherry farmers have experienced recently.

The Kern County Department of Agriculture is in the process of requesting a declaration of emergency from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"I have many neighbors on large acreages that did not put a ladder in the field," said Steve Murray, a local cherry grower whose orchards had not been hit as hard by the weather conditions as other farmers in the area.

A survey of local farmers by the county Agriculture Department revealed a 77 percent loss in overall production, equating to about $50 million in financial losses.

"The smaller farmers that go to local farmers markets, many of them are totally wiped out," Murray said.

Farmers ran into trouble in January, when above-normal temperatures did not allow many cherry trees in Kern County to experience the chill hours needed in order for a maximum yield to occur.

Then, in February, a late freeze knocked out much of the crop that had survived the warmth of January.

"It was a really poor cherry year in Kern County," said Bruce Frost, who owns 40 acres of cherry orchards east of Bakersfield. "I had a decent crop and made good money on it, but most of the other farmers didn't."

Frost said he installed shades above his cherry trees to allow the trees to chill in the winter. The shades also protect the trees from hail and rain in the spring and summer.

"Two years ago, I made a decision. I either needed to quit growing cherries in Kern County or I needed to fix my problem," Frost said. "So I spent a lot of money to fix my problem and I think I did."

Both cherry farmers said growing in Kern County has become more difficult over the last 10 years.

Cerise Montanio, deputy director of the county Agriculture Department, said the department sought disaster declarations a few times in the last five years.

"It's almost on an annual basis where we have some kind of natural event that effects (cherry) production," she said.

In 2014, cherry growers experienced a 75 percent and a more than 70 percent loss in 2015, Montanio said. In 2016, they saw a 32 percent loss in production.

"Some years we've had hailstorms that come through, high-wind storms that knock the blossoms off the trees so the fruit can't grow," Montanio said. "Just because it's a common occurrence doesn't mean it's any less bad. It's still devastating to the growers because they have the potential of a full crop."

If the USDA issues a disaster declaration, emergency loans and grant money become available to the farmers affected. Insurance companies also look for disaster declarations before they make payouts.

"When they have these disaster years, they are able to get insurance money so they can continue trying to farm and hope for a productive year," Montanio said.

But as the tough years keep coming, local cherry farmers may have to change their ways in order to survive.

"A lot of people are saying this year that they are not willing to keep beating their head against the wall," Murray said. "A number of growers have abandoned cherries and gone into almonds or pistachios."

There is no timeline for the USDA to accept or reject the county's request for a disaster declaration, Montanio said.

Until a decision is made, local farmers will wait for relief, and hope for better returns next year.

Sam Morgen can be reached at 661-395-7415. Follow him on Twitter: @smorgenTBC.

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