California county loses $20.4 million in crops to hail storm

Posted by IronPlanet on May 3, 2012 6:22:00 AM

On the whole, the weather this year has been very kind to farmers across the country. A very mild winter meant that planting was able to take place much sooner than normal, and farmers were able to take advantage and get their fields plowed and planted early. Unfortunately, the excellent weather was not uniform in every part of the country, and some areas suffered.

In Kings County, Calif., a vicious storm passed through the area in April, according to the Fresno Bee. The storm brought quarter-sized hail to the region and ruined many of the crops that farmers had already planted. Now, the news source reports that total damage for the county is approximately $20.4 million.

Various types of crops are planted in the area, but the most common are fruit trees, as the California climate makes orchards a smart choice for farmers. Unfortunately, these trees were also most susceptible to the hail, essentially getting shredded by the balls of ice.

"It virtually took everything," orchard owner John Tos told the news source. "About 90 percent of our peaches, nectarines, plums, prunes, apricots and cherries are gone."

The county is planning to apply for state and federal assistance - both levels of government offer low-interest loans to farmers to help them get back on their feet. The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that at least 30 percent of a region's crop be destroyed to approve the loan. Kings County deputy agricultural commissioner Steve Schweizer says that threshold has already been reached for plums and nectarines, and will likely be met for other crops as well.

Farmers who have suffered a loss will still need to plant their fields, but may be looking to do so at a reduced price. Used agricultural equipment bought through the online website IronPlanet is a good choice for this. The site offers a broad range of tractors, sprayers and other equipment, often at a more affordable price than buying new.

Topics: Industry Headlines