WE ARE GETTING A BETTER IDEA OF
THE IMPACT THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON THE
AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.
EDIE: A NEW STUDY ON AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTION IN THE STATE
ESTIMATES THAT LOSSES TO
CALIFORNIA FARMS AND RANCHES
COULD BE AS HIGH AS $8.6 BILLION
THIS YEAR.
SOME OF THE TOP 4 COMMODITIES
WITH PROJECTED LOSSES, FOUR OF
THEM ARE PRODUCED IN SAN JOAQUIN
COUNTY
DAIRY, WALNUTS, ALMONDS, AND
WINE GRAPES ARE ALL BEING
CHALLENGED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
ALONG WITH THE LOSS OF THE FOOD
SERVICE TRADE, FARMERS HAVE HAD
TO ADD COST FOR SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS.
>> ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
BECAUSE OF COVID, SOCIAL
DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS, TRYING
TO PUT THAT INTO YOUR
AGRICULTURAL OPERATION, WORKING
FEWER PEOPLE, SPREADING THEM OUT
MORE, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE
DRIVING THE COST UP AND AT THE
SAME TIME WE ARE SEEING THE
PRICES DECLINE, SO HIGHER COSTS
LOWER PRICES, BAD SCENARIO FOR
THE GROWER.
THE HOG PRICES WERE 30 CENTS A
POUND.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PRICES
THAT LOW IN MY LIFE.
EDIE: THE FIRST CROP HARVESTS --
HARVESTED THIS YEAR, CHERRIES,
WERE HIT AND MISS.
BLODGETT SAYS SOME RELIEF
