Storms’ toll on local growers not yet known

The storms that brought chaos to the Lodi area are beginning to move on. They’ve left a path of destruction in their wake, from potholes to downed trees and other damage.

For Lodi-area farmers, though, it could be months before they will know the true cost of the storms.

Some of the damage — breached or broken levees, debris carried in by flood waters — is obvious. Some crops, like wheat, will turn yellow as it becomes water-logged.

But the standing water could cause plenty of damage to trees and vines, and farmers won’t know until late in the spring.

“(Grapevines) are dormant right now,” said Joe Valente, vineyard manager of Kautz Farms. “Until they come out of dormancy and leaf out, it’s harder to assess it.”

Fruit and nut trees, like grapevines, store energy over the winter, San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner Tim Pelican said. In the spring, that energy is used to produce flowers and young leaves.

If a plant’s root system is damaged or rotting, however, it won’t be able to absorb nutrients and water from the soil, and it won’t produce any fruit, he said.

“If they set in water too long, it’ll kill the root system,” Pelican said. “We won’t know the damage that’s done until they bloom.”

The storms didn’t just affect future crops, either, he said.

Farmers who produce dried beans also lost large portions of their crops. Although the harvest was in the fall, beans were spread to dry outdoors.

Then the rains came. Some of the beans sprouted, and others grew mold, Pelican said.

For farmers, the county Board of Supervisors’ vote to declare a local emergency is just the first step in what could be a months-long process.

The declaration allows reclamation districts, along with police, fire, and other county services, to react immediately to the most pressing threat to public safety with the county’s limited resources, whether that’s a downed power pole on a city street or a broken levee in a rural area, Supervisor Chuck Winn said.

“Their employees are out there doing a remarkable job addressing the needs of this county, especially with all the water coming through,” he said.

Agricultural areas are as much of a concern as city streets, he added.

“Some of the initial (levee) breaks only affected agriculture,” Winn said. “The reality is, it’s all important.”

The declaration sets the ball rolling so that farmers who have lost their harvest or who may discover damages down the road can get assistance paying for it, Valente said.

Those facing unexpected emergency costs, such as repairing a levee, pumping water from a field, or clearing debris can also get some help.

Farmers who need aid may be able to qualify for low-interest loans or other assistance due to the declaration, Valente said.

But until spring comes and leaves begin to emerge, the county won’t know the full extent of the storm damage.

“Until the water recedes, and we get some sunlight, we really don’t know,” Valente said.

Contact Lodi Living Editor Kyla Cathey at kyla@lodi news.com.