Tehama County reports 40 percent loss in almond crop

RED BLUFF – The Tehama County Department of Agriculture requested a declaration of disaster Monday from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services after the almond crop damage report showed a 40 percent loss.

The request was sent by Agricultural Commissioner Rick Gurrola.

According to the official request form, the damage has been estimated at $19,536,084.

The loss percentage is based on the average of the past five years.

In the form, crop loss is broken up by percentage of farms versus percentage of damage.

For example, 30 percent of the 62 farms in Tehama County faced 30-39 percent crop loss with another 30 percent facing 40-49 percent crop loss.

Ten percent of farms caught the worst of it, facing up to 79 percent loss.

Most of the damage came in February during a string of 11 particularly cold days, four of which saw lows between 26 and 28 degrees.

A county can request a declaration of disaster when crop damage exceeds 30 percent of the previous five-year average.

While the request focuses on almonds, the prune harvest may also be a concern, though data is still needed.

“There’s going to be a reduction on the crop but there’s still no firm answer on whether or not it is weather related,” Gurrola said.

The process, Gurrola said, consists of the California Branch of the US Department of Agriculture reviewing the county’s numbers. If it finds the same amount of loss, then the request can be sent to the federal office in Washington D.C. and local farms may qualify for aid, such as low interest loans.

Information is still being processed regarding prunes as well as winter range grassland for grazing.