Valley farmers and ranchers are focused on filling out applications for
drought relief money.
Millions of dollars in aid programs are available.
Much of it is coming through after President Obama's visit to Fresno.
CBS47's Lemor Abrams has more on a meeting in Fresno organized by the
Department of Agriculture.
As California's record drought worsens, threatening to increase the price of
dairy, food, and even wine products...
Farmers are using all the resources they can get.
"We're in a tough situation. We've had to purchase hey that we normally do
and sell twenty five percent of our calves already, said Cattle Farmer Kenny
Behling."
The bottom line is, Kenny Behling doesn't have the supply needed to maintain
his ranch.
"We can't operate like we normally do. Just cause of the hardship this
drought has caused us," he said.
He joined other farmers and ranchers at the Fresno Co. Farm Bureau, where
reps from various USDA agencies set up shop to offer help.
Help comes in the form of reimbursements for feed-costs, conservation
measures to protect soil, and water hauling programs to fill their wells.
"I think a lot of people will be eligible -it's just... they're going to do
their part and we'll do our part," said David Durham of the USDA's Conservation
Agency.
The bulk of the aid comes in through a $25 million relief package made
available after President Obama's visit to Fresno.
Application deadlines are fast approaching.
And still, some farmers will have to find help in other ways.
Unfortunately there's currently not a lot of services for crop growers.
Government not decided they're in position to help put in wells for crop
producers," said Russ Friend of USDA's Farm Service Agency.