The USDA is stepping in after the disastrous winter storms and floods in Mendocino County. Emergency farm loans for both physical and crop production losses as a direct result of the disaster, up to a maximum of $500,000, are now available. Farmers and ranchers who conduct family-sized farming operations are eligible. For information, you can get in touch with the local Farm Service Agency in Ukiah. There is also access through a link on the website, fsa.usa.gov. Weeks of heavy rain starting late last year into January did billions of dollars’ worth of damage across California. President Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for hard-hit communities.
A troubling report from the US Department of Agriculture about trees in Lake County. The report shows trees are dying at an alarming rate, growing from 3,000 dead trees in 2019 to 590,000 in 2022. The Lake County District 5 supervisor, Jessica Pyska, is leading the effort to sound the alarm about the critical loss. The county declared a tree mortality emergency last May and helped surrounding counties declare their own emergency plans. Entomologists say removing dead or dying trees is critical to mitigating the effect of the bark beetle infestation that has ripped through northern California woodlots. Remediation is expensive. It could cost more than 12 million dollars for in high-priority areas alone. The county says it is working hard to get that funding from every source available. Pyska says the report confirms the scope of the problem and should bring attention and urgency to a very serious issue for the county.
