Abandoned crops bring pest plague to adjacent farms
California farmers, agricultural commissioners and lawmakers have in recent months sounded an alarm about a troubling symptom of the state’s struggling farm economy. “Everywhere you turn there’s an abandoned vineyard,” said Randy Baranek, project manager for the Stanislaus County-based agricultural service provider Fowler Brothers. He estimated there are twice as many untended grapevines in the Central Valley this year than he has ever seen. … The phenomenon has led to widespread concern that pests harbored in abandoned orchards and vineyards could impact adjacent farms. … Farmers cautioned that the situation could get worse before it improves. While almond prices have improved this year, the winegrape market has not. Meanwhile, limits on groundwater pumping under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act have led some growers in parts of the San Joaquin Valley to begin abandoning orchards.
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