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Madera County Ag Commissioner reports 50.8% cherry crop loss, seeks disaster declaration
Summary
Madera County Agricultural Commissioner Rusty Lansberger told the board growers reported roughly a 50.84% cherry yield loss from April storms and said a secretarial disaster declaration request has been submitted to the Office of Emergency Services.
Rusty Lansberger, Madera County agricultural commissioner and sealer of weights and measures, briefed the Board of Supervisors on May 12 about extensive cherry crop damage during April 10–27 storms. He said a grower survey found a 50.84 percent loss in production, with an average yield of about two tons per acre compared with a five‑year average of 3.9 tons per acre. Lansberger estimated the financial impact to county cherry producers at about $5,500,000.
Lansberger told the board the losses were caused by rain splitting the fruit and hail and high winds damaging exterior quality, rendering many shipments unmarketable. He said his office has submitted documentation through local Office of Emergency Services and that he has authority to pursue a secretarial disaster declaration through the state OES as needed.
A supervisor asked how many acres of cherries the county grows; Lansberger said approximately 631 acres. Board members thanked the commissioner and noted the office had already submitted the declaration request.
No formal board motion was required at the time; Lansberger said the county had submitted the request and staff would continue to coordinate with affected growers and OES.
