Californians Hope Drought Conditions Will Improve In 2009

California growers experienced significant dollar losses from last year’s drought, and without sufficient rain this winter, this trend could continue. The California Department of Food and Agriculture says total farm dollar losses last year totaled $308.9 million. While the biggest loss was in rangeland, the vegetable/melon/nursery industry and the orchard and vineyard market suffered heavy losses as well. The San Joaquin Valley, which represents the entire orchard and vineyard category, had losses of $226.1 million, the most of any geographic area.