Farmers assessing potential damages, other impacts from recent storm

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- After rain fell early Wednesday morning, drier conditions returned to the Santa Maria Valley for a second straight day, providing area farmers an opportunity to continue recovering from Monday's intense rainstorm.

"That was about as much rain in 24 hours that I've seen in my life," said Innovative Produce owner George Adam, who has lived in the area his entire life. "To see over six inches in much of the area was quite something."

For farmers in the valley, all the water that fell throughout the day presented severalf challenges.

However, Adam said from what he's heard, crop damage hasn't been too bad.

“I think we weathered the storm as a valley," said Adam." The systems that were in place worked and there were a few things that happened in isolated areas, but all in all, came out pretty well."

According to Adam, as well as Tim Driscoll, with West Coast Berry Farms, advance work that came in the days, weeks, months and years prior all helped prevent significant widespread damage.

Thanks in large part to a lot of advance work.

"Everybody has a specific plan based on the tilt of their field where it all runs off," said Driscoll. "We set in drains early, as part of our groundwork, anticipating (the rain) and irrigation runoff, so we try and capture as much as we can without too much of it going into the field."

Helping move water away from the crops are a carefully planned series of drainage ditches and pipelines.

"We don't want to see lakes in fields because it leaches a lot of the fertilizer over time, so we get that water out as quickly as we can," said Adam.

Over the past two days since Monday's storm, improving conditions have allowed much-needed work ito be accomplished n the fields.

"We try and assess what's going on," said Adam. "We try and make moves to get plants in the ground and try and put in repairs,

With rain once again in the forecast weekend, and likely more coming in the weeks and months ahead through the rest of the winter season, preparations are continuing to limit any potential future damage.

"We take what happened in this last rain event, so where is it that we need to pay attention for any incoming rain to make sure that our drains are set properly," said Driscoll.

Driscoll added that even though this week's storm brought heavy downpours across the Central Coast, causing unprecedented flooding, along with significant issues to homes and roadways, it definitely is a welcome sight.

"With most of the farmers I've talked to and with other people, see this rain as a blessing," said Driscoll. "It general, it's a lot. It's a lot of work, but it's necessary and we very much appreciate it."

While some farms are reporting very little to no damage, other said they are experiencing major issues caused by this week's storm, such as crop or infrastructure loss.

Assessments are ongoing to determine just how bad some of the short term or long term damage may be.