Storm Damage to Farms Will Have Ripple Effect

Ventura County’s economy has suffered a loss totaling at least $68 million as a result of damage inflicted on the county’s farms thus far by this month’s storms, an official estimates.

According to a preliminary estimate last week, crop losses alone totaled more than $22.7 million, county Agricultural Commissioner W. Earl McPhail reports. McPhail’s agency says that translates to about $68 million for the county as a whole since every dollar in farm revenue produces three dollars for the local economy.

“Agriculture is similar to manufacturing in its ripple effect on its home community,” says David Buettner, the county’s chief deputy agricultural commissioner. “Like factory workers, people who work on farms and in packing houses spend money in local stores, for local shelter and so forth.”