Drought forces cuts in California crops

FRESNO, Calif., June 27 (UPI) -- Fresno County, Calif., agriculture officials say its farmers are letting crops die on thousands of acres this year due to water shortages.

With snowfall stopping mid-winter and little precipitation in the spring the Westlands Water District, which services the area, told area farmers earlier this year they will receive 45 percent of their normal water rations, forcing farmers to cut back on crops.

Later, they revised the figure to 40 percent, the report said.

Most of the cut backs occurred in cotton, tomatoes, lettuce, cantaloupe and garlic, The Science Christian Monitor reported Friday.

Fresno County farmers have opted to remove 41,000 acres from their watering plans, the report said.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a drought to allow for quicker water deliveries but farmers are still abandoning some fields to ensure the rest of their crops remain healthy.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has estimated crop losses of $167 million for 2008, the report said.

Fresno County has 1 million arable acres, the report said.