Santa Paula ranchers keep an eye on
freeze projected for the New Year
January 02, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
When there’s a freeze all growth suffers, but avocados can especially be hit hard with a loss of fruit for a two-year period.
And the avocado rich Santa Clara River Valley was bracing for a so-called “hard freeze” Wednesday night into Thursday morning, not a good way to start the New Year for growers.
Grower Gordon Kimball, whose 110 acres east of Santa Paula is planted with avocados, said so far, “We just got down to 32 degrees the other night, but no damage so far... but this one looks like it’s going to be colder.”
With lows expected to drop into the 20s late Wednesday and early Thursday in parts of the county, the National Weather Service issued a “hard-freeze watch.”
A freeze watch was in effect from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning with the “hard freeze watch” starting Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
A “hard freeze” generally means temperatures that are sufficiently cold, for a long enough period, to seriously damage or kill seasonal vegetation; animals and livestock must also be protected against freezing temperatures.
The forecast freeze, said Kimball, “Depends on the cloud cover and winds,” forecast Tuesday evening, but he noted, “The main worry is New Year’s Eve,” and perhaps even New Year’s night when freezing temperatures could return.
How does a rancher react to a freeze?
“My grandfather said ‘I pull the blanket up higher,’ “ joked Kimball, who is also the chairman of the board of Limoneira Company.
“We’re hoping with our avocados we can use irrigation water,” which is about 60 degrees, “so it does have a warming effect... but we can’t cover the whole ranch at the same time.”
If a freeze lasts long enough it will damage not only the stems that drop off, but also the “Tender growth where the buds for next year’s crop” are produced.
Consequently, added Kimball, “You can lose two years production,” in a freeze.
Due to the threats of a hard freeze the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District issued a statement saying warming fires to protect agricultural produce will be allowed this week, but only those fueled with agricultural wood or clippings.
The agency noted warming fires should be kept to the size of a 55-gallon drum and may be hand-fed until temperatures are deemed safe for crops.
Although permits are not needed for the warming fires, those using them must notify their local fire station to avoid responses to what would turn out to be false alarms.
A cold front moving down from Canada is the freeze culprit, weather that could lower snow levels resulting from scattered rains forecast to 2,000 feet.
Even without a freeze the National Weather Service is stating it is going to be cold and issued a hazardous weather outlook beginning late Monday and lasting through Sunday.
