TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULED TO HELP CALIFORNIA’S FARMERS AND RANCHERS RECOVER FROM DEVASTATING WILDFIRES

Meeting scheduled for November 16, 2007 in Escondido

SACRAMENTO, November 9, 2007 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency are partnering to host a town hall meeting on disaster assistance programs for farmers and ranchers affected by the California wildfires. The town hall meeting will be held on Friday, November 16, 2007 from 12 – 2 p.m. at the San Diego County Farm Bureau, 1670 East Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA, 92027.  Farmers and ranchers that have suffered damages as a result of the fires in southern California are encouraged to attend.

“The recent wildfires caused significant damage to the residents of southern California,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura, “This town hall meeting will provide important information to farmers and ranchers on state and federal disaster programs that are available to assist in rebuilding efforts.”

USDA Farm Service Agency State Director John Smythe added, “Having seen the damages first hand, I encourage California’s farmers and ranchers to attend this town hall meeting. State and federal resources are available to help farm and ranch operations.”

Representatives have been invited to attend the meeting from the United States Department of Agriculture, the Small Business Administration, the California Small Business Disaster Assistance Loan Guarantee Program, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) and county offices of agricultural and emergency services.

The California wildfires are estimated to have caused significant damage to farms and ranches in the affected counties. A variety of agricultural crops, including avocado and nursery, have been impacted by this disaster. The meeting is designed to give farmers and ranchers a one-stop opportunity to collect information and ask questions about the various forms of disaster assistance that may be available to them.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE DISASTER RECOVERY TOWN HALL MEETING
Friday, November 16, 2007
San Diego County Farm Bureau Office
1670 East Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA, 92027
12 PM to 2 PM

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