In fairness, it should be mentioned that almonds are being harvested right now by machinery designed to raise immense clouds of dust into the sky and across roads.  And these almond growers are exempt from the air pollution laws.  Huge clouds of dust have rolled across hwy 33 in the Belridge area last week reducing vision on the road to less than a hundred feet. When some co-workers complained to our company health and safety manager, they were told of this exemption.  The almond (and pistachio) orchards have got to have dry, dusty ground to harvest on an industrial scale like we have in Kern county. Shaking them from the trees, sweeping into rows, and then vacuuming up and dumped into trucks.  And with the air what it is, they are the wrong crop to grow in this area.

Sorry darlin' but, from the farmers point of view and crop knowledge. Only certain crops can be grown in certain areas. Almonds require, yes to harvest hot dry and clean (which yes means dust) but is also requires weather and soil conditions best found between here and Yuba City. Nut trees also require and certain number of days of freezing weather during the winter.  If you note there are very few crops that actually are grown in this region. Each region with their weather types, soil and water conditions can only grow, productively certain crops. Ventura County  for example could never grow the trees we grow here.  They have mostly the citrus for orchards, Leafy veges, berries and crops ideal for their climate type.

Now days its extremely difficult for any farmer to provide the foods and products that are consumed throughout our country. Let alone make a living. They are faced with water limitations and extemely high costs for the water that irrigates the crops. High cost of permits, fees, chemicals, fuel, utilities, maintaince of tractors and equipment, fertilizers, personnel, taxes, and the cost of the seed, or small trees, to even grow these crops. As it is right now all farmers are required by Air Quality to add a converter to each of their engine well/water pumps (whether the pump is gas. diesel, or natural gas) by 2009 which will cost in excess of $20,000 per converter.

So next time you see the dust cloud, slow down. You are only driving through it. Your not working in it. like we are.  When you get stuck behind that slow tractor going down the road, remember, he isn't there just to screw up your commute.  When you see an increase in prices at the grocery store, remember, that increase isn't making it back into our pockets. Just know we have a job to do as farmers. We grow the food that feeds your families, and the cotton that puts clothes on your back. Too many of the foods you eat are grown in other countries vs our own.

Please respect the farmers for the hard work that they, and their workers do 7 days a week to make sure that there is food to feed your families.

Allergies~ never had them till I hit 54,now it's the whole deal,running eyes,nose,itchy everywhere....

reldytina~ being a rancher/farmers daughter I hear you. Congratulations for being a family farm,not many left these days.

It is the combination of farming(which created this place),building,the massive amounts of truck,cars rolling through our county, some factories which all contribute to the problem. We need these jobs and what they produce no question.But at some point living here will be unbearable for any human if we keep this pace up.... everybody needs to give a bit.

I got an idea! How about we make some gigantic tunnels through our mountains with vacuum fans to suck this crap out of our valley?

I had to open up the house last night to air the place out from the smell of the mess sick kitty had made.... spent the whole time with my eyes watering even though I took a Zyrtec with dinner. Now I'm browsing Amazon.com to find a replacement CPZ filter (high capacity odor absorbing unit) for my HEPA/CPZ filter so I can just run that to take care of sick kitty stinks and the dust all in one. I'm also considering buying another HEPA unit for the family room.