As the January wildfires in California continue to burn, their flames, along with the consistent and devastating smoke, are ruining farmland and crops. In Eaton, Calif., the fires are destroying land vital to growing crops and decades of agricultural history. Farmers are the backbone of society, but as these fires rage on, it will show how easily that system can break down.
The fires have already burned more than 40,000 acres of land and will reach higher numbers as they continue. California’s industry of agriculture will face immense challenges in bouncing back after the wildfires. The smoke will greatly affect their land, and their crops will be burnt due to the fires’ lack of control.
California produces more than one-third of our nation’s vegetables and three-fourths of our fruits. However, consumers are less likely to buy fruits, such as grapes, that have been in the ashes. Fires can also sunburn fruits because of the intense heat, making them unmarketable. Our market’s heavy dependence on these fruits and vegetables severely hurts us when we lose them because of wildfires.
Many states are also affected, including Montana, which relies on California for fruit, vegetables and other products. The wildfires are affecting crop yields due to smoke reaching plants, damaging soil quality and disrupting global supply chains, which will greatly affect agriculture around the United States.
