The meeting, hosted by Sonoma County Farm Bureau, is in response to the recent wildfires in Northern California that have impacted rural property owners and agricultural operations in addition to multiple urban neighborhoods. Local, state and federal leadership will be there to address concerns and provide resources to rural Sonoma County property owners and agricultural business and employees.

We welcome Karen Ross, Secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture who will be speaking about recovery efforts for local agriculture. Ahead of the event, Secretary Ross will be meeting with producers to tour affected agricultural operations in Sonoma County.

All property owners, directly affected or not, are invited to learn about the process of recovery and rebuilding. If you have not been affected directly we welcome your attendance to learn how you can help with recovery efforts. A portion of the event will include an opportunity to ask questions.

Partnering organizations that will be represented on October 30th include:  American AgCredit, Community Alliance of Family Farmers / The Farmer’s Guild, Gold Ridge Conservation District, Sonoma County Department of Agriculture, Sonoma County Farm Trails, Sonoma County Sheriff, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Sonoma County Winegrowers, Sonoma Resource Conservation District, UC Cooperative Extension, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and USDA Rural Development.

Sonoma County Farm Bureau has been working to support the agricultural community over the last three weeks. Sonoma County Farm Bureau is working with the Sonoma County Emergency Operations Center and Sonoma County Animal Services to coordinate donations of feed and supplies for livestock. Sonoma County Farm Bureau also partnered with the Sonoma Grape Growers Foundation to establish a housing recovery fund for ag workers and their families who were displaced from their homes.