Fresno State Monitors Crop Damage After Winter Storm

Rain, wind, and hail impact almond blooms and wheat fields on university's agricultural land

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A recent winter storm brought heavy rain, wind, and hail to Fresno State's agricultural fields, causing damage to almond blooms and wheat crops. The university's agriculture department is closely monitoring the impact on its wide range of crops, including citrus, almonds, alfalfa, corn, and wheat.

Why it matters

The Central Valley is a major agricultural region, and winter storms can pose significant challenges for local growers. The damage to Fresno State's crops highlights the vulnerability of the region's agriculture to extreme weather events, which are expected to become more frequent due to climate change.

The details

Several crops on Fresno State's campus were in delicate stages of development when the storm hit, including almond trees that were already in bloom. The heavy rain, wind, and hail knocked off many almond blooms, potentially affecting production. A wheat field on campus, which was to be used as cattle feed, also suffered damage as the plants were knocked over.

  • The storm hit the Fresno area on February 20, 2026.

The players

Fresno State

A public university located in Fresno, California, with a large agricultural program and research fields.

Robert Willmott

The Orchard Manager at Fresno State, overseeing the university's wide range of crops, including citrus, almonds, alfalfa, corn, and wheat.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My old saying is, if you pray for rain, you better be prepared to deal with the mud.”

— Robert Willmott, Orchard Manager, Fresno State (abc30.com)

“Lucky for us, we had our bees here; the bees were working hard for us while they could with these colder temperatures and the rain, it slowed them down.”

— Robert Willmott, Orchard Manager, Fresno State (abc30.com)

What’s next

Fresno State's agriculture department will continue to monitor the long-term impact of the storm on its crops and work to mitigate any further damage.

The takeaway

This storm highlights the challenges that Central Valley growers face in dealing with extreme weather events, which are expected to become more frequent due to climate change. The damage to Fresno State's crops underscores the importance of developing resilient agricultural practices to ensure the region's food security.