Ag show features birds of prey

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Without a wet winter we may be headed into our fourth year of drought. But farmers and other people whose lives depend on agriculture were moving forward with confidence.

Majestic falcons sat tight until they're needed to keep birds from nibbling on valuable fruit. Karl Kerster of Kerster's Falconry brings them to farms all over California.

Kerster explained, "We do pest control. We scare starlings away from grapes, cherries, blueberries and crops like that."

Kerster said he has taken his birds to Kerman and Madera to keep their eye on farms. "We would typically come in about 2-3 weeks before the first fruit would be ready to harvest."

Kerster came in from Sacramento to seek clients at the expo.

Growers came to look over the latest equipment and products. But the drought was a big topic - how to get more out of less.

Expo organizer Dan Malcolm said, "We've had a couple of seminars on water management and that's really important. We're all praying for rain but we all have to do our part and we have to take care of this valuable commodity that we have."

Despite the drought some commodities like walnuts could enjoy a record harvest with an estimated 545,000 tons this year.

Carl Eidsath of the California Walnut Board said, "We've got 280,000 bearing acres. Not as much as almonds, a little more than pistachios and right now we've got 45,000 non-bearing acres."

Dan Malcolm has hosted similar events around the state but said the Fresno event drew more farmers than other cities.