California drought to cost 18,000 farm jobs, $1.2 billion in lost wages, officials say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- California Ag officials expect more than 18,000 farm jobs to be lost this season because of the drought. That would be a 9-percent increase over last year.

The jobs equal $1.2 billion in lost wages. Researchers say the losses will be largely concentrated in the Central Valley.