DOWNPOUR GOOD, BAD FOR GROWERS.

Byline: Christopher Noxon Daily News Staff Writer

The heaviest downpour in two years is a mixed blessing for farmers across the county, as the lingering storm nourishes citrus and avocado groves but hampers harvesting, delays planting and boosts some prices.

County agriculture officials report no serious crop damage, but the steady rain has slowed the picking of cool weather crops including celery, broccoli and cabbage. Prices have increased by as much as 20 percent in some stores.

``It slows down the harvest quite a bit because you're not able to get out there as easily,'' said Edgar Terry, president of Terry Farms Inc., which grows crops on 1,000 acres from Ventura to Camarillo. ``The crews move slower, there's mud everywhere - we're probably slowed by about half our usual pace.''

Farmers expect bursts of rain in the early part of the year. An early start of the wet season is not catastrophic, but it does throw off planting and harvesting schedules, Terry said.

``I don't begrudge the rain - but like a lot of farmers I wish it came in another two or three weeks,'' he said. ``Now I've really got my work cut out for me.''

While the rain can hurt row crops, the showers help lemon, orange and avocado trees. The early winter rain washes away salt that builds up during summer watering, said Ventura County Deputy Agriculture Commissioner David Buttner.

``Right now we're in pretty good shape,'' said Buttner. ``If you have this kind of weather for a week or two, that's when you start worrying. But these first few rains do more good than harm.''

The steady pace of the rainfall gives soil time to soak up moisture and prevent runoff, he said. Quick torrents can uncover freshly planted seeds, drown seedlings and eventually provide a welcome habitat for fungus and other inhibiting growths.

But rain is rarely bad news for trees, as showers wash dust and soil from leaves, said Buttner. A good early wash followed by sunny weather helps leaves absorb sunlight and photosynthesize.

For farmers like Terry, the early heavy rains mean planting schedules already set back a week by the last rains will be delayed for another two weeks.

And for consumers and grocers, the early rains can mean an unexpected hike in the price of produce. Alfredo Rosales, owner of the Produce House in Oxnard, reports that prices on broccoli, cabbage and lettuce all have gone up dramatically over the past two days.

The wholesale price for a box of broccoli, for instance, went from $9 to $13 in two days, he said. That increase is passed on to consumers, he said.

``It makes it hard for me and my customers,'' he said. ``We know there will be increases, but it's hard when it all comes at once like this.''