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Farmers Bracing For First Cold Spell Of The Season

OXNARD (CBSLA.com) — Southern California farmers are bracing for Wednesday night's cold spell as forecasters predict the season's first freezing temperatures.

KCAL9's Amy Johnson reports temperatures could plummet tonight in Santa Paula, where Leslie Leavens is a fourth-generation farmer.

Her ranch grows about a thousand acres worth of lemons and avocados, and Leavens says her team is prepared to stand watch all night and will act fast to protect their crops from the chill.

"If the clouds dissipate and if the wind drops and the temperatures start going down like 30, 29, 28, we're on it right then for sure," she said.

Leavens' team has wind machines, which can circulate warm air for about 10 acres, and propane tanks on hand.

She said they have also added moisture to the soil to help keep it warm.

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