Farmers in Mendocino County are facing significant challenges due to unseasonably hot weather in March, disrupting their normal farming practices. Casey O’Neill, a local farmer, emphasizes the need for adaptation and the importance of sustainable farming methods. The absence of a typical winter has forced farmers to adjust their strategies to cope with the unexpected heat. O’Neill advocates for subsidies that support land and human health, promoting practices such as water storage, native plant cultivation, composting, and soil building. These efforts are being implemented by the NRCS and Resource Conservation Districts to move away from large-scale agribusiness, which often prioritizes quantity over quality, harming the environment and farmworkers.