<p></p><p>Californian grape vines are being ripped up as drought forces farmers to switch to higher yielding crops such as almonds and other nut and tree fruits, wine broker Ciatti Co. said.</p> <p>About 15,000 to 20,000 acres (6,070-8,094 hectares) of vines are expected to be pulled out of the ground, the San Rafael, California-based company wrote in an e-mailed report. The state has an estimated wine grape acreage of 546,000 acres, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. </p><p>The state faces at least a third year of drought, with no significant precipitation one-third into the rain and snow season, the broker said. Growing regions in central California are struggling as they face “collapsing” wells and aquifers, with the government reducing initial water allocations for 2014 and no water-delivery solution in sight, Ciatti said.“The coming year in California will be characterized by drought and sustainability,” Ciatti said. “The state is seeing a mass pullout of all low-bearing crops. Farmers have been forced to shift from crop diversification to salvaging crops that will provide them the most long-term sustainability.”<br></p><p></p>