INTRODUCTION TO CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE

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INTRODUCTION TO CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE

• Ag Economics 210
• Lecture 1 - www.cdfa.ca.gov
• CA Agricultural Statistical Review
• January 2006

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California is the 1 Ag Producer Exporter in
the U.S.

• Over 27.8 billion in agricultural marketing.
• 1/5 glasses of milk consumed in the nation is
  produced in CA.
• 88 of all grapes grown in the US come from CA
• 350 different crops

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Leading States for Ag Production

• 1 California
• 27.8 billion
• 2 Texas 15.3 billion
• 3 Iowa 12.6 billion
• 4 Nebraska
• 10.6 billion
• 5 Kansas 9 billion

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Californias leading counties for production
agriculture

• 8/10 leading counties for ag production are found
  in California
• 1 Fresno 4.05 billion
• 2 Tulare 3.29 billion
• 3 Monterey 2.82 billion

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Fresno county

• Major commodities
• Grapes
• Tomatoes
• Cotton
• Cattle Calves
• Poultry

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Tulare county

• Major commodities
• Milk
• Navel Valencia Oranges
• Grapes
• Cattle Calves
• Plums

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Monterey county

• Major commodities
• Head Romaine Lettuce
• Salad Greens
• Strawberries
• Broccoli
• Wine Grapes

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WHY IS CALIFORNIA THE 1 FARM STATE??

• Reason 1 Production Diversity - CA produces
  over 350 different agricultural commodities
• 1. Milk and cream 4.02 billion
• 2. Nursery products 2.43 billion
• 3. Grapes 2.29 billion
• 4. Lettuce 1.73 billion
• 5. Almonds 1.60 billion

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WHY IS CALIFORNIA THE 1 FARM STATE??

• REASON 2 High value commodities - many crops
  are grown exclusively in CA.
• CA grows 99 or more of the following
  crops/commodities
• Artichokes Almonds Dried plums
• Raisins Figs Dates
• Walnuts Pistachios Olives
• Cling Peaches Nectarines

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WHY IS CALIFORNIA THE 1 FARM STATE??

• REASON 3 Agricultural Land and Climate - 100
  million acres in the state, 27.7 million are
  farmed (only 8 million are irrigated).
• Extremely fertile soil in CAs Central Valley
  combined with its Mediterranean climate make for
  long growing seasons.
• CA has 3 of the nations farmland and it
  produces 55 of the fruits, nuts and vegetables
  consumed in the USA!!

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WHY IS CALIFORNIA THE 1 FARM STATE??

• REASON 4 Location - CA is located on the
  Pacific Rim
• CA has 4 major shipping ports
• Major trading partners are
• 1 CANADA - Lettuce, table grapes, processed
  tomatoes
• 2 EUROPEAN UNION - Almonds, Wine, Walnuts
• 3 JAPAN - Rice, cotton, almonds
• The 3 countries listed above make up about 50 of
  Californias agriculture exports.

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Comparative Advantages of California Agriculture

• 1 Location on the Pacific Rim - 40 of all
  international trade involves countries on the
  rim.
• 2 Technology - CA farmers are the first to use
  technology, many colleges/universities.

• 3 Cultural Diversity - many cultures creates a
  wide variety of needs, allows better
  understanding of new markets
• 4 Climate and Soil

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Challenges for Agriculture in California

• CHALLENGES
• 1 Agricultural Illiteracy Urban Encroachment -
  an increasingly urban population knows little or
  nothing about its place in the food chain

• 2 Global Market Place - competition from abroad
  make profit margins slim.
• 3 Water Issues - Ag depends on a stable supply
  of water

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So what does the future look like for agriculture
in CA?

• More laws and regulations! (air, water, soil,
  animal welfare)
• Trade expansion - world standard of living is
  improving
• More use of technology - labor is ,
• Water issues will continue to be very important.
• Niche markets, brand labeling, etc. will be very
  important for the small farmer.

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Additional Characteristics of CA Farms

• Number of farms 78,500
• Average farm size 345 acres
• Average value of farm land and buildings 1.2
  million dollars
• Average market value of farm products sold
• 323,000

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Additional Characteristics of CA Farms

• Type of farm ownership
• Family owned 64,000
• Partnership 8.000
• Corporate 5,000
• Average age of farm operator 56.8 years!

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Comparison of CA agriculture today (2003) 1950

• TODAY
• Avg. Farm size 345 ac.
• Land in farms 27,100,000 acres
• Number of farms 78,000

• 1950
• Avg. Farm size 260 ac.
• Land in farms 37,500,000
• Number of farms 144,000

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Thats all folks.