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Economics of California Agriculture:
A Brief Overview
Rachael Goodhue
KEY DRIVERS OF THE
ECONOMICS OF CALIFORNIA
AGRICULTURE
Economics of California Agriculture
• Geography and climate
• Infrastructure
– transportation, power, water
• Technology
• Access to inputs, including competition from urban uses
–
–
–
–
–
Water
Labor
Land
Human capital
Energy
• Pests and pest management techniques
• Markets for output
– Competing suppliers
– Demand- population growth, income growth
• Regulation
– Social
– Environmental
EVOLUTION OVER TIME
Epochs in California Agriculture
Johnston and McCalla (2004)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1769-1821 Spanish Mission Period
1821-1848 Mexican Period
1848-1860s Gold, Statehood, Cattle and Growth
1860s-1890s Sheep, Wheat & Early Horticulture
1890-1930 Transformation to Intensive Agriculture
1930-1949 External Shocks: Depression & War
1950-1970 Big Water, Growth, Relocation and
Diversification
• 1970-2000 Increased Instability,
Internationalization & Intensification
TODAY
California Agriculture
• $43.5 billion in value of production (2011)
• Over 400 commercial crops
• California is the top-ranked agricultural state in terms of value
of production
– 11.6% of U.S. agricultural production (2011)
• 15% for crops
• 7.4% for livestock and livestock products
– Almost half of fruit, nut, and vegetable production.
– Almost 150% of second-ranked state
• Iowa, $29.9 billion
• California is the top-ranked state in the production of 78 crops
– 99%+ for 15 crops
• California economy $2.0 trillion in 2011
– 9th largest in world
– Value of agricultural production 2.2%
– Processing, etc. increases contribution
• California exports $143.2 billion in 2010
– Agricultural exports $14.7 billion in 2010 (10.3%)
Top Agricultural Counties (2011)
County
Value
Major Commodities
($billion)
Fresno
6.9
Almonds, Milk, Livestock, Raisin Grapes, Proc. Tomatoes
Tulare
5.6
Milk, Cattle & Calves, Navel Oranges, Table Grapes, Corn Silage
Kern
5.4
Milk, Almonds, Table Grapes, Vegetables, Pistachios
Monterey
3.9
Berries and Strawberries, Romaine Lettuce, Head Lettuce, Leaf
Lettuce, Broccoli
Merced
3.3
Milk, Almonds, Cattle & Calves, Chickens, Sweet Potatoes
Stanislaus 3.1
Milk, Almonds, Chickens, English Walnuts, Corn Silage
San
Joaquin
2.2
Milk, Wine Grapes, English Walnuts, Almonds, Sweet Cherries
Kings
2.2
Milk, Pima Cotton Lint, Cattle & Calves, Proc. Tomatoes, Alfalfa
Hay
Imperial
2.0
Cattle Heifers and Steers, Leaf Lettuce, Alfalfa Hay, Head
Lettuce, Broccoli
Ventura
1.8
Berries and Strawberries, Raspberries, Lemons, Celery,
Tomatoes
Value of Production by Category: 2011, in
Billions of Dollars
Vegetable & Melon (7.24)
Fruit & Nut (15.32)
Field Crops (4.93)
Greenhouse, Nursery, &
Floriculture (3.69)
Livestock & Poultry
(12.36)
Top-producing Counties for Top
10 Crops (2011)
Crop
Top Counties
Milk and Cream
Not reported
Almonds
Fresno, Kern, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera
Grapes (all)
Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Napa, Sonoma
Cattle and calves
Not reported
Nursery
San Diego, Monterey, Riverside, Ventura, Los Angeles
Strawberries
Monterey, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo
Hay
Kern, Imperial, Tulare, Merced, Fresno
Lettuce (all)
Monterey, Imperial, Fresno, Santa Barbara, San Benito
Walnuts
San Joaquin, Butte, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare
Tomatoes
Fresh: Fresno, San Diego, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus
Processed: Fresno, Kings, Yolo, San Joaquin, Stanislaus
California Farms:
2007 Census of Agriculture
• 81,033 farms in 2007
– 87,991 farms in 1997
– 79,631 farms in 2002
• Average farm size 313 acres
– 327 acres in 1997
– 346 acres in 2002
– 418 acres for US in 2007
• Average value of production $418,164/farm
– $264,574 in 1997
– $323,205 in 2002.
– $134,807 for US in 2007
• Following slides also use 2007 Census of Agriculture
Farm Size (Acres)
California
U.S.
1 to 9
10 to 49
50 to 179
1 to 9
10 to 49
50 to 179
180 to 499
500 to 999
1000 to 1999
180 to 499
500 to 999
1000 to 1999
2000 or more
2000 or more
Farm Size (Value of Sales)
California
U.S.
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $499,999
$500,000 or more
$100,000 to $499,999
$500,000 or more
Total Sales by Farm Sales Category
California
U.S.
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
Less than $2,499
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $499,999
$500,000 or more
$100,000 to $499,999
$500,000 or more
VENTURA COUNTY
Farm Size (Acres)
2007 Census of Agriculture
California
Ventura County
1 to 9
10 to 49
50 to 179
180 to 499
500 to 999
1000 to 1999
2000 or more
1 to 9
10 to 49
50 to 179
180 to 499
500 to 999
1000 or more
Farm Size (Value of Sales)
2007 Census of Agriculture
California
Ventura County
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $499,999
$500,000 or more
$100,000 to 500,000
$500,000 or more
Total Sales by Farm Sales Category
2007 Census of Agriculture
California
Ventura County
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
Less than $2,500
$2,500 to $4,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$5,000 to $9,999
$10,000 to $24,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $499,999
$500,000 or more
$100,000 to 500,000
$500,000 or more
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