Officials Crow About State’s Farm Economy
California officials boastfully tugged on their agricultural suspenders Wednesday, marking the state’s 50 years as the nation’s No. 1 agricultural producer by announcing another all-time record in production value.
The news was so good that Gov. Pete Wilson and Secretary of Food and Agriculture Ann M. Veneman decided to spread the word themselves, releasing a new report that shows that the value of California’s agriculture reached $24.5 billion in 1996.
That is more than $1 billion above the previous record set by California in 1995, they crowed. It also means California now has almost double the output of Texas--the state with the second largest--and it is almost as large as that of the next three states combined.
“We have come a remarkable distance in a short period of time,” Wilson said against a backdrop of crates stuffed with fresh produce. “The California of today is unrecognizable from the one 50 years ago.”
The state’s banner year was driven largely by dairy products and wine grapes. But Veneman also attributed the strong performance to the diversity of California products, since some commodities were up while others were down.
For example, California produces more strawberries than any other state, but the nationwide market was stung last year by reports that some California berries were carrying an obscure illness-causing parasite called cyclospora. California producers estimated their loss at about $20 million, although it was eventually determined that Guatemalan raspberries, not California strawberries, were the cause of the outbreak.
Part of the state’s good news was attributed to rising market prices and growth in high-value crops. But Veneman said the final report also showed a boost from expanded production.
For example, farmers received 17% more for their dairy production last year, while the volume increased by 2%. Together, that raised the overall value of California’s dairy output by roughly 20%. Similarly, wheat production was up 58% and prices rose 15% to make California’s total crop value grow by more than 80%.
This was the third consecutive year that California outpaced Wisconsin as the nation’s top dairy state. Today, one of every eight dairy cows in the nation lives in California.
Veneman said the upward trend should continue since agricultural production so far in 1997 is already up 8%. She attributed the growth to high-tech advances in the industry and the state’s temperate climate.
A shortage of wine grapes has also prompted a large price increase and a significant expansion of California acreage dedicated to growing grapes. Once again, Veneman said new technologies have allowed farmers to plant grapes in hilly terrain that was previously unworkable.
State officials used the media attention Wednesday to repeat their warning that agriculture must be protected because the food will be needed by a state population that is expected to grow dramatically in the next 30 years. They insisted that farmland be protected from residential development and that water be made available for crops.
The event also offered Wilson an opportunity to try to separate himself from the increasingly bad feelings directed at state lawmakers who are two weeks late in passing a budget.
He avoided questions from reporters. Instead, he chose to trumpet a success story and to give himself a bit of the credit.
“The truth is we would not have achieved this economic renaissance we call the California Comeback were it not for a cornucopia of goods going through California’s ports,” he said.
State agriculture officials said they have not yet determined how much of the latest good news is attributable to exports because that analysis has not yet been completed. Still, they said California food exports also set a record last year at more than $12 billion.
Veneman said future growth is perhaps most important because of the growing economies on the Pacific Rim and the westernization of Asian eating habits.
“Korea is a great example, where they have just grabbed onto the idea . . . of eating pizza and that has given us a great market for exporting cheese,” she said. “There is a globalization of eating habits and a globalization of economies.”
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California Farm Facts
Here are facts and statistics related to California agriculture production:
Top 5 Agricultural States (in billions)
State: 1995 Value
California: $23.4
Texas: $13.3
Iowa: $11.0
Nebraska: $8.7
Illinois: $7.9
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Top 5 Farm Products (in billions)
Product: 1996 Value
Milk and Cream: $3.08
Grapes: $1.86
Nursery products: $1.50
Cattle and calves: $1.30
Cotton: $1.05
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Farm Exports
State farmers export more than $12 billion worth of products each year. Here are the top markets:
Pacific Rim: 55%
Canada: 18%
Europe: 9%
Mexico: 5%
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Top 5 Agricultural Counties
1. Fresno
2. Tulare
3. Kern
4. Monterey
5. Merced
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Cow Country
One of every eight cows in the country lives in California.
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In Bulk
California produces 25 billion pounds of milk, 20.7 million tons of vegetables, 13.8 million tons of fruits and nuts, and 1 billion pounds of cheese each year.
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Only in California
California accounts for 99% or more of U.S. production of the following products: almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, olives, persimmons, pistachios, prunes, raisins, walnuts.
Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture
