AGST 3000AGST 3000Agriculture, Society and the Natural WorldAgriculture, Society and the Natural World

California California AgricultureAgriculture

Size of CaliforniaSize of California

A. 158,693 sq. mi. (exceeded in size only by Texas)

B. Largest agricultural area = Central Valley (400 mi. long and 50 mi. wide)

Early California AgricultureEarly California AgricultureNative American Cultures

A. Primitive compared to Aztecs of Mexico or Iroquois of Northeast

B. Primarily all hunter-gatherers-Miwok-Yokut

C. Miwok cultural development:-Harvest celebrations -No weapons-Changing seasons -No political hierarchy-Marriage and divorce -No warfare

D. By 1852 this peaceful population was wiped out due to typhoid, diphtheria, small pox, bounty hunters,

enslavement, and starvation

-50 years to destroy a population that had existed for untold generations

The Spanish RegimeThe Spanish RegimeA. CA. was discovered by a Portuguese-born navigator, Juan

Rodriguez Cabrillo, San Diego Harbor in 1542

B. Sir Francis Drake camped at Point Reyes on the northern coast in 1579

C. The “Franciscans” a roman Catholic religious order led by “Father Serra” established missions from San Diego to Sonoma, 36 miles apart (1 day horseback ride) 1769-1824 Built by Indians that were converted by the Spanish fathers

D. Many of CA fruit and nut crops were established at the missions: oranges, and other citrus, almonds, cherries, apricots, pears, plums, etc.

E. The Russian Presence – fur traders in the northern most part of CA established Fort Ross.

The Mexican Regime: (1821-1848)The Mexican Regime: (1821-1848)

A. Provided large tracts of land to anyone accepting the Catholic faith and becoming a Mexican citizen. These areas were called “Ranchos”

B. Hides and tallow were the principle products exported from California during this time. San Diego was the primary port.

C. Influx of foreigners – 1840’s, California was becoming difficult to control as more pioneer settlers began to appear via the overland routes.

D. John Bidwell led the first group of immigrants to California via the California Trail.

E. 1846 Mexican – American War separated California from Mexican rule (Bear Flag Rebellion)

Statehood and the Gold Rush Statehood and the Gold Rush continued…continued…

Jan. 24, 1848, James William Marshall discovered gold at Coloma on the American River.

California received its statehood in September, 1850 -Population of San Francisco in 1847 was 462 and 4 ships had visited the port.

-In 1848 695 ships arrived bringing 100,000 new immigrants

The industry behind the Gold Rush

-Levi Strauss outfitted gold miners in denim jeans

-“Market hunters”- Tule elk, deer, ducks, geese all were commercially hunted to provide food for hungry miners.

-Miller and Lux Cattle Company – demand for beef, started as a butcher and ended as a cattle baron.

– 750,000 acres of land in CA., OR., NV.

-Citrus industry – “gold nuggets on trees” Anaheim

-Petaluma Poultry Industry - $1.00 each for eggs

-Grain industry – near large cities, counties bordering San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Sacramento, highest yields in the U.S., short lived because of insects and disease (mild winters allowed these pests to survive)

Statehood and the Gold Rush Statehood and the Gold Rush continued…continued…

Ethnic diversity

-1870 50% of all men in CA had been born abroad

-Germans owned the most farmland, Italians 2nd, Portuguese 3rd

-Chinese were indentured slaves for gold mining and weren’t allowed to own property, important cultural influence

-Japanese largest group of tenant farmers

-French in the 1830’s brought the first grape vines (wine)

-Armenians introduced new crops: asparagus, raisins, figs

Statehood and the Gold Rush Statehood and the Gold Rush continued…continued…

California Continues California Continues to Growto Grow

Desirable climate, shipping ports and healthy economy encouraged continued growth in CA long after the Gold Rush ended (35-40th latitude)

What geographic, climatic, socioeconomic conditions supported this continued growth…?

Is it the same today?

Latitudes and Longitudes of the EarthLatitudes and Longitudes of the Earth

Markets changed to reflect increasing land values

-Southern California lost hundreds of acres of orange groves due to urban growth, growth of military industry (Navy,

Air Force, NASA, and Intelligence Agencies began during the Cold War 1950’s and continued through the 1970’s)

-The dairy industry shifted from Chino to Tulare

-Hewlett and Packard worked in their garage to manufacture a transistor that led to the development of the “silicon

chip”. Atari, Apple Computers, IBM

-San Jose (Santa Clara Valley) was once an important fruit production area, canneries and agriculture provided income and has since transformed into the “Silicon Valley”

-Urban growth throughout the Central Valley competes with farmland -- causes concern for farmland preservation

California Continues to Grow…continuedCalifornia Continues to Grow…continued

Efforts for Ag Land Preservation

Williamson Act = California Land Conservation Act of 1965

-Designed to prevent the loss of valuable farmland

-Provides a tax break to property owners if they agree to restrict land to agricultural use for 10 years

-Voluntary program

California Continues to Grow…California Continues to Grow…continuedcontinued

We also know that historically:

1-CA is most populated state in the US since 1963Today…36.8 million

2-Ca has been leading Ag in US since 1948(most productive

1. CA (incl. nursery) 31.8 billion San Joaquin Valley 20.1 2. Texas 16.53. Iowa 14.74. Nebraska 11.85. Minnesota 9.8USDA, NASS, California Field Office, 2004

13.2% of US Total is from CaliforniaSan Joaquin Valley accounts for 63.2% or 8.34% of US

Top 10 Ag counties in CA. (2004)

1. Fresno $4.688 B2. Tulare $4.037 B3. Monterey $3.398 B4. Kern $3.142 B5. Merced $2.365 B6. Stanislaus $1.978 B7. San Joaquin $1.613 B8. San Diego $1.462 B9. Ventura $1.387 B10. Kings $1.197 B13. Madera $1.070 B

San Joaquin Valley Market value of Ag products

State(04) Nation(02) State%04 Nation%

Fresno 1 1 14.7 1.4

Tulare 2 2 12.7 1.2 Kern 4 4 9.9 1.0Merced 5 5 7.4 .70Stanislaus 6 6 6.2 .61San Joaquin 7 7 5.1 .61Kings 10 18 3.8 .40 Madera 13 23 3.4 .35

Billion $ 31.8 6.27

USDA, NASS 2004

What types of crops are grown in California?

For the top 10 Agricultural Counties in California, list the major crops grown in each.

California's Top 20 Commodities - 2004California's Top 20 Commodities - 2004 (CDFA)(CDFA)   

Billions

1.Milk and Cream $5.366 

2.Grapes, All $2.757 

3.Nursery $2.649 

4.Almonds $2.200

5.Cattle and Calves $1.634 

6.Lettuce, All $1.462

7.Strawberries $1.219 

8.Tomatoes, All $1.091 

9.Hay, All $1.010

10.Flowers $1.002 

Millions

11.Cotton, All $   808 

12.Chickens, All $   714

13.Broccoli $   625 

14.Oranges, All $   557 

15.Carrots $   448 

16.Pistachios $   444

17.Walnuts $   439 

18.Avocados $   380

19. Rice $ 353

20. Peppers, All $ 332

Irrigated land Dairy ProductsFresno 1 Tulare 1Kern 2 Merced 2Tulare 3 Stanislaus 4San Joaquin 4 San Joaquin 9Merced 5 2/3 of valley 11.4% of nationStanislaus 11 California…17 % of nationCalifornia…15.8 % California’s No. 1 Ag Product of nation

Fruits, nuts and berries 23 % of nation

National Rankingshttp://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census97/rankings/tablist.htm

Specialty Crops Commercially ProducedOnly in California

(99% or more of total U.S. production)*

AlmondsArtichokes

Clingstone PeachesFigs

Seed, Ladino CloverSweet Rice

OlivesPersimmons

PomegranatesPlums, Dried (Prunes)

RaisinsWalnuts

Important trendsImportant trends1-decline in farms (144,000 in 1950 to 77,000 in 2004)

There was a large decline, but more productivity/ more value per acre.

What about family farms?

2- decrease in total land in farms(37,500,000 acres in 1950 to 26,700,000 in 2004) Loss of acreage because of urbanization and environmental issues causes expansion to lesser quality soils, less access to water

3-increase in acres per farm, economies of size(260 A in 1950 to 347 in 2004)

California's Top 10California's Top 10Agricultural Export Markets - 2002*Agricultural Export Markets - 2002*

1 Canada $1,199 Lettuce, Processed Tomatoes, Table Grapes

2 European Union $1,128 Almonds, Wine, Walnuts

3 Japan $ 905 Rice, Almonds, Hay

4 China/Hong Kong $  345 Table Grapes, Oranges, Cotton

5 Mexico $  293 Dairy, Table Grapes, Processed Tomatoes

6 Korea $  274 Oranges, Beef, Cotton

7 Taiwan $  212 Cotton, Peaches and Nectarines, Rice

8 Indonesia $ 101 Cotton, Table Grapes, Dairy

9 India $    94 Almonds, Cotton, Table Grapes

10 Malaysia $    60 Table Grapes, Oranges, Almonds*

Source: CDFA Resource Directory 2003

AssignmentAssignment ……

Access the National Agricultural Statistics Service and California Department of Food and Agriculture

– look at the CDFA and NASS Statistical Review and Ag Commissioners Reports

What are the top 10 commodities in 2002 and 2005 for Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced Counties?

Using the CDFA Statistical Review, what are the Top 10 Agricultural Export markets for 2005 and what products are exported to each.

http://www.nass.usda.govhttp://www.cdfa.ca.gov/