California supports a large and diverse economy with the highest economic production among the states. If California were a country, it would rank around tenth in the world based on the value of goods and services produced.

California leads all of the other states in farm income. About 73% of the state's agricultural revenues are derived from crops while the other 27% of revenues are generated by livestock commodities. In terms of revenue generated, California's top five agricultural products are dairy products, greenhouse and nursery products, grapes, almonds, and cattle and calves.

Farmers in California grow over 200 different crops, some grown nowhere else in the nation. Crops include grapes, almonds, strawberries, oranges and walnuts. California produces almost all of the country's almonds, apricots, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes, and walnuts. It leads in the production of avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries. Only Florida produces more oranges.

The most important vegetable crops grown in the state are lettuce and tomatoes. Again, California leads the way. Broccoli and carrots rank second followed by asparagus, cauliflower, celery, garlic, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. Only Texas grows more cotton than California. Hay, rice, corn, sugar beets, and wheat are also grown in large quantities.

Livestock and livestock products include milk, beef cattle, eggs, sheep, turkeys, hogs and horses. Dairy products are California's most valuable products followed by cattle and calves and chicken eggs. California is the second ranked producer of livestock products behind Texas.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s 2007 Census of Agriculture, over 64,000 farms in California are family owned –– less than 4 percent of the nation’s total. Yet, the Golden State’s agricultural production represents 12.8 percent of the nation’s total value. California has some of the most agriculturally productive counties in the nation. Of the top 10 agricultural producing counties nationwide, nine are located in California. The top producing counties in 2007 were 1. Fresno, 2. Tulare, 3. Kern, 4. Merced, and 5. Monterey.

The Golden State is still truly a "family farm" state where over 90% of the farms are less than 500 acres in size consuming 25% of the total land area in the state. The average age of California farmers in 2007 was 58. However, many of today’s newest farmers are young people taking up farming for the first time, without any family background in farming. These youthful farmers are also far more likely to be interested in organic practices. As of 2008, California has 2,887 certified organic farms covering over 720,000 acres.

The state’s top five agricultural commodities in 2010 were dairy products, greenhouse/nursery, grapes, almonds, and cattle and calves with an estimated value of over $37 billion.

The Small Farm Program is a statewide program, part of the University of California's division of Agriculture and Natural Resources created in 1979 by an act of the California legislature.

The Small Farm Program focuses on the challenges and opportunities of California's small-scale farm operators. They provide information on field and marketing research aimed at the needs of small- and moderate-scale farmers, who are often not reached by traditional extension programs.

They assist farmers of many different cultures who operate a wide variety of farming operations, often with limited resources with information on:

• Specialty Crops
• Food Safety
• Marketing
• Agritourism
• Farm Management

Farm Advisors extend useful, technical, and economic research-based information to producers in their assigned county or counties. Issues they consider are: Improvement of production practices, resource management, pest management, food safety, worker safety, postharvest handling, alternative crops, market analysis, and agricultural education to the public.

Each county office of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) has a specialist who has been designated a small farm contact. Find contact information for each UCCE small farm contact by county.

Backyard growers, please contact your local UCCE Master Gardener

There is a Soil & Water Conservation District in every county in California. The Conservation District staff are there to help you with your on-farm conservation activities and applying for federal funding and technical assistance programs primarily through the USDA NRCS.
Learn more about and find local Conservation Districts

The California State University Extension Service provides research-based information, educational programs, and technology transfer focused on issues and needs of the people of California, enabling them to make informed decisions about their economic, social, and cultural well-being.
Learn more about and find your local Cooperative Extension

By: Cary Blake
Read More »


By: Stephen Vogel
Farm households that also operate nonfarm businesses have accounted for roughly 18% of US farm households since the 1990s. In 2007, farmer-owned nonfarm business employed over 800,000 nonfarm workers and contributed an estimated $55 billion to their local communities' gross county product.  Read More »


By: David Bennett
Farmers can avoid some tricky situations if they approach federal crop insurance properly. Read More »


By: K Gregg Elliott
Organic farming has been one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture for over a decade.  After the USDA implemented national organic standards in 2002, certified organic farmland doubled by 2005. Organic livestock sectors have grown even faster. Despite the rapid growth, organic farms have struggled at times to produce sufficient supply to keep up with the rapid growth in demand, leading to periodic shortages of organic products.  Read More »


In 2005-06, a long-range strategic visioning process was begun to take the state of California beyond the 1994-2024 time frame of the Bay-Delta Accord decision.  This long-range process resulted in the “Delta Vision Strategic Plan” of 2008. Read More »

Under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and California's pioneering Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, the State and Regional Water Boards have regulatory responsibility for protecting the water quality of nearly 1.6 million acres of lakes, 1.3 million acres of bays and estuaries, 211,000 miles of rivers and streams, and about 1,100 miles of exquisite California coastline.

The Guide provides an overview of the Water Boards and the many opportunities that all Californians have to participate with the Water Boards in decisions and activities that affect the state’s water resources. While some of the public participation opportunities are formal, e.g., at a Water Board hearing, others are less formal, but just as important, e.g., a stakeholder process implemented by a Regional Board. Although the Guide doesn’t contain information about specific water quality decisions that are before the Boards, it will direct you where you can find that information. We look forward to updating this Guide periodically to assure its continuing usefulness to you, the public.

Read More »


By: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP), managed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. Working through existing programs, USDA partners with State, tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the conservation easement.

This brief and simple guide will help you decide if an agricultural easement could help keep your farm or ranch in the family or save it from development. If you decide to sell or give an easement in exchange for federal grant funds, then this guide will help you fill out the necessary paperwork as well as provide you with contact information for further assistance.

Read More »


A 2008 Farm Bill provision allows for a 25% Deduction for Endangered Species Recovery Expenditures. Read More »


USDA provides tools online for estimating energy and potential savings from Read More »


Pest-control services provided by insect-eating bats in the United States likely save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year, and yet insectivorous bats are among the most overlooked economically important, non-domesticated animals in North America, according to an analysis published in a  Science  magazine Policy Forum*. The U.S. Geological Survey collaborated in this research in partnership with Boston University, the University of Tennessee, and the University  of Pretoria, South Africa.  This article courtesy of Encyclopedia of Earth.   Read More »



The San Joaquin Valley is the center of California’s growing drinking water crisis. Five of its eight counties – Fresno, Madera, Merced, Kern, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare – have some of the highest rates of water contamination per person in the state.1 Contaminated drinking water causes many adverse human health effects, including gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous or reproductive system impacts, and chronic diseases such as cancer.

This is the first of a series of reports from the Community Water Center that examine the prevalence of common drinking water contaminants in the San Joaquin Valley and the rates of related health indicators as outlined in public health literature.

The research does show two things, however: the San Joaquin Valley has high rates of nitrate contamination from agriculture and large animal facilities, and San Joaquin Valley residents face many health problems at rates much higher than elsewhere in the state. We believe that these two facts alone should be enough to compel us – as water providers, as government regulators, as residents in the San Joaquin Valley, and as a society – to ensure that our drinking water sources are protected to the utmost of our ability and to prioritize reducing the number of people drinking contaminated water. Safe, clean water is a human right, not a privilege. Read More »

The management of agricultural land affects almost everything. In addition to the land’s productivity in producing food for people and livestock, the quality of soil, water and wildlife habitat is often directly dependent upon the quality of agricultural management. That is why “best management practices” were invented.

Best Management Practices, or BMPs, can help agricultural land and bottom lines. Developed by experienced practitioners or management and research organizations, BMPs are based upon the best available science. By implementing BMPs, landowners will often save money in the long term even as they improve the condition of their land, soil, and water in the short term.

The following are a selection of BMPs culled from various national, regional, state and local sources. Each is available for download as a pdf.

Discusses grass, 3-zone, 2-zone, wildlife, urban and naturalized buffers and recommendations for how to choose, establish and cost-share. Read More »


Defines riparian buffers and discusses various benefits, including property value, wildlife habitat, timber, and recreational/aesthetic/spiritual values.
Read More »


This 26-page booklet introduces the Stream-A-Syst system to help landowners assess and manage their streams.  It contains a worksheet, action plan with recommended steps and sources of information to address various issues, and a visual (photographic) assessment guide. Read More »


This factsheet from the Univ. of Ark., Division of Agriculture delineates nutrient content, application procedures and guidelines for application and storage of poultry litter as a fertilizer and source of organic matter for row crops. Read More »


A practical guide to ways agricultural producers can profit from the growing environmental marketplace from American Farmland Trust, 2010. An in-depth 55-page handbook that introduces and surveys the types of environmental markets, how to get involved including evaluating financial returns and assessing risks, and what farmers and ranchers can do to encourage these markets.

Read More »


Another University of Arkansas gem that explains integrated odor management, which can include diet manipulation, capture and treatment of gas, and BMPs for spreading manure.

Read More »


This brief factsheet from the Univ. of Ark defines liquid manure, discusses storage and management options, as well as solids removal and equipment. Read More »


This 2011 document from EPA provides an extensive listing of service providers who can assist farm operations in turning waste into energy.  EPA’s AgSTAR Program produces this Industry Directory to assist livestock producers and others involved in developing anaerobic digestion systems to identify consultants, designers, developers, equipment vendors, and other providers of biogas energy services. Read More »


A 293 page guide to the Legal Issues in Farming the Wind on your farm from June 2007 Read More »


Improved performance at competitive costs is promised by this 2002 EPA publication all about anaerobic digestion and biogas recovery for energy. Read More »


When managed properly, irrigation of crops with effluent reduces a producer’s reliance on commercial ferti- lizers and helps protect surface and groundwater quality. To use effluent efficiently while avoiding over irrigating it on crop and pasture land, producers must know:
• The N, P and K needs of the crop,based on a realistic goal for yields.
•    The N, P and K in the soil available to the plants before irrigation.
The amounts of N, P and K in the effluent that will be irrigated.
This Texas Agrilife publication tells you how. Read More »


Application of dairy compost for stormwater management and on Dept of Transportation projects. Read More »


For horse enthusiasts, veterinarians and operators of boarding stables, handling and disposing of horse manure can pose numerous challenges. Frequently, operators of equine facilities and large-animal veterinary clinics must pay someone to take the manure off the property.  However, there is an excellent way to stimulate demand for a product that would otherwise be a liability. Composting manure can eliminate a messy problem and provide a modest additional income. Read More »


A publication that addresses issues arising when landowners answer “yes” to these questions:
Are you aware of manure sampling and testing procedures?
Do you store livestock waste for longer than 90 days on your property?
Do you store livestock waste for short periods (30 to 90 days) on your property?
Do you store livestock waste closer than 150 feet from any water wells?
Do you use lagoons or detention ponds to store livestock waste?
Are there any abandoned livestock waste storage facilities on your property? Read More »


Texas Agrilife discusses the efficiency, bacteria, management, pumping, salts and pH of lagoon management for poultry and livestock waste.
Read More »


Another publication from Texas Agrilife Extension, this publication covers control of odors and dust attained through siting of new facilities and practices for existing facilities. Read More »


Texas Agrilife covers the basics of construction, management, composting, litter and trouble shooting.

Read More »


This 1998 document from Florida Dept. of Agriculture provides educational, rather than regulatory, information on pesticide storage, mixing, application and spill management as well as practices for fertilizer, solvents and other chemicals associated with agricultural operations. Read More »


By: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Nutrient Management is defined as the management of the 4R's of Nutrient Management:Right amount (rate), Right source, Right placement (method of application), Right timing of commercial fertilizers, manure, soil amendments, and organic by-products to agricultural landscapes as a source of plant nutrients while protecting local air, soil and water quality.
 
The corner stone for Nutrient Management is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 590 Nutrient Management Conservation Practice Standard. Contact John Davis via phone at 202-720-2308, or email j.russell.davis@wdc.usda.gov
 
In addition to the 590 Nutrient Management Standard, NRCS provides further guidance on the application of nutrient management via the National Nutrient Management Policy and National Instruction.
Read More »


A factsheet all about nitrate pollution from agriculture and how to safeguard groundwater quality. Read More »

This brief factsheet from the Community Water Center provides tips to private well owners on how to ensure the health of their drinking water.  

If you are served by your own private well, then you are solely responsible for the quality of that water. There are no requirements or regulations regarding testing, quality, or reporting of private wells under the state and federal Safe Drinking Water Acts. However, most county ordinances set basic construction permit requirements before a well can be drilled, and some require testing of private wells before a title can change hands on a residential property. Overall, there is virtually no oversight of private wells in California. All maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the landowner, and to get water quality information you will need to do your own water testing.

Read More »


Precise guidelines about how to implement retention irrigation systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


The Center for Irrigation Technology has published an exhaustive  Landowner's Manual for Managing Agricultural Irrigation Drainage Water, A guide for developing Integrated On-Farm Drainage Management Systems. Read More »


There are approximately 1.7 million lactating dairy cows in California. Sale of milk from these cows is estimated at $4.6 billion of the state’s $30 billion agricultural market. Nearly 73% of the cows are located in the San Joaquin Valley, which consists of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties. The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board submitted a list of questions to Vice President Gomes requesting specific information related to dairy manure. The answers to these questions are the basis for this lengthy report. Read More »


Gives an overview of prevention techniques for live fish, shellfish, ornamental fish and invertebrates, aquatic plants, marine shrimp and freshwater prawns.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Covers major nutrient groups, micronutrients, digestion and metabolism, feed, and feeding practices.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Lists toxicities of many different chemicals and how to reduce the risk of pesticide drift.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Discusses pathogens and parasites, genetic alterations, and genetically modified organisms.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


A must-read for any responsible aquaculturist contemplating non-native species production.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Facilities design, requirements, and regulations.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Pros and cons and essentials for this system.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Strategies and cost estimates for various forms of frightening programs and exclusion ro barrier methods of control.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Summary of the most popular method for raising tilapia in the U.S.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/


Read More »


The basics on “the most important species of aquatic animal commercially cultured in the United States.”  Discusses blue, white, brown bullhead, black bullhead, yellow bullhead, and flathead catfish species.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/
Read More »


Advantages and disadvantages of one of the four primary methods of aquaculture: ponds, raceways, recirculating systems or cages.

A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/


Read More »


Discusses general considerations and various designs for such systems. Read More »


This Univ. of Arkansas fact sheet discusses the relationship between the poultry and cattle industry in Arkansas, namely their production and use, respectively, of phosphorus-rich poultry litter.  It concludes, “Inherent in the different grazing techniques is the potential to reduce compaction and improve vegetative surface cover (percent), which has a dramatic impact on runoff, erosion and P loss.”  Inclusion of vegetated buffers can have an even more dramatic impact. Read More »


This Univ. of Arkansas fact sheet discusses benefits and sampling principles for testing poultry litter because, “Applying poultry litter without knowing its nutrient content is similar to applying commercial fertilizer without knowledge of its nutrient content (e.g., % N/P/K).” Read More »


Explains the benefits of using alum for both poultry production and water quality. Read More »


Defines and discusses management of nutrients, pests, tillage, harvest, and edge/buffers to benefit waterbirds.  Also provides crop-specific BMPs for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice. Read More »


This brief article from University of Arkansas explains that “Worm composting or vermicomposting is a suitable composting option for apartment dwellers and homes with no yard space and is also a great classroom activity. The worms stay in the bin and eat household food scraps, and the bin has no odor if properly maintained.”  It includes building and maintenance instructions. Read More »



This fact sheet explains how to build bins from concrete blocks or wood, and how to add waste and maintain the compost. Read More »


How to make and use a garbage can composter. Read More »


Beyond simply covering poultry mortality with litter, includes water contamination concerns. Read More »


This factsheet differentiates composting from biodrying, with the former leading to good soil amendments and the latter leading to good material for bioenergy production.   It explains the basics of biodrying equipment and methods. Read More »


This factsheet explains the compost process, what can be composted, its benefits, and the major different methods of composting. Read More »


This fact sheet defines the difference between a vegetative shelterbelt and structural windbreak.  It concludes, “A well-designed and positioned vegetative shelter-belt on a poultry farm can be used as a practical air emission mitigation technology.” Read More »


By: Hembree Brandon
A “cocktail mix” of winter cover comprised of tillage radishes — which can send a tuber as much as 60 inches into the soil —cereal rye, and rape/canola help Mike Taylor and his son, Mikey, prevent erosion and wind damage on their 6,500-acre Long Lake Plantation near Helena, Ark.   Read More »


By: Bonnie Coblentz
REACH is a collaboration between Mississippi State University's Extension Service, MAFES, and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center. Through the program experts share their scientifiically researched best agricultural practices with producers and landowners. In return, as farmers develop and implement new steardship plans REACH collects data to show what works to further conservation management. 

Read More »

BMPs oriented more specifically toward energy efficiency, invasive & native species and wildlife habitat are also available on this site.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is generally the practice of focusing on the local production of high quality foods using ecological, organic or biodynamic farming methods. The core design includes developing a cohesive consumer group that is willing to fund a whole season's budget in order to get quality foods. By CSA theory, the more a farm embraces whole-farm, whole-budget support, the more it can focus on quality and reduce the risk of food waste or financial loss. Most CSAs have a transparent whole season budget for producing a specified wide array of products for a set number of weeks a year as well as a 'shared risk and reward' agreement, i.e. that the consumers eat what the farmers grow even with the vagaries of seasonal growing.

CSA is a relatively new model of food production, sales, and distribution aimed at both increasing the quality of food and the quality of care given the land, plants and animals - while substantially reducing potential food losses and financial risks for the producers. CSA's focus is usually on a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of vegetables, sometimes also flowers, fruits, herbs, milk or meat products. An advantage of the close consumer-producer relationship is increased freshness of the produce, because it does not have to be shipped long distances. The close proximity of the farm to the members also helps the environment by reducing pollution caused by transporting the produce.

Typically, CSA farms are small, independent, labor-intensive, family farms. By providing a guaranteed market through prepaid annual sales, consumers essentially help finance farming operations. Individuals, families or groups do not pay for x pounds of produce, but rather support the budget of the whole farm and receive weekly what is seasonally ripe. This allows farmers to not only focus on quality growing, it can also somewhat level the playing field in a food market that favors usually large-scale, industrialized agriculture over local food. The cost of a share is usually competitively priced when compared to the same amount of vegetables conventionally-grown, partly because the cost of distribution is lowered.

Find a CSA in your area »

The following news articles are provided by the Google News service and do not reflect the views or imply an endorsement by the California Conservation Center and its affiliates. We cannot guarantee the relevance of the content of this page or any links that may be followed from the articles herein.

Dallas Morning News

For two Army vets, Dallas urban farming offers purpose and therapeutic value Dallas Morning News For former soldiers Steve Smith and James Jeffers, it was just another mission in their quest to change Dallas' eating habits through an urban farming enterprise they call Eat The Yard. With the aid ... With help from the Farmer Veteran Coalition, a ...

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ThinkProgress

California Farmers Explore Water-Conserving Agriculture For A Drought-Filled ... ThinkProgress According to a study by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, a 250-acre vineyard practicing dry farming in Napa has conserved roughly 64,000 gallons of water per acre each year. About 2,000 out of half a million acres of vineyards are dry-farmed.

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DAVID VALADAO: Let the valley flourish -- BLM decision hurts region's jobs Bakersfield Californian The Central Valley has been home to agriculture and energy development for generations. This way of life is less about what we do, and ... Citing the recent automatic spending cuts known as sequestration, BLM has decided to suspend all future lease ...

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The Daily Planet

Moving mountains with climate solutions The Daily Planet But what if that water from Blue Lake could be used for agriculture in the box canyon, bypassing the journey to California and back as well as the fossil fuels used along the way? “Think about all the money it takes to get the water to the ... Brad ... and more »

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New Melones assures Manteca's prosperity Manteca Bulletin And how city and rural residents alike responded to the drought to assure the future of agriculture - the community's economic bread and butter - allowed Manteca to weather the Great Depression better than many Central Valley communities. Up until 1924 ...

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India Today

The future of search India Today McKinsey & Co., a firm of consultants, estimated late in 2011 that, the slice of global gross domestic product that the Internet accounts for is 3.4 per cent, or about $2 trillion, and already bigger than agriculture or energy. Just as the ...

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Lakeside Heights update: Ground movement slows, another leak test planned Lake County News LAKEPORT, Calif. – Ground movement is slowing and studies are continuing at the site of a north Lakeport subdivision plagued by a landslide since late March. County staff gave the Board of Supervisors the latest in a series of update on the Lakeside ... and more »

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Community Briefs: May 22, 2013 Orland Press Register This program is sponsored by the California Department of Boating and Waterways. For information including how to properly fit a life jacket, as well as state-wide locations that ... Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Loma Rica, will host a town hall meeting ... and more »

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Triple Pundit

The Dairy Industry's New Sustainability Tools Triple Pundit In 2011, the dairy industry had revenues of $39.5 billion at the farm level, accounting for 10.6 percent of U.S. agriculture's total value. Dairy production and processing occurs in all 50 states. Dairy is the number one agricultural product by income ... and more »

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LA Mayoral Candidates Talk Food Policy LAist She sees eye to eye with Garcetti in his stance on providing open, accessible space for people to recreate, and increase opportunities for urban farming, community gardens, and the ability to grow food locally. ... are at disadvantage for growing our ... and more »

By: Amos P.L. Eno
One of the biggest challenges these beginning farmers face in starting a successful operation is getting access to capital. Because these farmers typically start out small and with limited experience, it is hard for them to obtain financing from commercial lenders.
Fortunately, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers a Microloan program to better serve the unique financial operating needs of beginning, niche and the smallest of family farm operations. Read More »

Agritourism is a business on a working farm, or other agricultural enterprise that offers an educational and fun experience for visitors while generating supplemental income for the owner such as...U-pick gardens, farm arts & crafts, seasonal festivals, or just about any agricultural actitivty that brings income from agriculture.

This concept is a direct expansion of ecotourism, which encourages visitors to experience agricultural life at first hand. This type of tourism is gathering strong support from small communities as rural people have realised the benefits of sustainable development brought about by similar forms of "green tourism". Visitors have the opportunity to work in the fields alongside real farmers and wade knee-deep in the sea with fishermen hauling in their nets.

The UC Small Farm Program, working with county-based UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors, provides resources for agritourism operators and hosts California's statewide directory of agritourism operations.

There some publications about farm planning for agritourism and a workbook to assist farmers and ranchers in developing an agritourism enterprise avaliable for sale on the agritourism section of the small farm program website. Plus there are some Factsheets and worksheets for getting started.

• Assessing Your Assets
• Assessing Your Preferences, Options and Goals
• Adding Value and Personalizing Your Services
• From A to Z: Potential Enterprises for Agricultural and Nature Tourism
• Creating a Business Plan
• Conducting Farm and Ranch Tours
• Safety and Risk Management

This guide is designed to assist farmers and ranchers in taking the first step in identifying alternative enterprises and agritourism opportunities on their farm or ranch. It is designed to provide a basic understanding of how the interaction of soil, water, animals, plants, air, and human resources, and the conservation of them, provide opportunities for the development of alternative enterprises and agritourism. Changing to a new enterprise involves different production techniques, processing methods, and marketing activities.

This is an interactive web-based tool based on the NRCS publication Taking the First Step: Farm and Ranch Alternative Enterprise and Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide dated January 2004 on the NRCS website here It is a database driven application that allows users to collect and store the information for each farmer's and rancher's assessment of their natural, family, and community resources.

Try out the Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide now!

Discusses clientele, permitting, advertising, location, design and security, water source, concessions, time of operations, signs, and safety and liability.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »