Martin, Philip L., Rachael E. Goodhue, and Brian D. Wright

from ARE Update Vol. 21, No. 5, May/Jun, 2018

View Article PDF: California Agriculture: Dimensions and Issues

Abstract

California has led the nation in farm sales since 1948, when Los Angeles County had more farm sales than any other U.S. county. The major reason California’s farm sales of $46 billion in 2016 were almost $20 billion higher than Number 2 Iowa at $27 billion is the dominance of high-value fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. This article summarizes the analyses of agricultural economists at UCB, UCD, and UCR of the land, labor, and water inputs needed to produce the state’s farm commodities, highlights the status of major crops and livestock, and outlines the challenges facing the state’s agriculture, from climate change and trade to research.

Keywords

California commodities; agricultural sector; agricultural industry; economics of California agriculture

Citation

Martin, Philip L., Rachael E. Goodhue, and Brian D. Wright. 2018. "California Agriculture: Dimensions and Issues." ARE Update 21(5): 1-4. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1529355708/18622/