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Receive the 2016 Solano County Crop and Livestock Report; and Receive the Economic Effects of Solano County Agriculture: A Baseline Assessment and Cache Slough Case Study from the Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures recommends that the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation on the 2016 Solano County Crop and Livestock Report and the Economic Effects of Solano County Agriculture: A Baseline Assessment and Cache Slough Case Study.
SUMMARY:
Each year the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office submits to the Board of Supervisors and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the annual Crop and Livestock Report (Report). Compilation of the annual Report is a mandated duty of the County Agricultural Commissioner pursuant to the California Food and Agricultural Code section 2279. This year the Report recognizes the overall value and the Economic Effects of Solano County Agriculture: A Baseline Assessment and Cache Slough Case Study that addresses the multiplier effects and diversity of Agricultural production in the County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Production of the Annual Crop and Livestock Report is mandated by the Food and Agricultural Code and is included in the normal budgeted activities of the Agriculture Department. The Economic Effects of Solano County Agriculture: A Baseline Assessment and Cache Slough Case Study was completed and funded by a grant received from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy (http://www.deltaconservancy.ca.gov/).
DISCUSSION:
The Crop Report provides the overall values received by producers for their products. In the 2016 cropping season, Solano County’s overall agricultural production value decreased by 1.9% from the 2015 value of $353.8 million to $347.2 million losing $6,697,000 in total.
Walnuts moved back to number one in 2016 with a total value of just under $45 million. Nursery crops increased to $39.7 million, with Almonds moving up again in 2016 with a gain of $12.3 million. This increase was primarily driven by yield increases as more acreage moved from nonbearing to bearing. This trend is expected to continue, as more Almond orchards mature, reaching production at 3 to 5 years after planting. Processing tomatoes dropped from number one to number four with reduced harvested acres, and a decreased value per ton impacting overall values. Wine grapes gained, increasing both total acreage, and price, moving up to number six with a 31% total gain over 2015 values. Sunflower (seed) showed substantial increases in acreage but prices were reduced leaving the commodity at number seven up from number nine in 2015. Sheep and Lambs reflected a 40% increase in overall value and the value reflects weight gains associated with pastured feeding in Solano County. Cattle and Calves moved down with fewer head available for sale as ranchers began to rebuild herds, and prices remaining depressed. Finishing up the top ten was Wheat coming in at $7.4 million.
An overview of the top ten crop ranking is provided in Attachment A.
The report serves as a resource to a wide spectrum of users who use the agricultural statistics for trend analysis. Although the report captures the value of harvested crops it does not reflect the overall value of agriculture to Solano County which is further discussed in the Economic Effects of Solano County Agriculture: A Baseline Assessment and Cache Slough Case Study (attached). Grant funding was provided by the Delta Conservancy to conduct an economic study that moved deeper into the data to assess the economic value of those agricultural activities to Solano County.
The results of the study are presented in the Economic Effects of Solano County Agriculture: A Baseline Assessment and Cache Slough Case Study which was completed in June of 2017 and “quantifies agriculture’s total economic contribution through food production, employment, and economic multiplier effects.” The study also examines economic diversity and provides detailed analysis of the important Cache Slough Area.
Highlights from the study:
• “over the past decade, farm production values have risen 51.5%, from $233.5 million in 2006 to $353.9 million. Including farm production and locally sourced, value-added food processing, agriculture’s combined economic contribution to the Solano County economy was $617.6 million. This consisted of $459.1 million in direct output from production and processing plus $158.5 million in multiplier effects.”
• “Total employment was 4,709, including 3,147 jobs directly in agriculture and another 1,562 attributable to multiplier effects.”
• “Economic diversity. With an economic diversity index score of 3.00, Solano County has one of California’s most economically diverse agricultural industries. Unlike other counties, the economic diversity score has not declined over time.”
The study was completed by Agricultural Impact Associates LLC, and co- authored by Dr. Jeff Langholz (jeff@ag-impact.com) and Dr. Fernando DePaolis (fernando@ag-impact.com). The full report will be available on the Solano County website, under the Department of Agriculture.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could elect not to receive the 2016 Annual Crop and Livestock Report and the Economic Effects of Solano County Agriculture: A Baseline Assessment and Cache Slough Case Study. This is not recommended because records of the County’s agricultural production and the “multiplier effects” as reported in the study are a reflection of the viability of this important segment of the Solano County economy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Annual Crop and Livestock Report is produced with assistance of numerous farmers, ranchers, boards, commissions and agencies.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION