California AgCommodities

LessonIntro to AgMs. Senff

Mind Moo-ver - Where would you be without

Agriculture?

Objectives: Define “commodity” and understand its role in

California agriculture Identify California commodities and rank them

1-20 according to their economic impact Compare and contrast agriculture imports and

exports Select and agricultural commodity and

construct a poster/brochure/Powerpoint informing classmates about that specific commodity.

Design a “commodity” collage based on commodities grown in your assigned California region.

Did you know that CA….

Has been the #1 Agriculture Producing State for the past 50 years.

CA’s leading EXPORT is Almonds!California is the nation's leading

producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production.

California’s Farmers & Ranchers Produce over 250 different CROPS and Livestock Products.

Agriculture provides for nearly 1 in 10 jobs in California.

Top 3 Ag Producing States

California - Milk and Cream

Texas - Cattle and Calves

Iowa - Corn and Swine (Pork)

What is a Commodity?

A raw material or primary agricultural

product that can be bought, sold, or traded.

Agriculturally speaking: Anything

grown or produced for us to survive. Food, clothing

etc...!

http://www.realcaliforniamilk.com/farm-life/family-farms/

What commodities are produced in CA?

400 Commodities from Almonds to walnuts. CA leads the nation in 75 commodities These commodities are only grown commercially in

California: almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, raisins,

kiwifruit, olives, clingstone peaches, pistachios, dried plums, pomegranates, sweet rice, persimmons and walnuts.

Persimmons….

Where we rank Nationally The Golden State is the No. 1 agricultural

producer and exporter in the U.S. California provides approximately ½ of

fruits, nuts, and vegetables for the U.S. One CA farmer produces enough food to

feed 129 people.

California Farmlands CA farmlands account for only 3.7% of the

Nation’s total farmlands! CA produces 11.3% of the total US total

output 15% of U.S. crop, 7.1% of U.S. livestock

California Farmlands 80,500 total CA farms and ranches are 27%

of the State’s total land area. Average size: 347 acres

CA ranks 6th Nationally in farmland numbers Texas is #1 with 78% of the state and 568

average size Montana is #2 with 65% and 2,146 average

size

Mind Moo-ver Objective –

SWBAT… Identify specific commodities within specific regions California and their effect on Agriculture

QOD – What is a commodity? Give an example

of a commodity in California. Where does California rank nationally for

Agricultural Imports/Exports?

California Farmlands CA produces more than half the

Nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts on only 3% of our farmland.

Total output: $42.6 billion Exports: $18.18 billion

California FarmlandsTypes of Farms 95%+ are family farms or partnerships 6% are corporations; but 80% of this

6% are family owned corporations.

Why is California Agriculture so VIABLE (AKA: Steller!!!)

The temperate year-round climate and expanses of land provide foods the nation and world have grown to enjoy and count on. year-round production of lemons, artichokes, avocados,

broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes, spinach, and squash

Fertile Soil: More than 2,000 types of soils.

Diverse land resources: Valleys, foothills, mountains, coastal areas, and

deserts Progressive farmers

California’s Top Commodities #1 Dairy: Milk and Cream - < $7.6

billon!

#2 Almonds - $5.8 billion

#3 Grapes - $5.6 billion

#4 Cattle/Calves – $3 billion

#5 Strawberries - $2.2 billion

CA Top Commodities

#6 – Walnuts - $1.8 billion

#7 – Lettuce (all) - $1.7 billion

#8 – Hay (all) - $1.6 billion

#9 – Tomatoes - $1.2 billion

#10 – Nursery Plants - $1.2 billion

CA Top Commodities #11 – Pistachio - $1.1 billion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKn_7fyB5fw

#12 – Flowers & Foliage - $9.8 million

#13 – Rice - $7.7 million

#14 – Oranges (all) - $7.6 million

#15 – Chickens - $7.2 million

CA Top Commodities #16 – Cotton lint (all) - $6.5 million

#17 – Broccoli - $6.4 million

#18 – Carrots - $5 million

#19 – Lemons - $4.4 million

#20 – Eggs, Chicken - $3.9 million

Impacts of the CA Drought… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80_x

p5FzHZM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

jChWPPndHQ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

uuiZJrBdxy4

In your notes, write some reactions you have to the videos.

2012 CA Top Producing Counties1. Fresno @ $6.587 billion2. Kern @ $6.212 billion3. Tulare @ $6.210 billion4. Monterey @ $4.137 billion5. Merced @ $3.280 billion6. Stanislaus @ $3.277

billion7. San Joaquin @ $2.881

billion8. Kings @ $2.215 billion9. Ventura @ $1.960 billion10. Imperial @ $1.945 billion

What About Contra Costa County?? In 2012 Contra Costa County was

ranked 40th @ $90.972 million. Top 5 Contra Costa County commodities:

1. Cattle & calves @ $15.967 million2. Sweet corn @ $13.650 million3. Grain corn @ $7.546 million4. Grapes @ $7.546 million5. Tomatoes @ $7.526 million

And Brentwood??? BRENTWOOD, CA is known for

agricultural commodities – Cherries, peaches, corn! http://civileats.com/2014/09/30/preserving-farms-on-the-urban-

edge-case-study-brentwood-california/

Imports Imports: Goods or services that were

produced abroad and brought into the state. Causes money to move out of American

economy Meets the needs of citizens when goods

or services are not offered in the United States

Prices dictated by other countries offering the goods.

2010 Top 10 Imported Commodities1. Vegetables @ $9.316 billion2. Fruits @ $9.174 billion3. Grains & Feeds @ $7.786 billion4. Oilseeds & Products @ $5.390 billion5. Coffee @ $4.945 billion6. Cocoa @ $4.295 billion7. Wine @ $4.279 billion8. Sugar @ $4.047 billion9. Malt beverages @ $3.507 billion10. Beef & Veal @ $2.828 billion

Exports Exports: Goods or services produced

locally and sold abroad. Brings foreign money into the American

economy Allows the US to distribute excess goods,

or goods that have no market in the US Prices dictated by global economy and

supply and demand.

2012 Top CA Export Commodities

1. Almonds @ $2.391 billion2. Dairy Products @ $1.149 billion3. Wine @ $1.007 billion4. Walnuts @ $819.5 million5. Rice @ $796.9 million6. Pistachios @ $719.6 million7. Table Grapes @ $641.2 million8. Oranges @ $566.4 million9. Tomatoes @ $492.4 million10. Cotton @ $368.3 million

2012 Top Trading Partners1. Canada @ 3.148 billion

Lettuce, strawberries, table grapes, wine

2. European Union @ $2.511 billion Almonds, wine, pistachios, walnuts

3. China/Hong Kong @ $2.341 billion Cotton, almonds, pistachio, walnuts

4. Japan @ $1.532 billion Rice, almonds, beef, beef products

5. Mexico @ $888.9 million Dairy & products, table grapes,

almonds, tomatoes

Commodity Poster Assignment! Get Excited! You have been assigned on which you will

complete an informational poster/brochure/PowerPoint. Please read all the criteria on the Directions Sheet provided.

This does not have to be a California grown commodity.

You WILL have some time in class to work on it

Will be doing presentations ________

Food is NOT required, but helps it be a YUMMY couple days in class.

Homework Assignment! Bring 2 catalogs/newspapers

(APPROPRIATE PLEASE!) into class. You will receive participation points.

We will be working together to create a MASSIVE California State Commodity Collage.. So magazines with agricultural products would be a bonus!

Production Areas of CA1. Sacramento Valley2. San Joaquin Valley3. Delta Region4. Central Coast5. South Coast6. North Coast7. Imperial/Desert8. Mountain Region

In what region does Brentwood reside??

#1 Sacramento Valley

Rice Tomatoes Walnuts Almonds Livestock Hay Plums Milk

Counties: Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama

#2 San Joaquin Valley Cotton Oranges Cattle Tomatoes Wine grapes Table grapes Raisins Almonds Stone Fruits Milk & Cream Pistachios Corn Silage Vegetables

Counties: Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus

#3 Delta Region Sweet Corn Corn Silage Almonds Milk Vegetables Tomatoes Cattle Walnuts Asparagus Wine Grapes Cherries Counties: San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Solano

#4 Central Coast Lettuce Broccoli Beef Cattle Livestock Wine grapes Strawberries Artichokes Flowers Spinach Berries Vegetables

Counties: Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

#5 South Coast Eggs Nursery Products Flowers Livestock Market Chickens Milk Avocados Lemons Dates

Counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego

#6 North Coast Wine Grapes Nursery Products Cattle & Calves Pasture Milk Livestock Hay Vegetables Fruits & Nuts

Counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa

Clara

#7 Imperial/Desert Dates Alfalfa Lettuce Sugar Beets Wheat Milk & Cream Nursery Products Walnuts Market Chickens Cattle Eggs Counties: Imperial, Riverside, San

Bernadino,

#8 Mountain Region Christmas Trees Wheat Potatoes Garlic Sheep Hay Apples Nursery Products Wine grapes Onions Timber Pasture Cattle Honey

Counties: Inyo, Mono, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Alpine, Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumes, Lassen,

Shasta, Modoc, Trinity, Siskiyou

CA Commodities Map Activity

Something to consider:

China can produce a 30 lb. box of garlic for the wholesale cost of $12.

California produces a 30 lb. box of garlic for the wholesale cost of $20.

Why is there such a large cost difference?

Reasons for the production cost differences:

California has strict regulations where the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are concerned.

Cost of labor (planting, care, and harvest) Cost of inputs (fertilizers, herbicides, water, etc.)