Agricultural Production
Steady Production Points to Efficient Water Use and Conservation of Farmland
Why is it important?
Agricultural production is a vital source of income and livelihood in the Sierra Nevada as shown in the Sources of Income indicator in the Financial Capital section. Agricultural is the most important and direct link between natural and financial capital.
Agricultural production is a function of farm acreage, yield, and market price for products. For example, a change in production is indicative of a change in acreage, yield, market price for products, or any combination of the three. Farm acreage is provided as its own natural capital indicator. Agricultural yield is indicative of the natural environmental factors, such as soil and water quality. Therefore, changes in production and acreage, without change in market prices, indicate change in environmental quality and the environment’s ability to directly produce financial capital.
How are we doing?
Production in the North Sierra has been relatively steady in the last fifteen years even with a significant increase in farm acreage due to the utilization of marginal lands. Although both declining yield and market prices for livestock products likely play a role. Ranchers may be adding land to compensate for declines in yield and product prices.
The East Sierra has experienced an increase in agricultural production since 1991 without an increase in water availability, indicating a more efficient use of water in the area.
The North Central Sierra has continued to experience relatively high agricultural production, although farm acreage and average farm size have decreased. Since 1995, urban development has not resulted in the loss of farmland. Recent development has occurred on non-productive land or land removed from production prior to 1995.
