Imperial County Agriculture

By Mr. UrieInfo from Imperial County Farm Bureau

Hay

In 2008, Imperial County farmers produced 1.6 million tons of hay

In 2009, hay receipts totaled around $160 million (price down from 2008)

Hay

Types of Hay in Imperial County:

Alfalfa

Sudangrass

Bermudagrass

Kleingrass

Hay

What is most of the county’s hay used for?

Dairy

Most of our hay is used for the dairy industry in California

California produces 20% of dairy in the US

Dairy is the number one ag commodity in California

California’s Top Five

Imperial County is in the top five producers in California of:

Spinach Broccoli Cauliflower Sweet Corn Onions Potatoes

Cool Cheeses

Imperial County is home to California’s only cheese plant making Swiss and Muenster cheese

Aquaculture

Imperial County is number two producer in aquaculture, has largest catfish farm west of Mississippi

Sheep

Imperial County is one of the top producing counties in the country

Over 200,000 sheep pass through each year

Economic Impact

California produces 13% of the nation’s cash receipts from agriculture

Only receives about 4% of government payments to agriculture

Economic Impact

For every 100 ag jobs, an additional 94 jobs are created in the state

Where do these jobs come from?

Food Trends

Americans spend twice as much on eating out as they did in 1970

Food Trends

Total percent spent on feeding the family continues to go down

Today – 10% of our income 1970 - 14% of our income 1947 - 23% of our income TAXES - 35% of our income

Food Trends

With increasing availability provided by farmers, Americans:

Eat more vegetables than 30 yrs ago

Eat more fruits than 30 yrs ago Drink lower-fat milk Eat leaner meat

Carrots

One acre of carrots can provide a side dish to 320,000 people

In 2008, enough carrots were grown in the Imperial Valley to feed a ¼ pound serving to 75% of the world, 5 billion people!

Dairy Again Imperial County is home to the

cheese plant and 3 dairies The average dairy cow in the U.S.

produces 16,000 glasses of milk in a year

Wheat

It would take a family of four 10 YEARS to go through the amount of bread produced on one acre of wheat

Winter. . .

2/3 of the vegetables consumed in the U.S. during the winter months were produced here in the Imperial Valley

Lettuce

In 2008, Imperial County produced enough lettuce to feed a dinner salad to 2.8 billion people

Bees

Each year, bees pollinate nearly 100 different crops worth $10 billion.

Pollinating insects make 1/3 of the world’s diet possible.

Agricultural Variety

Local farmers produce more than 100 different commodities

Bamboo Sugar Cane Water Lilies Etc.

Agricultural Variety

Why is the Imperial Valley so suited to growing such a wide variety of crops?

Agricultural Variety

In the 1910s, Imperial Valley was home to the largest herd of ostriches in the U.S.

Birds

There are over 800 bird species found in the US, and about 400 of those can be found here

The fields give habitat to hundreds of thousands of birds each year

Owls

Over 70% of California’s burrowing owls live in Imperial County

There are more owls per square mile here than any other place in the world

Water

Growers use an average of 5.6 acre feet of water, per acre, per year.

One Acre Foot

How much is it? Hint: Enough for this family for one

whole year

Water

How much water does it take to produce your food?

Breakfast

Food Gallons of Water

8 oz Orange Juice 49.1

One Egg 62.7

One Piece Toast, Butter 56.3

¼ of a cantaloupe 40

Breakfast Total 208.1

Water

With every acre foot of water arriving in the valley, one ton of salt is carried in.

Water

Using subsurface tile drainage systems, farmers keep the salt out of the soil

Salton Sea

It would take 52,000 trucks to haul out all the salt put in for one year

Lunch

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

Gallons

Chicken – 4 oz. 115

Wheat Bread – 2 pc 21.2

Cheese – 1 slice 56

Tomato – 1 oz. 1.9

Lettuce – ¼ cup 0.7

BBQ Sauce 6.3

Orange – 1 whole 13.8

Glass of Water 0.2

Lunch Total 215.1

Dinner

Lasagna Gallons

Pasta – 4 oz. 71.8

Tomato Sauce – 6 oz. 38.7

Cheese – 3 oz. 168

Ground Beef – 3 oz. 82.5

Garlic Bread – 1 piece 56.3

Salad – ½ cup 5.3

Milk – 8 oz. 48.3

Dinner Total 470.9

One Day’s Total?

894.1 gallons Just 1 person