A Feasibility Study for Urban Edge Agricultural Parks - SAGE

PRODUCER NEEDSOverview of Producer TrendsAgricultural production and the trends affecting small, limited resource producerswere analyzed using the 2002 Census of Agriculture. At first glace, this data doesnot seem to paint a picture of opportunity for small-scale farmers.The difficulties of the agricultural industry have affectedsmall-scale producers, including socially disadvantagedfarmers. Competition with growers in other parts of thestate, imports from Mexico, Central and South America, andthe rising cost of running a business, have taken their toll.The 2002 Census of Agriculture – Preliminary Data Reportshows a nearly 10% decrease in the total number of farms inCalifornia between 1997 and 2002, compared with a 4%decrease nationally. The total acreage in agriculturalproduction during the same period dropped 4% in California,compared with a 1.5% decrease nationally. The averagefarm size during the 1997-2002 period grew in Californiafrom 327 to 347 acres, compared with 431 to 441 nationally.In California during the same period, the number of farms of1-9 acres decreased nearly 20%, while the number of farmsof 10-49 acres decreased approximately 5%. Nationally, thenumber of 1-9 acre farms noted a reduction of about 13%, but interestingly, thenumber of 10-49 acre farms enjoyed an increase of 6%, for the same period. 1Except for this last figure, these statistics demonstrate a few significant trends,which have long been feared, both nationally and in California. First, they showthat farms are becoming fewer in number. Second, they show that farmland isbeing converted to alternative land uses, with reduced acreage under cultivation.Third, this information shows that average farm size is becoming larger. Finally,and most worrisome for socially disadvantaged farmers, especially in California, thisdata demonstrates that the number farms of less than 50 acres is decreasing atalarming rates.While the 2002 Census of Agriculture paints a gloomy picture for agriculture ingeneral, there are areas that offer hope. Both at the national level and inCalifornia, the number of Spanish, Hispanic or Latino (SHL) Operators has enjoyedsignificant increases. In California, the number of SHL principal operators increased1www.nass.usda.gov/census/census02/preliminary/cenpre02.pdfDRAFT 1.6.05 16