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Farming
FARMING IN WESTLANDS
Contents
CROP PRODUCTION
Westlands' farmers work some of the most fertile and productive land in the world, producing vital food and fiber products and economic wealth from renewable natural resources. More than 60 different crops are grown commercially in the District with the potential for scores of others. And, unlike many other key growing areas of California, urbanization is not a direct threat to productivity.
Westlands' farmers have combined generations of family tradition with state-of-the art advances in modern agricultural practices. They provide California and the United States an irreplaceable asset producing the three-way benefit of (1) superior crop yields, (2) high crop value, and (3) low water use.
The Crop Production Report, lists the acreage devoted to each crop, the average yield, and the crop value produced. Crop acreage trends from 1978-1996 are shown in subsequent pages. Prior to the delivery of Project water, Westlands' farmers primarily grew cotton and grain crops, such as wheat and barley, and some vegetables. However, between 1980 and 1996, the acreage devoted to vegetables increased to more than 220,000 acres, while grains declined by some 100,000 acres. A graph on the following page shows the acreage of grains, safflower, and vegetable crops grown in the District during this period. Crops classified as grain and vegetable are indicated in Crop Production Reports. Part of the increase in vegetable production is attributed to the fact that traditional "salad bowl" growing areas, such as the Salinas-Monterey area and the Central Coastal counties of California, are becoming urbanized and water more scarce. In addition, some coastal areas are faced with groundwater pumping limitations brought about by sea water intrusion.
As the District's farmers devote more resources to raising vegetable crops (some of which are double-cropped) and to growing more than 34,000 acres of trees and vines, they are recognizing the need to produce growing high-quality marketable products that meet the consumer's increasingly high standards. Therefore, in addition to meeting crop water requirements for normal growth, significant amounts of water are used on plants for cultural practices such as weed control, climate control, holding tomatoes for harvest, and ensuring a tight head of lettuce or swelled garlic bulbs. Because of the continuing changes in water management due to cultural practices, Westlands' farmers now require more water on acreage where low water use crops, such as wheat and barley, were previously grown.