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4. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
<br /> r.. 4.3 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
<br /> 4.3 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
<br /> 4.3.1 INTRODUCTION
<br /> This section provides a description of local agricultural resources within the project vicinity and a
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<br /> general overview of applicable State and County regulations. The impact analysis evaluates the
<br /> project's potential to adversely affect existing agricultural resources. Mitigation is identified,
<br /> where appropriate,to reduce the impacts.
<br /> 4.3.2 SETTING
<br /> REGIONAL OVERVIEW
<br /> In 2002,San Joaquin County was ranked 7th of the 58 Californian counties in production of
<br /> �. agricultural goods,earning$1.344 billion(State of California,2003). This represents a roughly
<br /> 3.3 percent decrease in gross revenue from 2001. Milk and grapes were the top commodities in
<br /> San Joaquin County,producing$237,387,000 and$213,220,000,respectively in the 2002.
<br /> Tomatoes and almonds were the next two largest commodities generating$105,802,000 and
<br /> $89,840,000,respectively,for San Joaquin County(State of California,2003). Other
<br /> commodities produced in the County include walnuts,cherries,apples, asparagus,and
<br /> ornamentals.
<br /> In 2002,Stanislaus County ranked 6th in the State,just ahead of San Joaquin County,earning
<br /> $1.368 billion(State of California, 2003). This figure represents a 1.1 percent increase from the
<br /> previous year(State of California, 2003). Milk and almonds were the top commodities in
<br /> Stanislaus County,producing$390,071,000 and$215,670,000 in 2002(State of California,
<br /> 2003). Other high valued commodities produced in the County include chickens, walnuts,
<br /> peaches,alfalfa,and cattle.
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<br /> LOCAL AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
<br /> Farming in the northern San Joaquin Valley is highly industrialized,with most crops grown as
<br /> monocultures'. Tillage,planting,fertilization,pesticide application,pruning,and harvesting tend
<br /> to utilize large machinery including tractors,trucks, and/or aircraft. Most pesticide and/or
<br /> herbicide applications for vegetable and field crops are done via crop dusting airplanes. Some of
<br /> the fruit and nut crops receive these treatments via tractor.
<br /> Much of the land in the vicinity of the Proposed Project is considered highly productive farmland.
<br /> Farming operations in this area generally consist of medium to large-scale,inter-row cropping
<br /> systems. Crops cultivated in the immediate project area may include alfalfa, almonds,corn,
<br /> wheat,pears, and grapes on any given year. Areas further west of Interstate-5 are generally
<br /> utilized for irrigated and non-irrigated pasture for cattle grazing. At the time of ESA's initial site
<br /> 1 Defined as the cultivation of a single crop over a large land area(e.g.,40+acres).
<br /> RMC Pack Ve hs Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 4.3-1 ESA/203015
<br /> Administrative Dmft EER March 2004
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