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<br /> EXAMPLE OF CROP VALUE DATA
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<br /> The California Department of Coniservation reports that in Fresno County between 1986
<br /> and 1990, a total of 3,404 acres of farmland were converted to urban uses. Of this total,
<br /> 1,362 acres were prime farmland,and 524 acres were farmland of statewide importance
<br /> (California Department of Conservation, 1990: p. 22, 1992: p.16). The eventual loss of
<br /> 172 acres of prime farmland, 98 acres of potential prime farmland, and 22 acres of
<br /> farmland of statewide importance�is considered to be a significant environmental impact.
<br /> The project will contribute to the continuing rapid loss of farmland on the margins of the
<br /> -, Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area11
<br /> Crops on the portions of the project site used for agriculture are approximately as follows:
<br /> truck crops (including onions, strawberries, melons, tomatoes, bell peppers, and sweet
<br /> corn), 121 acres; almonds, 65 acres; plums, 10 acres- and nectarines, 7 acres.
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<br /> Information provided by the Fresno County Department of Agriculture in its 9992
<br /> Agricultural Crop and Livestock Report provides a basis for estimating the value of the
<br /> loss of these crops. The annualicrop value on the site is estimated at $733,440 (see
<br /> Table E-2). ,
<br /> i� TABLE E-2
<br /> VALUE .OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS
<br /> r
<br /> �I Crop Value Total
<br /> F11
<br /> Crop Acre's Per Acre Value
<br /> Truck Crops* 121 $4,373 $529,133
<br /> Almonds 65 $2,083 135,395
<br /> Plums 10 $3,156 31,560
<br /> Nectarines 7 $5,336 37,352
<br /> $733,440
<br /> 'Truck crops grown on the site include anions;strawberries,melons,tomatoes,bell peppers,and sweet corn. Various
<br /> combinations of these crops are grown from year to year and precise breakdowns are not available. For purposes of
<br /> !� estimating crop value,therefore,the 1992 value of these crops were averaged togetherto obtain a composite peracre
<br /> figure.
<br /> Source; Fresno County Department of Agriculture. 1992 Fresno County Agricultural Crap and Livestock Report.
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<br /> The value of agricultural production Is not limited to its gross sales value. The income
<br /> generated by farms passes through the local economy as households, farms, local
<br /> businesses, processors, and government agencies all purchase goods from one another.
<br /> This phenomenon results in an indirect or multiplier effect, in which the value accounted
<br /> for by crops in the local economy is much larger than their gross sales value. The
<br /> "weighted average county economic multiplier"has been estimated at 3.2 (Sarguis, 1981:
<br /> p. 39). Multiplying the total estimated gross value of crops grown ($733,440) by 3.2
<br /> results in a total value to the local, economy of $2,346,880, a generation of $1,613,480
<br /> more than the initial value of the crops.
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