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3.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES <br />Would the project: <br />a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland <br />of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps <br />prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring <br />Program of the California Resources Agency, to non- <br />agricultural use? <br />b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a <br />Williamson Act contract? <br />c) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, <br />forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code Section <br />12220(g)), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code <br />Section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production <br />(as defined by Government Code Section 51104(g))? <br />d) Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest <br />land to non -forest use? <br />e) Involve other changes in the existing environment, which, <br />due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of <br />Farmland to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land <br />to non -forest use? <br />NARRATIVE DISCUSSION <br />Environmental Setting <br />Potentially <br />Significant <br />Impact <br />Less Than <br />Significant <br />with <br />Mitigation <br />Incorporated <br />Less Than <br />Significant <br />Impact No Impact <br />Agriculture is an important part of the San Joaquin County economy, as well as a <br />dominant feature of the County's visual landscape. Approximately 86.7% of the county's <br />land area was in farms and pasture as of 2017 (U.S. Department of Agriculture 2019). <br />The gross value of agricultural production in the county was $2,617,815,000 in 2019, <br />which represented an increase in value of approximately 0.91% from 2018. The top five <br />agricultural products in 2019 were almonds, milk, grapes, English walnuts, and eggs (San <br />Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner's Office 2020). <br />The project site and vicinity have been used for agricultural production in the past, <br />primarily for row crops. Currently, the project site is vacant and not in agricultural <br />production. However, the current zoning for the project site is AU -20, Agriculture -Urban <br />Reserve, 20 -acre minimum. <br />The Important Farmland Maps, prepared by the California Department of Conservation <br />as part of the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, designate the viability of <br />lands for farmland use, based on the physical and chemical properties of the soils. <br />Classifications include Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, and Farmland of Statewide <br />Pock Lane Public Review Draft IS/MND 3-4 May 2022 <br />