Delta Fix Delta Fix AffordabilityAffordabilitySan Diego Farm ViewSan Diego Farm View

Eric LarsonEric LarsonExecutive DirectorExecutive DirectorSan Diego County Farm Bureau San Diego County Farm Bureau

National RankingsNational Rankings

#16 farm economy among all counties#16 farm economy among all counties

# 1 in nursery production# 1 in nursery production

# 1 in avocado production# 1 in avocado production

# 1 in number of small farms# 1 in number of small farms

#1 in number of organic farms #1 in number of organic farms

# 1 in farmers with off-farm income# 1 in farmers with off-farm income

San Diego’s Top CropsSan Diego’s Top Crops

1.1. Ornamental Trees and ShrubsOrnamental Trees and Shrubs

2.2. Indoor PlantsIndoor Plants

3.3. Bedding PlantsBedding Plants

4.4. AvocadosAvocados

5.5. TomatoesTomatoes

6.6. EggsEggs

7.7. LemonsLemons

8.8. Cacti & SucculentsCacti & Succulents

9.9. Herbaceous PerennialsHerbaceous Perennials

10.10. Cut Flowers & FoliageCut Flowers & Foliage

The Crop ProfileThe Crop Profile

Nursery & Floral65%

Fruit21% Vegetables

9%

Livestock & Poultry4%

Other<1%

What Farming Means to the What Farming Means to the CommunityCommunity

EconomicEconomic Sales and inputsSales and inputs JobsJobs

EnvironmentalEnvironmental Air qualityAir quality Fire suppressionFire suppression Open spaceOpen space Wildlife corridorsWildlife corridors

Community CharacterCommunity Character HistoryHistory Local productsLocal products AmbianceAmbiance

What Farming Means to What Farming Means to Water Sales Water Sales

Regional value as customersRegional value as customers Easy to serve volume buyerEasy to serve volume buyer Source of fixed feesSource of fixed fees Interruptible customerInterruptible customer Potential for large volume recycled Potential for large volume recycled

water usewater use

From 2001 to 2011 in San From 2001 to 2011 in San Diego CountyDiego County

Irrigated acreage down 16%Irrigated acreage down 16% 61,000 to 51,00061,000 to 51,000

Crop value up 30%Crop value up 30% $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion$1.3 billion to $1.7 billion

Ag’s imported water use down 60%Ag’s imported water use down 60% 100,000 af to 40,000af100,000 af to 40,000af

Water price increased 190%Water price increased 190% $450/af to $1300/af $450/af to $1300/af

Adjustments Made by Adjustments Made by FarmersFarmers

Investment in conservationInvestment in conservation Reduction in planted acresReduction in planted acres Crop changesCrop changes Increased production per acreIncreased production per acre More groundwater useMore groundwater use Capture and reuse of irrigation waterCapture and reuse of irrigation water

Farm Water Challenges Farm Water Challenges

Efficiency has limitsEfficiency has limits Crops need a level of irrigation or Crops need a level of irrigation or

production falls off precipitouslyproduction falls off precipitously Poor water quality requires more irrigation Poor water quality requires more irrigation Price of inputs has no relationship to crop Price of inputs has no relationship to crop

sale pricesale price Every crop grown here is easily replaced Every crop grown here is easily replaced

by production someplace else by production someplace else

Impacts of Rising Water Impacts of Rising Water Prices Prices

Significant reduction in Significant reduction in water saleswater sales

Tree fruit acreage taken Tree fruit acreage taken out of productionout of production

Other crops now at risk Other crops now at risk Reluctance to make Reluctance to make

new investmentsnew investments

Imported Water Price Imported Water Price SensitivitySensitivity

#1 Citrus#1 Citrus

#2 Avocados#2 Avocados

#3 Strawberries#3 Strawberries

#4 Vegetables#4 Vegetables

#5 Cut Flowers#5 Cut Flowers

#6 Nursery#6 Nursery

What Farmers Must Do to What Farmers Must Do to Afford the Delta FixAfford the Delta Fix

Seek differential pricingSeek differential pricing Invest in researchInvest in research Take full advantage of technologyTake full advantage of technology Change production practicesChange production practices Casual farmers must go all-inCasual farmers must go all-in Consider alternate cropsConsider alternate crops Diversify Diversify