"Agriculture is the most healthy, most useful, and most noble employment of man."

Those words, spoken by George Washington over two hundred years ago, still express the sense of pride felt by those who comprise Kern County's diverse agricultural community. A healthy agricultural community provides a source foundation from which everyone can flourish and prosper. Less than two percent of the nation's populace can consider themselves as farmers...yet they're so good at it that they feed not only themselves but the rest of our nation and the world.

ITS GROWING SUCCESS STORY

Kern County farmers rank among the world's best. At the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, the most diverse and productive farming area in the world, Kern County produces over 250 different crops, including over 30 types of fruits and nuts, over 40 types of vegetables, over 20 field crops, not to mention lumber, nursery stock, livestock, poultry and dairy products. The total value of these agricultural products annually exceeds $1.5 billion.

Kern County alone outranks the agricultural production of 20 states. But the benefits of a strong agricultural community far outweigh just the gross receipts of the producers. A single dollar generated by agricultural production results in three to four dollars in the county's gross domestic product. One out of every ten jobs throughout the state is directly linked to agriculture.

Most of us don't spend a great deal of time thinking about the weather, or sunshine, air, soil or water. These have always have been there and always will be. These are permanent, right? Wrong. To California's farmers and ranchers, those simple elements define the boundaries of their existence and are the tools of the farmer’s trade.

And like all good craftsmen, farmers and ranchers take care of their tools. Farmers today have greatly enhanced and improved the resources under their control. They have to -- their livelihood depends on it. And everyone's lives really depend on them for the food they eat and the clothes they wear.

Kern's rich agricultural heritage can trace its roots to a century ago. When the first settlers came to the area, they found boggy swampland that provided breeding ground of encephalitis and malaria-carrying mosquitoes. By harnessing the uncontrolled flow of water from the Kern River, this dangerous area was turned into some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. Other marginal grassland was also transformed into productive farming land, creating a modern Garden of Eden that has fed the world for nearly a century.

KERN COUNTY 2005 CROP REPORT
Top 20 Crops

1. Almonds 594,378,000
2. Grapes 536,571,000
3. Milk 421,564,000
4. Citrus 354,700,000
5. Pistachios 314,352,000
6. Carrots 209,162,000
7. Cattle/Calves 200,966,000
8. Hay, Alfalfa 160,059,000
9. Cotton 140,519,000 
10. Potatoes 96,342,000 
11. Roses 45,367,000
12. Silage & Forage 37,719,000
13. Bell Peppers 33,835,000
14. Tomatoes 30,066,000
15. Wheat 29,824,000
16. Nursery 29,552,000
17. Turf 25,467,000
18. Apples 21,695,000
19. Apiary 18,901,000
20. Eggs 18,428,000

2005 TOTAL VALUE:  $3,546,902.00

GROWING INDUSTRY

Much of Kern's agricultural production goes into foreign markets, providing a valuable source of export revenue to reduce the nation's trade deficit.

And that's not to neglect the American consumer, who has the most plentiful, abundant and inexpensive food supply in the world. Did you know the average American consumer works only two-and-a-half hours a day to buy a market basket of groceries? Consumers in England, France, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Japan must work from four to six hours to buy the same supplies. Mexico, Korea and South Africa residents must work seven to nine hours, and Argentinean and Brazil shoppers must work nearly twelve hour!

American consumers pay only 12 percent of their incomes for food; Chinese consumers pay just over 50 percent --more than half—of their incomes for their daily bread.

GROWING CONCERNS

As population food demands increase, Kern County's farmers must produce more with less. And they've been very successful at it. Every increase in productivity means more land and space for wildlife habitat.

If today's farmers used the identical methods their fathers and grandfathers used, we'd need more than twice as much land devoted to farming.

Such efficiency means farmers save millions of acres for wildlife to live and thrive, making better lives for everyone.

"Well, sure, we need farmers for food, but that's all they do, right?" The truth is, our lives would be very different without all the wonderful things made from farm products.

Most of us don't realize how deeply our lives are shaped by agriculture, but it affects us every day. All of us must eat food, and we wear clothes made of natural fibers, shoes and belts and purses made of leather -- all produced on farms. We live in homes made of wood, dry ourselves after a bath with cotton towels. Guess where those raw materials originated? And we don't think of the businesses that are really agricultural-based, such as restaurants, grocery stores and clothing boutiques.

What would they do for jobs if farmers didn't do theirs?

Even things we don't think of as being agricultural-based -- like a tape in the VCR or pictures of your cousin's wedding or a visit to the doctor -- all these have deep ties to agriculture. The doctor, for instance, will use items like latex gloves, cotton bandages and other items that have roots in agriculture, and many medicines are made from agricultural products. Did you know, for example, aspirin and penicillin are agriculturally derived?

And there are many other examples throughout our daily existence. Videotape, audiotape, camera film and even the insides of a computer diskette are made of cellulose acetate, which is made from cotton. Those pictures of the wedding? Photographic paper is an agricultural product as are the flowers in the bride's bouquet. Plus the food at the reception was grown by farmers.

Today's farmer is a mix of many talents and skills: a businessman, a scientist, a biologist, and computer expert, all taking advantage of the latest technologies to make farms more efficient. This, in turn, allows them to be top-notch managers of their land and resources.

Protecting the environment is the keystone of Kern County's agricultural industry. Every farmer is directly involved in the effort to improve the quality of soil, water and air resources and the quality of life. Farmers have been leading the way for environmental awareness by better use and management of resources. And everyone benefits.

GROWING CLOSER

Agribusiness supports the community-at-large in many ways. From sponsoring youth sports activities like Little League baseball and soccer to endowing various scholarship programs, Kern County agribusinesses play a significant role in improving the quality of life for local residents. For example, Kern agribusinesses are among the greatest supporters of local arts organizations. Bakersfield Music Theater, Bakersfield Symphony and Bakersfield Community Theater all list agribusinesses as benefactors in their programs.

Philanthropic efforts of groups like the Golden Empire Gleaners, United Way and the American Cancer Society are aided by the gifts of food and financial assistance from their farming partners. Community involvement is just one part of being a good friend and neighbor and is only one of the ways your local farming community contributes to the growth of people and their families.

GROWING SUPPORT

For more information, contact:
(Direct link to website indicated in blue)

Kern County AG Commissioner
1001 S. Mt. Vernon Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93307
(661) 868-6300

Kern County Farm Bureau
801 South Mt Vernon Avenue    
Bakersfield, CA 93307
(661) 397-9635 

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