1. California Ag Commodities Lesson
Intro to Ag
Ms. Senff

2. Mind Moo-ver - Where would you be without Agriculture?

3. Objectives:
Define “commodity” and understand its role in California agriculture
Identify California commodities and rank them 1-20 according to their economic impact
Compare and contrast agriculture imports and exports
Select and agricultural commodity and construct a poster/brochure/Powerpoint informing classmates about that specific commodity.
Design a “commodity” collage based on commodities grown in your assigned California region.

4. Did you know that CA….
Has been the #1 Agriculture Producing State for the past 50 years.
CA’s leading EXPORT is Almonds!
California is the nation's leading producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production.

5. California’s Farmers & Ranchers Produce over 250 different CROPS and Livestock Products.
Agriculture provides for nearly 1 in 10 jobs in California.

6. Top 3 Ag Producing States
California - Milk and Cream
Texas - Cattle and Calves
Iowa - Corn and Swine (Pork)

7. What is a Commodity?
A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought, sold, or traded.
Agriculturally speaking: Anything grown or produced for us to survive. Food, clothing etc...!

9. What commodities are produced in CA?
400 Commodities from Almonds to walnuts.
CA leads the nation in 75 commodities
These commodities are only grown commercially in California:
almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, raisins, kiwifruit, olives, clingstone peaches, pistachios, dried plums, pomegranates, sweet rice, persimmons and walnuts.

10. Persimmons….

11. Where we rank Nationally
The Golden State is the No. 1 agricultural producer and exporter in the U.S.
California provides approximately ½ of fruits, nuts, and vegetables for the U.S.
One CA farmer produces enough food to feed 129 people.

12. California Farmlands
CA farmlands account for only 3.7% of the Nation’s total farmlands!
CA produces 11.3% of the total US total output
15% of U.S. crop, 7.1% of U.S. livestock

13. California Farmlands
80,500 total CA farms and ranches are 27% of the State’s total land area.
Average size: 347 acres
CA ranks 6th Nationally in farmland numbers
Texas is #1 with 78% of the state and 568 average size
Montana is #2 with 65% and 2,146 average size

14. Mind Moo-ver Objective – QOD –
SWBAT… Identify specific commodities within specific regions California and their effect on Agriculture
QOD –
What is a commodity? Give an example of a commodity in California.
Where does California rank nationally for Agricultural Imports/Exports?

15. California Farmlands
CA produces more than half the Nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts on only 3% of our farmland.
Total output: $42.6 billion
Exports: $18.18 billion

16. California Farmlands Types of Farms
95%+ are family farms or partnerships
6% are corporations; but 80% of this 6% are family owned corporations.

17. Why is California Agriculture so VIABLE (AKA: Steller!!!)
The temperate year-round climate and expanses of land provide foods the nation and world have grown to enjoy and count on.
year-round production of lemons, artichokes, avocados, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes, spinach, and squash
Fertile Soil:
More than 2,000 types of soils.
Diverse land resources:
Valleys, foothills, mountains, coastal areas, and deserts
Progressive farmers

18. California’s Top Commodities
#1 Dairy: Milk and Cream - < $7.6 billon!
#2 Almonds - $5.8 billion
#3 Grapes - $5.6 billion
#4 Cattle/Calves – $3 billion
#5 Strawberries - $2.2 billion

19. CA Top Commodities
#6 – Walnuts - $1.8 billion #7 – Lettuce (all) - $1.7 billion #8 – Hay (all) - $1.6 billion #9 – Tomatoes - $1.2 billion #10 – Nursery Plants - $1.2 billion

20. CA Top Commodities #11 – Pistachio - $1.1 billion
#12 – Flowers & Foliage - $9.8 million
#13 – Rice - $7.7 million
#14 – Oranges (all) - $7.6 million
#15 – Chickens - $7.2 million

21. CA Top Commodities #16 – Cotton lint (all) - $6.5 million
#17 – Broccoli - $6.4 million
#18 – Carrots - $5 million
#19 – Lemons - $4.4 million
#20 – Eggs, Chicken - $3.9 million

22. Impacts of the CA Drought…
In your notes, write some reactions you have to the videos.

23. 2012 CA Top Producing Counties
$6.587 billion
$6.212 billion
$6.210 billion
$4.137 billion
$3.280 billion
$3.277 billion
San $2.881 billion
$2.215 billion
$1.960 billion
$1.945 billion

24. What About Contra Costa County??
In 2012 Contra Costa County was ranked $ million.
Top 5 Contra Costa County commodities:
Cattle & $ million
Sweet $ million
Grain $7.546 million
$7.546 million
$7.526 million

25. And Brentwood???
BRENTWOOD, CA is known for agricultural commodities – Cherries, peaches, corn!

26. Imports
Imports: Goods or services that were produced abroad and brought into the state.
Causes money to move out of American economy
Meets the needs of citizens when goods or services are not offered in the United States
Prices dictated by other countries offering the goods.

27. 2010 Top 10 Imported Commodities
$9.316 billion
$9.174 billion
Grains & $7.786 billion
Oilseeds & $5.390 billion
$4.945 billion
$4.295 billion
$4.279 billion
$4.047 billion
Malt $3.507 billion
Beef & $2.828 billion

28. Exports Exports: Goods or services produced locally and sold abroad.
Brings foreign money into the American economy
Allows the US to distribute excess goods, or goods that have no market in the US
Prices dictated by global economy and supply and demand.

29. 2012 Top CA Export Commodities
$2.391 billion
Dairy $1.149 billion
$1.007 billion
$819.5 million
$796.9 million
$719.6 million
Table $641.2 million
$566.4 million
$492.4 million
$368.3 million

30. 2012 Top Trading Partners Canada @ 3.148 billion
Lettuce, strawberries, table grapes, wine
European $2.511 billion
Almonds, wine, pistachios, walnuts
China/Hong $2.341 billion
Cotton, almonds, pistachio, walnuts
$1.532 billion
Rice, almonds, beef, beef products
$888.9 million
Dairy & products, table grapes, almonds, tomatoes

31. Commodity Poster Assignment! Get Excited! 
You have been assigned on which you will complete an informational poster/brochure/PowerPoint. Please read all the criteria on the Directions Sheet provided.
This does not have to be a California grown commodity.
You WILL have some time in class to work on it
Will be doing presentations ________
Food is NOT required, but helps it be a YUMMY couple days in class.

32. Homework Assignment!
Bring 2 catalogs/newspapers (APPROPRIATE PLEASE!) into class.
You will receive participation points.
We will be working together to create a MASSIVE California State Commodity Collage.. So magazines with agricultural products would be a bonus!

33. Production Areas of CA Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley
Delta Region
Central Coast
South Coast
North Coast
Imperial/Desert
Mountain Region
In what region does
Brentwood reside??

34. Counties: Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama
#1 Sacramento Valley
Rice
Tomatoes
Walnuts
Almonds
Livestock
Hay
Plums
Milk
Counties: Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama

35. Counties: Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus
#2 San Joaquin Valley
Cotton
Oranges
Cattle
Tomatoes
Wine grapes
Table grapes
Raisins
Almonds
Stone Fruits
Milk & Cream
Pistachios
Corn Silage
Vegetables
Counties: Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus

36. #3 Delta Region Sweet Corn Corn Silage Almonds Milk Vegetables
Tomatoes
Cattle
Walnuts
Asparagus
Wine Grapes
Cherries
Counties: San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Solano

37. #4 Central Coast Lettuce Broccoli Beef Cattle Livestock Wine grapes
Strawberries
Artichokes
Flowers
Spinach
Berries
Vegetables
Counties: Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

38. #5 South Coast Eggs Nursery Products Flowers Livestock Market Chickens
Milk
Avocados
Lemons
Dates
Counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego

39. #6 North Coast Wine Grapes Nursery Products Cattle & Calves Pasture
Milk
Livestock
Hay
Vegetables
Fruits & Nuts
Counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara

40. #7 Imperial/Desert Dates Alfalfa Lettuce Sugar Beets Wheat
Milk & Cream
Nursery Products
Walnuts
Market Chickens
Cattle
Eggs
Counties: Imperial, Riverside, San Bernadino,

41. #8 Mountain Region Christmas Trees Wheat Potatoes Garlic Sheep Hay
Apples
Nursery Products
Wine grapes
Onions
Timber
Pasture
Cattle
Honey
Counties: Inyo, Mono, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Alpine, Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumes, Lassen, Shasta, Modoc, Trinity, Siskiyou

42. CA Commodities Map Activity

43. Something to consider:
China can produce a 30 lb. box of garlic for the wholesale cost of $12.
California produces a 30 lb. box of garlic for the wholesale cost of $20.
Why is there such a large cost difference?

44. Reasons for the production cost differences:
California has strict regulations where the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are concerned.
Cost of labor (planting, care, and harvest)
Cost of inputs (fertilizers, herbicides, water, etc.)