Reported by Lauren Mary Lund, CABPRO Staff
CABPRO’s May Open House gathering yesterday, Friday, featured Nevada County Farm Bureau Board Member and local hay farmer, John Powers, presenting the state of local agriculture. The good news is that we now have approximately 600 farms in Nevada County, and support for local agriculture is positive and on the rise. Powers informed us that most local farms are owned by individuals or families, with the median age of local farmers at 55 years old. Which introduces one of the three current challenges.
Agriculture in general, and particularly in Nevada County, suffers from an insufficient number of young people interested in farming, and willing to return home from college to settle down in Nevada County and be farmers here. Numbers from the 2002 Agriculture Census indicate there are less than half as many young farmers as the 54 and older group. The Agriculture Census is conducted every five years. The last Census was just taken in 2007, and those numbers are not available yet, but there has been no indication of an increase in local young people pursuing agricultural careers.
Overall, Nevada County government has demonstrated welcome support for local farmers. Recent County legislation has made for easier access to fruit and vegetable stands. County-wide, there are now 3-4 Farmers Markets each week, and the Nevada County Growers Association, a growers marketing organization promoting locally grown fruits and vegetables, received $10,000 of seed money from the Board of Supervisors. Powers also mentioned what a blessing it is up here for local farmers to have access to Nevada Irrigation District (NID) water. NID water is an especial blessing, seeing as the State of California Water Resources Board continues to wield unreasonable, even rapacious control of water rights, plus unreasonable related fees.
With so much going for Nevada County Agriculture, what other challenges are of current concern? Well, there’s Mother Nature, and then there’s Mother Nature again.
In April of 2008, Nevada County sustained a late frost that has cost an estimated loss in local produce of $1,000,000. “It was sufficient to declare this a disaster area,” said Powers. Thus, giving local growers an opportunity to apply for some level of tax relief.
Also, Nevada County farmers have been challenged by a dry spring season, with dry-land pastures (hay, alfalfa, etc.) receiving only 65 percent of normal precipitation. Being at the mercy of the elements is nothing new for farmers. Weather cycles due to sun spots and ocean temperatures have cycled hot and cold, wet and dry, from the beginning of time, yet the toll they take on agriculture is still a serious challenge.
What’s important now, and fully within our control, is Nevada County residents choosing to do business with local farmers, and requesting locally grown fruits and vegetables at their favorite grocery stores. Nevada County farming is a local treasure. Let’s do all we can to support and protect it. - End -