Agriculture

Timber continues to be the number one producing crop for Nevada County, providing 46.4% of all agricultural earnings in 2006, down from 51.4% in 2005. The second largest income producer (21.2%) is Cattle and Calves. On a relative basis, timber took a 5% drop from the previous year, while Pasture/Rangeland was up 4%.

Nevada County's Top Six Agricultural Crops, 2006
Crop Income Percent Timber $7,322,000 46.4 Cattle & Calves $3,349,100 21.2 Pasture/Rangeland $2,735,000 17.3 Wine Grapes $1,555,000 9.9 Nursery Stock $490,000 3.1 Fruits & Vegetables $340,000 2.2        Source: Nevada County 2006 Annual Crop Report

          Resources:

          Landscape in Transition:

Land Use & Social Change in Western Nevada County
An independent study prepared by the University of Oregon.

          Agriculture - Contacts & Links

Nevada County Natural Resource Conservation Service
Provides assistance with grant programs, agricultural marketing, and agricultural land conservation.

Nevada County Resource Conservation District
Provides technical assistance, irrigation design and management, and conservation planning.

University of California Cooperative Extension

Provides information and assistance with crop selection, costs of production, pest management, soil fertility management, crop water requirements, livestock, range management, invasive weeds, etc.

Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner

Responsible for enforcement of rules and regulations of the California Food and Agriculture Code, the California Business and Professional Code pertaining to agriculture functions and weights & measures. This Department also administers the Fish and Wildlife Commission, Predatory Animal Control and Agriculture Advisory Commission.

Nevada County Farm Bureau

Dedicated to improving the economic well being of its members and the lives of rural residents. The organization is involved in many actions that influence farm income, including tax revision, farm programs, trade, research priorities, and government spending.

Nevada County Agricultural Links of Interest:

Products Apiary & Honey Nevada County Beekeepers Association Cattle & Calves High Sierra Beef Nevada County Free Range Beef Nevada County Livestock Producers Association Placer-Nevada Cattlewomen Association Farm Products Local Food Coalition Nevada County Certified Growers Market Sheep & Lambs Foothill Fibers Guild Gold Country Sheep Producers   Timber National Forest Foundation Thriving Forests Compendium
Wine Grapes Northern Sierra Wine Country Sierra Grape Growers Association Issues/Resources Agriculture Issues Center Agriculture and Natural Resources CSU Chico – College of Agriculture Small Farm Center
Other Ag Tourism – Nevada County Nevada County Fairgrounds Nevada County Land Trust Placer-Nevada Counties 4H Program

California Agricultural Links of Interest:

California Department of Food & Agriculture
California Farm Bureau

U.S. Agricultural Links of Interest:

United States Department of Agriculture
American Farm Bureau