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FARM STAND & CAFÉ Open Monday – Saturday 8 AM – 5 PM 7250 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel, CA 93923 (3.5 miles east of Highway 1) (831) 625-6219 Earthboundfarm.com Ag boosted local economy by $11.7B By Jim Johnson SALINAS>> Monterey County agriculture contrib- uted nearly $11.66 billion to the local economy in 2018, almost three times as much as the county's total crop production value and pro- duced more than one in five local jobs. Those were among the top conclusions in a new report entitled "Economic Contri- butions of Monterey County Agriculture" presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday by Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonza- les and the report's authors. Produced by Middlebury Institute of International Studies professors Jeff Langholz and Fernando DePaolis, the report was designed to provide analysis beyond the local crop pro- duction values and acreage in the annual crop report to include agriculture's total economic contribution through production, local processing, employment, and economic "multiplier" effects. According to the report, the agricultural industry's $11.66 billion contribution included $7.39 billion in "di- rect" economic output, and $4.27 billion in "multiplier" effects due to local spending by agricultural companies on products like farm equip- ment, fertilizers, seed and the like and their employees on groceries, housing, and more. Total economic input was split between $7.84 billion from farm production and $3.82 billion from food processing. The report found that the $11.66 billion contribution represented a 43.6% in- crease from the $8.1 billion total in a similar report released in 2015 based on data from 2013. This year's report is the third in a series, following the 2015 report and another from 2011 based on 2009 data. The industry contributed nearly $32 million per day to the local economy, according to the report, an increase of nearly $10 million per day from the 2015 report. The report indicated that agriculture sup- ported 57,503 "direct" employees, or about 22.8% of the county's total employment, as well as more than 6,400 jobs attributable to "mul- tiplier" effects as a result of spending by agricul- tural companies and their employees. And the report found that the local agricultural industry includes "ex- ceptional diversification," according to Gonzales, as a result of producing a relatively wide variety of crops including consis- tent production of 35 major crops over the past decade that helps the area's economic resiliency, or ability to withstand downturns in the economy and specific crop values. Finally, the report explored the industry's contribution to the local "ecosystem" through "scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, wildfire protection and more than a dozen other non-market services" pro- vided by agricultural lands to society, with a "rough es- timated value" of between $4.7 and $10.9 billion per year. The report acknowl- edged that confirming and refining the estimate would require significantly more research. In conclusion, the re- port called agriculture "an important pillar of the Monterey County econo- my and represents a vital link to both the county's cultural past and compet- itive future." It added the report had "barely begun to fill key information gaps about agriculture's role," and mentioned several key questions that may need further research. Those include the poten- tial for expanded local food processing, progress on technological innovation in the industry, the ability to handle economic shocks such as the COVID-19 pan- demic, tax implications, and the future impact of canna- bis and hemp production. Also Tuesday, the county board established a new regional housing trust fund starting with $1.26 million in an attempt to attract state housing grant funding. The new trust includes funding from the county, the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership's housing trust, and the cities of Salinas, Gonzales, and Pacific Grove, and will include future funding from the cities of Monterey and King City. Contact reporter Jim John- son at 831-726-4348. This story previously appeared in the Monterey Herald on Jul 23, 2020. Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau's National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon update Due to the continuation of the Covid-19 restrictions, the National Agriculture Day Luncheon that had been rescheduled for July 21, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, September 16, 11:30 am-1:30 pm at the Santa Cruz County Fair- grounds. The event will be held outdoors, and recom- mended social distancing precautions will be taken. The Fairgrounds are excited to host the event so please mark your calendar and plan to attend. If you have already purchased a ticket for the event, it is good for this new September date. If you would like to purchase tickets, or additional tickets, please do at eventbrite.com. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call the Farm Bureau office at 831-724-1356 or email sccfb@sbcglobal.net. For more information, visit www.Agri-Culture.us, or purchase tickets and spon- sorships on www.eventbrite. com (search for "12th Annual Testicle Festival" in Watsonville). * Cow Pie Bingo ($50 per Square) – Experience the "sweet smell of success." A bull will turned loose on a fenced-in area which has been marked off into 64 squares. The cow deter- mines the winner by making the first "deposit" on one of the squares. Chances on each square are sold for $50. The winner receives 50% of the ticket sales. Kids and adults will both love this fun event. Testicle Festival 2020 – A Different Ball Game Fundraiser Barbeque Take Out to Enjoy at Home E C I V R E S . . T I D E E N U O Y E R E H W Y L T C A X E r e l a e D e r i t e t e l p m o c t s o M r u o y m o c . e r i t y a b t s a e 3 7 2 5 - 7 5 7 - 1 3 8 : e n o h p . t s n i f f i r g 0 3 3 , r e t n e c e c i v r e s s a n i l a S a n o z i r a , a m u y n i d n u o r r a e y n e p o w o n