A follow up Delta Protection Commission report looking into the socioeconomic impact of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta found that the region saw a 11% increase in productive agricultural acreage since the commission's 2016 report.
The study splits the delta region into an agricultural “primary zone” and more urban “secondary zone,” which together total 480,000 acres of active agricultural production.
While the primary zone increased land in production by 23,000 acres since the previous update, the commission found that the Delta region has a “substantially higher” median household income compared to California's other agricultural communities. The study found regions with "agricultural-based economies" tend to have a lower median income compared to other parts of the state.
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Between 2017 to 2022, the region maintained a steady level of farm acreage throughout, though the researchers found that Delta farmers are shifting toward perennial crops overall.
Consistent with the previous report, Delta farmers are transitioning corn operations to rice and almonds, which the commission suggests may affect long term land-use commitment and future regional economic investments.
The commission also flagged that more high value crops “may not be eligible for federal insurance and will cost more in recovery,” a concern as natural disasters become more frequent across the state.
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