Humboldt County

  The mild coastal climate in Humboldt County allows for a long growing season.  The region boasts 330 days above freezing in the coastal areas, and 250 days above freezing inland.
  Agriculture has long been a stalwart of the Humboldt County environment from the dairy farms of the Arcata Bottoms and Ferndale, to flower farms in Arcata and McKinleyville, and to produce plots in Blue Lake. Humboldt County’s leading commodities are timber, milk and milk products, nursery stock (cut flowers, ornamental and forestry products), beef cattle, dairy cows, alfalfa hay and apples.
   The agricultural commissioner’s office registers organic products. Many of these locally grown products are sold at farmers’ markets throughout Humboldt County.
   An increased demand in organic dairy products has brought more interest in shifting to organic dairies. By the beginning of 2006, nearly a third of all Humboldt County dairies were organic. By mid-2007, that number had grown to approximately 53 percent.
   Because the bulk of California milk is produced in Central Valley feed lots, it is very difficult to be a registered and certified organic dairy. Cows must have access to pasture land to qualify under the organic requirements, and fortunately for North Coast dairymen pastureland is not a problem here. Almost all of the local milk-producing cattle have year-round access to pasture land.
  California’s Williamson Act program assists in maintaining agricultural land. Under the program, farmers or ranchers pay a reduced state tax rate by signing an agreement to keep their lands (100-acre minimum) in agricultural use for a period of 10 years.

Crops
   The Humboldt County Department of Agriculture reported the value of crops produced in 2005 was $3.2 million. The leading agricultural commodities are in these categories: Timber, nursery production, livestock and poultry, livestock and poultry products, field crops, vegetable crops, and fruit and nut crops.
   In the last 15 years, while the overall gross value of the county’s agricultural segment has decreased, some individual segments have increased dramatically. For example, timber decreased 47 percent from 1994 to 2003, but livestock and poultry increased 102 percent, and livestock and poultry products increased 41.7 percent over that same period. In 2007, timber harvests dropped again to $171,627,827.    
   According to Agriculture Commissioner John Falkenstrom, despite the timber production decreases, Humboldt County has led the state's timber production for more than 35 years and continues to do so. In 2006 Humboldt timber companies produced nearly 337 million board feet. 
   Falkenstrom said that the 2006 nursery producers' crop was valued at an all-time high of $4.4 million and that milk and milk products  values dropped by more than $10 million to $29 million.  The milk value drops in 2006 were attributed to drops in milk pricing and also drops in overall production.  In 2005 milk and milk product values were at $4.25 million.

Resources
  Farmers’ Markets
  Farmers markets take place from April through November throughout Humboldt County. For more information call 441-9999.

  Agricultural  Commissioner
 John Falkenstrom
  5630 S. Broadway, Eureka
  445-7223
  Enforces county and state agricultural codes. Also handles noxious weeds, animal control, quarantine of incoming products, nursery and seed regulation, pesticide enforcement and serves as the sealer of weights and measures.

  University of California
  Agricultural Extension
  Service
  5630 S. Broadway, Eureka
  445-7351
  Deborah Giraud, director
  Operates programs on forestry, marine science, 4-H youth development, livestock and range, and horticulture.

  Hoopa Agricultural
  Extension Service
  Loop Road, Hoopa
  (530) 625-4994
  Branch of the University Extension Service. Extension Indian Reservation adviser provides information and services related to agriculture, natural resources and youth development.

  Farm Bureau
  5601 S. Broadway, Eureka
  443-4844
  Assists agricultural producers with legislation and information. Meets at noon on the third Wednesday of the month at the Farm Bureau building. During the summer the Farm Bureau does not meet, but meetings begin again in September.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

   Areas along Del Norte County’s coast have close to a year-round growing season with two or three light frosts per year. Inland, the growing environment is a little more restricted due to lower winter temperatures. The optimum growing season generally falls between April and October or November.

Crops
   The Del Norte County Department of Agriculture reports the value of crops produced in 2006 to be $54.5 million, up slightly from a 2005 value of $54.3 million. The leading agricultural commodities in these categories are: Field crops, livestock, livestock products, fruit and vegetable crops, nursery crops, and timber and forest production.
  Livestock had a $2.1 million  increase in production values this year jumping to $16 million in 2006. Nursery crops also had substantial value increases from $13.7 million in 2005 to $16.1 million in 2006. Livestock products, including milk, also reported some small gains and were valued at $10.7 million. Timber and forest production suffered serious losses this year dropping nearly $4 million in value to a total of $8.7 million. 

Resources
  Agricultural Commissioner
  Glenn E. Anderson
  2650 W. Washington Blvd.,
  Crescent City       
  464-7235