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Subject

California agricultural land stewardship

Description

The agricultural lands stewardship strategy (ALS) focuses primarily on private land in agriculture including cultivated land and rangeland. Agricultural land in California comprises about 31.6 million acres. Agricultural systems in California are varied in the way resources are used, ranging from intensive conventional agriculture (irrigated crop cultivation) to more extensive systems such as livestock grazing, each with a different relationship to natural resources. They also affect and are affected by surface hydrology and groundwater recharge in different ways. Stewardship of this land requires constant balancing among natural constraints, market forces, and ever-changing social expectations. Institutions and policies have been developed in response to these challenges. Land managers practice ALS by conserving and improving land for food, fiber, biofuel production, watershed functions, and soil, air, energy, plants, animals, and other conservation purposes. ALS also protects open space and the traditional characteristics of rural communities, as well as open space within urban areas. Moreover, support for public benefits from ALS activities helps landowners maintain their farms and ranches in the face of expanding urban development. The report covers the laws and programs relating to agriculture in California.

Source

California Department of Water Resources

Format

PDF

Language

English

Disciplines

Business | Education | Law | Life Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Original Format

Paper

Document Type

Report

2016 - Agricultural Lands Stewardship

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