Families are moving out of the cities and suburbs into ranch-style homes in the Central Valley. It’s so common, they even have a name for that kind of development - “ranchettes.” Critics say the trend is consuming our state’s irreplaceable farmlands. Others say it’s helping farmers financially. In any case, it’s creating a battle ground between the newcomers and the farmers. We talk to neighbors in the Central Valley and see how they are getting along.
Correspondent Craig Miller reports.
- Grappling with Rural Growth, Institute for Ecological Health
- Current Trends in the Central Valley, American Farmland Trust
- Ranchettes: The Subtle Sprawl, Farmland Information Center
- Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, California Division of Land Resource Protection
October 27th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
I grew up in the Central Valley in the early 1950’s to the late 1960’s. I remember it as a pastoral, rich, agricultural area with inspiring vistas and clear views to the foothills and the mountains. With ever-increasing population and air pollution, seeing the mountains every day is now a thing of the past. However, a bigger concern is the loss of the precious farmlands to ranchettes & housing subdivisions.
The rich topsoil in the valley resulted from millions of years of natural washing down of nutrients from the mountains; it is truly one of, or the richest areas in the world for growing food. In the bigger picture, landowners are only on the land temporarily, and need to be good stewards of their property for future generations. Just a few hundred years ago this land belonged to other peoples who were good stewards of the land and made it possible for the current owners to make a living on it. If we plaster the valley with subdivisions and ranchettes, where will we grow food? It will be another out-sourced industry in our nation that is increasingly dependent on other countries for the production of the essential products of our lives.
October 29th, 2006 at 10:31 am
I really enjoyed the showing regarding family fued. I would love to live in the country and experience of what the farmers go through. I support the farmers due to government regulations and family have worked on farms in Missouri. I strongly believe it is unjust for outsiders to come around and demand legal fee’s for their wishes- I wouldn’t like that at all. MY SUPPORT IS FOR THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY!
By the way, you have my permission to support the farmers in the central valley of my voice for polling.
Shame on them for moving and expecting so much when generations have had no problems until outsiders moved in. They should really pack up and live in areas that are zoned strictly for Ranchettes.
V/R
Sean
December 1st, 2006 at 9:39 pm
December 1, 2006
To: Whomever it may concern
California Connected Staff
Subject: “Farmly Feud” article
One approach to the issue of selling off farmland might be to offer farmers property tax benefits in lieu of selling off their farmland.
Make the tax cut lucrative enough to dissuade a sell off by farmers experiencing financially tough times.
The farmers wishing to participate would continue to pay their property taxes annually, at the current rate and while doing so, these participants would “bank” the differential between this and their tax discount rate.
Then, when the farmer hits a predefined low point, during a down-turned economy, they would be eligible to have their “banked” tax revenues applied toward part or all of their annual tax liability, until all of their banked revenue was exhausted.
This plan would be a one time offer to farmers owning a determined amount of land. If not accepted within a specified time, the offer would be permanently rescinded by the County. Also, if a farmer ever elected to sell off a portion of their land, this tax benefit would be permanently rescinded.
I would be interested in discussing this matter further with interested parties, who are in some level of decision and/or policy making, within the areas of California affected by this issue.
Sincerely,
Eric Hagstrom
Placer County
December 6th, 2006 at 8:59 am
The problem of Ag Conversion is being fought in the Carpinteria Valley and has been mostly lost on the Oxnard Plain. The Oxnard Plain was, at one time, the fourth highest producer of food in the world. Maybe this show can study these areas to see what has gone right and gone wrong with the process.
Looking further back in history, there is the San Fernando Valley, which the Owens River helped turn into a farming mecca and now is the home to over 2 million people. What should have been saved in that case and how could it have been accomplished?
April 20th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Hi, I wanted to write a response to this story as I have seen this first hand , I moved here over three years ago and have traveled the valley daily from bakersfeild to fresno , paso robles to three rivers. I have seen the dramatic effect of housing developments first hand. So much so that the maps we would buy for work could not keep up with all of the new streets in these developments. I would drive by a walnut or orange orchard one week and two weeks later there is a paved walled housing development with people already living in some units . It is amazing how fast these contractors can build. And I do not blame the farmers for selling because of there challenges. It is sad as more and more of our recources are outsourced to other nations. I hope we keep in good relations with them. Hmmm?