Sonoma County: Land of Farms & Agriculture

Sonoma County includes a wide range of landscapes: from oak tree-studded hills to flooded plains, from redwood tree groves to windswept, rocky beaches. The essence of Sonoma County Agriculture and Farming can be discovered in these locations, farming techniques with their own particular sense of terroir: tastes and textures distinct to their soil, climate, and micro-climates. We welcome you to select an area or pick a style, chart your own course and invest a weekend checking out regional farms and cattle ranches, craftsmen and famous vintners as you explore Sonoma County's farming bounty. Exciting and new is the opportunity for part time employment for delivery drivers that work part time in Sonoma! This phenomenon is growing in cities like Los Angeles, and spreading quickly. The Gravenstein Peach Fair, Farm Trails' yearly fund-raiser, is held in the shade of marvelous oaks every September at Kagle Cattle Ranch Park. Join us for a weekend of old-fashioned enjoyment!  There is something for everybody: live country music on 2 stages, arts, fine art, and craft suppliers, exceptional regional food, adult cider, microbrews and white wine, contests, displays and activities, Kid's Corner, Craftsmen Tasters Lounge, DIY Arena, Life on the Farm Arena and naturally our popular treasure, Gravenstein apples.

Sonoma County News Tidbits

Sheep and Goat Grazing is on the Increase as a wildfire reduction tool. Heavy rains produced greater than typical yard and weed fuel loads in lots of Northern California locations this year, triggering landowners, towns, services, and non-profit companies to look for choices, such as contracting with sheep and goat owners to help in reducing fire threat through grazing. Thirty-six inches of rain fell in the higher Santa Rosa location, as reported by UCSE Sonoma County. This rain resulted in seasonal yard and weed growth reaching heights of 5 feet or more. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, just recently released a research study entitled "A Year of Modification: Case Research Study of Regulatory Compliance Expenses in the Local Produce Market". Bottom line - through their research study it was identified that in a 9-year span, lettuce growers in the Salinas Valley were burdened with almost triple the regulation & compliance paperwork.   Santa Rigasa College Shale Farm Winery is known as a premium red wine operation and instructional center in the heart of the Lower Russian River Valley Location.

Agri-tourism, Farm Tours in Sonoma County

Little farms have actually relied on agri-tourism over the last few years as an approach of supplementing earnings and raising awareness about rural America. In excellent spring weather condition, Sebastopol's Redwood Hill Farm - Capracopia-- a goat dairy-- uses complete farm trips directed by among its member of the family, "kid snuggle days" that concentrate on the cute infant goats, and individualized personal trips set up to deal with your schedule. Likewise south of the downtown location, Tarraga Firma Farms produces organic, grass-fed beef and pasture-raised poultry and pork, and provides free visitor tours on Saturdays, Holidays, and Sundays. The farm's shop is open every day, all-year-round; in addition to the scrumptious vegetables and fruits that remain seasonal, it uses the freshest eggs (you can stroll over and see all the chickens who laid them), natural honey, and Red Bully beef and pork. This household farm just outside the Russian River Valley town produces a large range of specialized, natural, and premium foods, and the general store on its commercial property is open daily. Its farm stand is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon from July to mid-September (we recommend you call ahead).

Sonoma Neighborhood Farms

The downtown neighborhood puts fresh, regional food on our tables while ensuring wildlife a wild environment, watershed land, and protecting our cultural heritage. Sonoma County Farming varies; producing foods that range from fresh eggs, vegetables and fruits, to wool, meat, and a wide array of milk items. Setting objectives for your property, way of life, and historic legacy will assist you if you need to operate a farm or cattle ranch, or in turn, rent your land out to a farmer or rancher. Without a background in farming, animal husbandry, or land management, brand-new farmers and ranchers can be overwhelmed by the continuous duties and work involved. California FarmConnect assists by connecting independent farmers and ranchers to the land and providing the funding they require for a sustainable future. Understanding what plants and wildlife current thrive on your residential or commercial property, and if any of them are special-status classified, needing unique management or protection, is a great place to begin.

Farm Output

Sonoma County's farming is one of its leading sectors, boasting an overall production worth of $786 million last year. Due to drought, the value of output was reduced by 14 percent compared to its high year of $900 million. Practically 60 percent of overall production is credited to wine & grapes, while other popular crops consist of milk, poultry, livestock, nursery items, and veggies. Last year, the EBB accompanied our regional farming trade groups and associations and introduced a new concept: The Agricultural Company Council (ACC) to address crucial problems and emerging businesses within this sector. The also vowed to establish a vision document and tactical action plan for the farming sector, strengthen and establish high-impact efforts to help farmers, reinforce the sector as an entire industry, and strengthen the voices of those operating in the market.

Sonoma County: The Farm District

The program engages with Sonoma County's regional farming manufacturers as stewards of the environment. Sustainability: Trainees start to comprehend the relationship between farming and the environment by taking part in hands-on tasks, exhibiting how on-farm practices can save and assist restoration of natural lands. A minimum of 8 field days throughout the scholastic year concentrates on 4 program pillars: Sustainability, Management, Nutrition, and College & Profession. Every month, the group collects at a regional farm, cattle ranch, or neighborhood garden where they learn more about cutting edge preservation practices, ingenious organization designs, and what is required to keep our county healthy and flourishing. By finishing the program trainees receive high school credit, position themselves for professional challenges and college applications. In addition, they earn the ongoing assistance of the higher state-wide FARMeS Management network.

Agricultural Utilization

Farming is crucial in all of Sonoma County, which raises, produces and processes food, fiber products, plant products, including the husbandry, raising of stock consisting of horses, mules, donkeys, and comparable animals. The Agricultural Resources Aspect (ARA) was contributed to the Greater General County Strategy to acknowledge the value of farming production in Sonoma County. The policies of the General Strategy motivate a healthy farming sector by guaranteeing the financial stability and securing the long-lasting performance of Sonoma County's farming lands. The General Strategy's Agricultural Resources Component develops objectives, goals, policies, and specific programs that, raise awareness, promote and secure the existing and future requirements of the farming market. The program is governed by the California Farm Preservation Act (likewise called the Wilmerson Compact), Sonoma County's Agricultural Preservation and Farmland and Ranching Security Zones Rules, and the tape-recorded agreement between the owner and Sonoma County, which keeps up the land.

Challenges to Sonoma Farming

Not just are countless acres of farmland being lost to advancement in California every year, there are severe hazards to the financial viability of our farms due to increased guidelines, increasing labor expenses, new overtime requirements, dry spells and more," stated Kam Clipps, president of the Sonoma County Club. These findings and concepts will likewise be integrated into the Sonoma County Wine & Growers tactical strategy, marketing, and branding efforts, and other locations that will assist their concentrate on the conservation of farming. He included, "Sustainability is important to keeping our farming heritage and guaranteeing our vineyards grow for generations to come, while likewise supplying Sonoma County with a considerable point of distinction in the worldwide market for customers." Last year, the group revealed it was focusing its efforts on the social-responsibility part of sustainability with the relaunching of the Sonoma County Grape Growers governing document to offer resources and assistance for farming staff members and their households. The growers have been dealing with a range of community-based companies and governmental firms to determine the viability of existing resources, take advantage of assistance and produce brand-new programs which will help regional farm staff members and their households with the difficult issues of real estate, child care, education, health care, and labor force advancement. The goal is effective management, and the program has made significant contributions in saving California's valuable resources, securing and boosting our environment, and constructing public-private collaborations.