|
Vantage to Pomona Heights Chapter 3
<br />230 kV Transmission Line Project FEIS Affected Environment
<br /> PAGE 3-230
<br />Farming Sector
<br />For the entire state as well as the Project study area, agriculture has been the backbone of the local
<br />economies. Table 3.9-7 shows that farm income declined as a proportion of total income in Kittitas
<br />County from 2001 to 2013 (in part due to losses by farm proprietors), but increased in Grant and Yakima
<br />counties. Statewide, the proportion of total income earned in farming increased from 0.7 to 0.9 percent
<br />over the same period of time (BEA 2014b).
<br />Table 3.9-7 Comparison of Percent of Total Personal Income Earned in Farm Sector, Project
<br />Study Area Counties and Statewide, 2013 and 2001
<br />AREA/REGION PERCENT OF TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME 2001
<br />PERCENT OF TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME 2013
<br />Grant County 9.9% 15.7%
<br />Kittitas County 2.2% 1.7%
<br />Yakima County 6.0% 8.8%
<br />3-County Study Area 6.5% 9.6%
<br />State of Washington 0.7% 0.9%
<br />Source: BEA 2014b. Table CA4
<br />Grant County’s agricultural sales of $1.76 billion in 2012 ranked it the number one producer in the state,
<br />while Yakima County production ranks it at number two; Kittitas County ranked 21 out of a total of 39
<br />counties in the state. Between 2007 and 2012, acreage in farms in Yakima County increased, while farm
<br />acreage in the rest of the Project study area and statewide decreased. The primary agricultural product in
<br />the Project study area is apples, which dominates the farm products category of “fruits, tree nuts, and
<br />berries.” Milk and other dairy products from “cattle” and “cattle and calves” are next most important
<br />(U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] 2014). Agricultural sales data are summarized in Table 3.9-8.
<br />Table 3.9-8 Summary of Farm Sector Characteristics, Project Study Area Counties, 2007 and
<br />2012 (Dollar Figures in Thousands)
<br />FARM SECTOR CHARACTERISTIC GRANT KITTITAS YAKIMA
<br />Land in farms, 2007 (acres) 1,087,952 191,087 1,649,281
<br />Land in farms, 2012 (acres) 963,784 183,124 1,780,498
<br />Market value of products sold, 2007 $1,190,191 $60,949 $1,203,806
<br />Market value of products sold, 2012 $1,762,295 $68,911 $1,645,510
<br />State rank 1 21 2
<br />Value of crops including nursery and greenhouse, 2012 $1,333,149 $47,157 $1,069,497
<br />State rank 1 17 2
<br />Value of livestock, poultry, and their products, 2012 $429,145 $27,754 $576,013
<br />State rank 2 16 1
<br />Leading value of sales by type, 2012
<br />Fruits, tree nuts, and berries $674,521 $4,144 $810,881
<br />Milk from cows (D) (D) $436,745
<br />Other crops and hay (D) $35,684 $160,693
<br />Cattle and calves $294,086 $18,971 $128,577
<br />Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes $293,074 $4,366 (D)
<br />Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod (D) (D) (D)
<br />Sources: USDA 2009; USDA 2014. Tables 1 and 2 – County Data
<br />Note: Dollar figures in thousands. D = Data suppressed due to confidentiality regulations. Suppressed sectors are typically very small.
|