Ch. 15 California

California is a very distinct region from Nebraska! However, a significant contingent of California's population are Cornhuskers at heart, including my family and me. There is a really awesome website, www.cal4ne.com/ , that represents the official University of Nebraska Alumni Chapter for Southern California.

Along with the members of this chaper, Californian Cornhuskers attempt to prserve and promote Nebraskan spirit and tradition in Southern California.

Agriculture

One of the themes that California and Nebraska have in common is that they are both agricultural powerhouses. As a resident of Southern California, I don't tend to think of my home state as an agricultural one. However, California is the country's most agricultural state in terms of total farm income. Whereas California's agriculture is typified by specialty products like artichokes and kiwi's and is really broadly based; Nebraska's agriculture is more focused on crops such as corn for grain, soybeans, wheat, hay and dry beans.

Nebraska's top five commodities by cash receipts - 2004

Livestock products % State total Crop products % State total

Cattle and calves 52.6% Corn for grain 21.6%

Hogs 6.5% Soybeans 10.9%

Dairy products 1.4% Wheat 1.8%

Chicken eggs 1.2% Hay 0.9%

Sheep and lambs 0.1% Dry beans 0.5%

Source: USDA:Economic Research Service

As the chart above shows, the most important agricultural commodities produced in Nebraska are cattle and calves. This livestock represents over half of the total agricultural production of the state.
 

California's top five commodities by cash receipts - 2004

Livestock products % State total Crop products % State total

Dairy products 16.9% Greenhouse/nursery 10.5%

Cattle and calves 5.1% Grapes 8.7%

Chicken eggs 0.9% Almonds 6.9%

Lettuce 4.6%

Strawberries 3.8%

Source: USDA:Economic Research Service

The chart above relates California's top commodites and crops. It is easy to see that though both states are extremely important agriculturally; the types of products that they produce and grow are very different.
 

Orchards in bloom in Turlock, California