Even you’re not engaged in farming, ranching or forestry, you probably have some understanding of our area’s part in the Central Valley’s contribution to the production of food and fiber for the United States and the world.

Tangentially, those who live here or travel through the Chico area can’t miss the contribution of private land use to its beauty and character. The open space and watersheds preserved as a result of agricultural use benefit residents as well as many others. The recently published Economic and Demographic Profile for Butte County* indicates that about 455,344 acres or about 43 percent of the county is made up of farm and ranch land (including over 250,000 acres of pastures and rangeland). Another large portion of the county is made up of private and public forests.

While most reports measure the value of these resources in terms of revenue, jobs and economic impact, just imagine the importance of the less tangible assets. How much water, which begins as rain and snow in Butte County, is eventually used by residents in the southern end of the state. How much carbon from the more populous areas of the state is captured by the trees, crops and pastures and recycled through photosynthesis to food, fiber and renewable energy. How much the air quality of the state is improved by the dissipation of pollutants from cities over the vast area of the North State.

The recreational value of private agricultural land is also getting recognized, with more emphasis on eco-tourism and related enterprises. There is much hiking, birding, biking, hunting, fishing and other healthy activities gaining an important place on our private as well as public lands.

These aspects of our area are largely overlooked in economic reports, but provide much more than just food and fiber.

*2008 Annual Economic Forecast Conference Economic & Demographic Profile - Butte County - Glenn County – Tehama County; Center For Economic Development & Northeaster California SBDC, CSU, Chico Research Foundation, Chico, CA 2008