Richard Molinar

Fresno, California

California small farms are unique in the diversity of crops grown and their wide ethnic diversity. Over 250 different crops are grown and, in some counties, some are grown over a 365-day growing season. Many regions specialize in a particular commodity. Such regions as the Salinas Valley, which is known as the "lettuce capital of the world;" Reedley, the "fruit basket of the nation; " Selma, the "raisin capital of the nation;" and Castroville, the "artichoke capital of the world."

According to the 1992 Census of Agriculture, 77 percent of the 77,600 farms in California grossed less than $100,000 in sales. They are small farms and mini farms by one definition. The small farms tend to have limited acreage, limited physical resources (tractors and equipment), cultural and language barriers, and/or limited knowledge of basic crop production principles. Many of the small farms, growers raise specialty crops with higher cash values, to compensate for smaller acreage. Sixteen percent of all small and mini farms are owned by minorities, the two largest groups being Southeast Asians and Hispanics.

Fresno County has more large and small farms than any other county in California. Below are examples of some of the types of crops grown and the acres under cultivation in 1995;

745 acres of green beans (97growers)

42 acres of Chinese greens (32 growers)

640 acres of strawberries (82 growers)

30 acres of opo (32 growers)

230 acres of daikon (36 growers)

64 acres of bok choy (33 growers)

693 acres of parsley (4 growers)

11 acres of tomatillo (4 growers)

625 acres of eggplants (180 growers)

98 acres of bittermelon (83 growers)

546 acres of squash (93 growers)

59 acres of gallon (14 growers)

The above list demonstrates the immense diversity of crops grown in Fresno and the limited acreage a farmer may have of any particular crop. The Hmong farmers are an example. They came here from the mountain regions of Laos after the Vietnam War under the refugee status as allies of the United States during the war. They comprise about 62 percent of all Southeast Asian farmers in Fresno county. In a survey conducted in 1992, it was found that:

• most (98 percent) lease or rent the land they farm;
• 80 percent have been farming here 3 years or less;
• the average Hmong farmer plants 3.25 acres of crops;
• most Southeast Asians sell their produce to wholesale packing houses;
• and typically one person will negotiate to rent a 40 to 80 acre block of land, then divide it up between relatives who will then farm their portion independently.

They are very hard working people doing most of the field operations by hand. Children and relatives help with the planting, weeding, and harvesting. Their understanding of efficient farming practices is very limited.

The specific needs of small farmers in California vary with the clientele and their educational and cultural backgrounds.

A Southeast Asian farmer who is sprinkling a 15-15-15 granular fertilizer on top of the soil to be irrigated in by furrows certainly needs basic help in fertilizer practices.

A Hispanic farmer who does not know why his yellow crookneck squash stopped producing and began dying needs to understand virus infections and its vectors.

At a statewide Small Farm's Conference in the spring of 1996, a group of farmers expressed their needs. They agreed that "equipment" designed for the small farmer was needed and that putting this information on a home page would be a good way to disseminate the information.

Because both California and Federal EPA registration is required for chemicals in California, registration of pest control chemicals for minor crops are very limited. The need for research into pest control methods (chemical and alternative) is critical. Marketing channels practical for small farmers was another need discussed. Financial assistance from lending institutions, disaster assistance and recordkeeping were also discussed as high priority needs.