Drought bites harder, but agriculture remains robust
The drought is tightening its grip on California agriculture, squeezing about 30 percent more workers and cropland out of production than in 2014, according to the latest drought impact report by the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. In 2015, the state’s agricultural economy will lose about $1.84 billion and 10,100 seasonal jobs because of the drought, the report estimated, with the Central Valley hardest hit. The analysis also forecasts how the industry will fare if the drought persists through 2017.
REPORT DOWNLOADS:
- Main report (without technical appendices)
California WaterBlog commentary on report (English) (Spanish)
Photo: An eastern view across the San Joaquin Valley from Daou Vineyards in the hills of Paso Robles at sunrise on April 28, 2015. Credit: Kelly M. Grow/California Department of Water Resources