Chapter 11 - The Agricultural Core

As stated previously, agriculture dominates the land use in Santa Barbara county. Strawberries, lemons, winegrapes, and vegetable crops are among the most fruitful in the area. Much of the success of agriculture can be attributed to Santa Barbara's climate. Elevations ranged from sea level to mountains over 6,000 feet giving Santa Barbara county various micro-climates which have naturally led to many agricultural regions.

The Santa Ynez Valley has been a big cattle-grazing land but until recently has become site for horse-breeding and wineries and vineyards.

The Lompoc Valley has prime soils which make it an ideal are for a variety of crops such as apples, cherries, and flower seeds.

The Santa Maria Valley is the prime agriculture trade center of the county. Many farm residences and agriculture processing plants are located in Santa Maria. One-half of the area's irrigated acres are vegetables and strawberries. More than half of the county's farm income comes from these crops. The foothills in the Santa Maria Valley are used as vineyards and beef cattle are grazed on the surrounding hillsides.

 

Santa Barbara's abundance of agriculture is also a negative aspect: it is also a leading source of water pollution. Rain water and irrigation water that washes over fields full of salts, metals, nutrients, and pesticides run off into the water nearby.



[Sources]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CFgQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Flongrange.sbcountyplanning.org%2Fprograms%2Fgenplanreformat%2FPDFdocs%2FAgricultural.pdf&ei=T5LhTo_TBOariQLq-YWODw&usg=AFQjCNFBMWlIMSJqOpUf7jcjP-JlLMQLhw&sig2=haCH0MJIausOhZr_VbcWtw

http://www.sbck.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=7