SACOG has begun an effort to model the region's agricultural resources. As part of this work, the agency will be updating its I-PLACE3S land use model to include the various crops grown throughout the region. SACOG staff has been working with UC Davis to collect data on crop yields, prices, and production costs for the region. SACOG is vetting the data and model results with ag commissioners, Farm Bureau representatives and other local experts.
Fixed and variable costs and new sources of revenue (e.g., payments for environmental services) can be adjusted to test sensitivity to various market conditions. The model will be integrated with the existing I-PLACE3S model providing a means to analyze simultaneously both rural and urban changes under various future scenarios.
Preliminary data from Sacramento County is shown below. For more information contact Raef Porter at (916) 340-6261 or rporter@sacog.org.