"Hello... Ag Riculture here from FARM news station, reporting on a late-breaking story from the fields..."

"It seems that there has been a sudden growth in ag sales worth $31.4 billion dollars in the state of California, yet there are only 76,000 farms in the state. That is only four percent of the farms in the United States. How can that be?

"Here comes Mr. English Walnut. Let's ask him a few questions.

"Mr. Walnut, can you tell us why farming is so important to California?"

"Well, it drives me nuts to think that people in California don't understand how important farming is or could be. In fact, I am one of the 83 products that California leads the nation in producing.

"We are important because nuts provide nutrients that are healthy for people. Without California, we walnuts wouldn't even be grown in the United States. Ninety-nine percent or more of our walnut trees are grown in California.

"Other products that are almost all grown by California farmers include almonds, artichokes, cling-stone peaches, dried plums and sweet rice."

"Thank you, Mr. Walnut, for this information.

"Wait, wait. There's Mrs. Holstein Cow grazing in the field next door. Mrs. Cow, can you tell us how important the dairy industry is?"

"Sure, mooooove over, because I ‘herd' milk prices were low in 2006. But, the milk and cream industry is still the number one commodity in California, raising $4.49 billion dollars in the state.

"We girls work so hard that California is the number one state in dairy production. We even produce 23 percent of the cheese, 31 percent of the butter, and 50 percent of non-fat dry milk in the United States.

"I have to get on home to the milking barn."

"Thanks again, Mrs. Holstein Cow.

"There's Mr. Table Grapes hanging around. Mr. Grapes, why do California farmers produce so much with so little?"

"Come over here, I have some smashing details to tell you. Farmers in California are lucky to have good climate, rainfall, and fertile soil. We grapes don't usually get snowed on like in other states. We have really nice flat or hilly land to grow on. The soil is really fertile because of how the land was formed.

"You know, grapes may be second to dairy, but we still earn over $3 billion dollars a year! It is getting tougher to grow here in California because all the people outside of California want to come in and build houses here. They love our clean, sunny state like we grapes do. You know someone who really grows on you is Mr. Green House. He's a friend of mine and he is just up the hill."

"Thank you, Mr. Grapes. I can see the light. There's Mr. Green House.

"Mr. House, I see that you produce over $2.7 billion in farm dollars. Is it tough to grow here in California?"

"Yes, Ag, it is tough because gas prices are going up in California faster than ever. But, we still have our own natural heater—the sun. The problem is cooling our greenhouses.

"Farmers are trying other ways to keep greenhouses cool, like misting systems, opening the sides and roof, or adding shade tarp to cut down heat.

"We are number three in the state and important because we grow all types of vegetables, flowers, and starts for other farms to grow products.

"Bugs are such pests to us. They always try to eat our leaves. Farmers have to spray us to get those bugs off. But, today, farmers are using pesticides that are safer for our community.

"Well, I gotta grow..."

"OK, I see I only have another minute or so. Let's get a final comment from Mr. and Mrs. Farmer. How do you keep your farm going?"

"Both of us work together really hard to keep our plants and animals happy. We have to make sure they are all healthy and well taken care of.

"You know, California farmers produce $31.4 billion dollars worth of ag products in the state, but other people and businesses earn over $100 billion dollars because of the work they do with the agriculture industry in California.

"Farming is important to California!"

"This is all the time we have, but it was important new information to share with the people of California. This is Ag Riculture, FARM news station, saying good farming to you."