Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ers and why do they enter into partnerships? Before turning to different
characteristics of growers, let us review some of the general traits of
California growers, especially perennial crop growers. California grow-
ers pride themselves on being scientific businessmen, but some smaller
growers without the access to knowledge, technology and economic
resources have contributed some partnership practices as well.
Agriculture here has always been about commodity production for sale,
often to distant markets. It has always been fundamentally a business,
and for that reason from its beginning has been conducted by “growers,”
not “farmers.”
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California's agriculture has been dominated by capitalist
logic, and it has presaged trends in US agriculture.
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In California, technologically sophisticated and financially successful
growers are termed “progressive growers.” This is a term of respect, or
even prestige, and it can also imply that grower is a social leader.
Progressive growers are highly pragmatic and concern themselves with
issues facing the agricultural industry. They see themselves environmen-
tally responsible, and reject environmentalists' general criticism of their
industry. Participation in partnerships allows them to demonstrate their
claim that the agricultural industry cares about resource protection.
Twenty-four of the 32 partnerships have been in perennial crops (see
figure 3.1). Perennial crops, perennial crop growers, and perennial crop
organizations all appear to be more disposed to partnership activities for
several reasons.
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First, the perennial character of the crop is important.
Perennial crops do not require the same degree of field disturbance that
annual crops do (e.g., intensive tillage), and biocontrol strategies have
been relatively more successful in them. The multi-year commitment of
perennial crop agriculture means growers have invested in relatively few
crops and cannot easily or cheaply switch to another cropping system.
Second, perennial crops require a greater investment of capital and time
to be successful. Even if the economics in another crop become more
attractive, high transaction costs make replacement of an orchard crop
unlikely in the short term. Stephen Welter quotes a saying: “growers in
annual systems plow their mistakes under, while perennial growers learn
to manage them.” Perennial crop growers have to develop specialized
knowledge to manage their operations successfully. The capital and
knowledge investment appears to make perennial crop growers more dis-
posed toward learning about their farming system. Third, perennial crop
