INPUTS, SERVICES & AG-SUPPORT INDUSTRIES
This category tracks the services, suppliers, and contracts that support ag production, including pest control, compliance, irrigation, and seasonal labor.
Financial services, crop insurance, and compliance advisors
Pest control and fertilization services
Ag labor contractors and seasonal workforce programs
Equipment suppliers, irrigation consultants, and soil labs
Farm-related income, subsidies, and regulatory funding
1. Ag Census Interactive Maps
DATA HIGHLIGHTS:
Riverside farms received an average of $75,406 in government payments and $72,903 from farm-related sources.
Other federal supports and conservation programs add an estimated $100+ million annually.
High reliance on ag finance, crop insurance, and service contracts for operations continuity.
2. Farm Labor Contractors & Seasonal Workforce
Data Highlights:
USDA ERS reports that hired labor costs account for 12% of total farm production expenses and even 40–42% in high‑intensity sectors (e.g., fruit, tree nut, nursery). The H‑2A visa program has surged, with contractor‑mediated hires increasing over 220% from 2010 to 2019
Economic Impact:
Hired labor is a major cost driver in fruit, tree nut, and nursery production (40–42% of expenses).
H‑2A program issuance rose from ~48,000 to ~378,000 positions (2010–2023), indicating increasing reliance on contracted labor
Farm labor contractors (FLCs) now mediate a majority of seasonal workforce, highlighting their economic centrality
3. Pest Control, Fertilization & Ag Chemicals
Data Highlights:
NRCS provides technical planning and design services through certified Technical Service Providers (TSPs), aiding pest management, fertilization, soil testing, irrigation system planning, and conservation compliance
TSPs deliver state- and site-specific agronomic consulting – vital for efficient input use.
NRCS irrigation guides support precision fertigation, reducing waste and boosting yield.
Soil labs and fertility experts reduce overapplication of chemicals, ultimately saving producers millions annually.
4. UCR Cooperative Extension – UC ANR (Economic Impact of Extension)
Data Highlights:
The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Riverside County plays a vital role in advising farmers on pest control, irrigation, fertilization, and soil diagnostics. Research shows that each dollar invested in UCCE yields between $1 to $9 in increased agricultural sales per acre—demonstrably boosting productivity and profitability. This impact enhances the value of local agriculture and supports broader rural economic resilience.Economic impact (bullet points):
$1–9 increase in crop/livestock sales per acre for each $1 spent on UCCE support.
Enhanced pest management and water use efficiency reduce input costs and waste.
Reinforces compliance and best-practice adoption, minimizing yield losses and improving outputs.
5. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources – Annual Report: Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties (2023)
Data Highlights:
This 2023 report from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) highlights the work of Cooperative Extension and research staff across Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties. It documents economic and environmental impacts from pest management trials, irrigation optimization, food systems programming, urban agriculture, and community health interventions. With programs reaching thousands of growers, residents, and youth annually, UC ANR remains a critical backbone of ag support infrastructure in Southern California.
Pest management trials (e.g., citrus, avocado, date palms) reduced grower input costs and crop losses across hundreds of acres.
Irrigation efficiency programs improved water conservation outcomes in Riverside County, helping growers reduce costs and comply with water regulations.
UC Master Food Preserver and 4-H programs helped build youth workforce pipelines and small food business capabilities tied to agriculture.
6. ERS – Farm Labor Data (2022 Census)
Data Highlights:
ERS data show that while wages and contract labor make up just 12% of farm production costs overall, they represent 40–42% in fruit, tree nut, greenhouse, and nursery operations. This underscores the high reliance on seasonal labor contractors in Riverside County’s labor‑intensive crops.
Labor constitutes ~40% of total production expenses in key Riverside crops, indicating significant demand for labor contractors.
Supports employment in ag‑support sectors: housing, payroll processing, transportation.
Stimulates local labor markets and ancillary services (training, transport, health services)
7. UC Davis Gifford Center – California Farm Labor: The ALRA at 50
Data Highlights:
This study reports that California’s farm labor costs have been increasing faster than those of non-farm sectors due to legal mandates requiring overtime pay (AEWR). Labor contractors and housing investments have become vital strategies for growers adapting to higher wage requirements. The shift toward mechanization and crop changes reflects direct economic responses to labor compliance laws.
Economic Impact:
Growers now pay H-2A workers ~$19.97/hr plus housing and transport—raising per-acre production costs.
Investment in worker housing and mechanization lowers reliance on expensive manual labor.
Shifts toward less labor-intensive crops affect county crop diversity and economic output.
8. CDFA – Compliance & Regulatory Services
Summary:
The California Department of Food and Agriculture operates pest surveillance, quarantine certification, and inspection programs crucial to ensuring agricultural market access and biosecurity. These services sustain market continuity but are not line-itemed in crop value or input spending.
Economic Impact:
Prevents losses from invasive species (e.g., HLB, glassy-winged sharpshooter).
Enables national/international export certification (e.g., phytosanitary inspections).
Avoids crop quarantines that would otherwise decimate revenue streams.
9. Regulatory Compliance Costs in California Agriculture
A recent Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo study shows regulatory compliance costs for California lettuce growers have surged by ~63.7% since 2017—now averaging $1,600 per acre, accounting for over 12% of production costs. Key drivers include environmental and labor mandates tied to SGMA, emissions, minimum wage, and food safety audits. This ballooning cost burden is squeezing margins and altering cropping decisions across the state.
Compliance expenditures now exceed $1,600/acre, representing 12–13% of total production costs—an escalation from just 1% in 2006.
Labor and water‐quality mandates have doubled compliance-related labor costs and significantly increased monitoring/reporting expenses.
Farmers face higher capital investment demands (e.g., emissions‐compliant equipment, safety protocols) affecting both scale and crop mix.
10. Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) Annual Report 2022–23
The CVHC serves rural farmworkers by constructing and operating affordable housing developments in the Coachella Valley. In FY 2022–23, the organization reported over $14.4 million in economic impact from community investments, built multiple housing projects (e.g., Villa Hermosa III in Indio), and employed 74 on-site staff and 98 trades people
$14.4 million in annual economic stimulus through construction, staffing, and operational activity.
Delivery of 37 homes and 100-unit farmworker housing developments, fueling local trades.
Support for 74 full-time staff and 98 contracted workers, injecting wages directly into Riverside County economies.
