Agriculture has a long history in the Delta, but Delta growers face unique challenges that bridge the agricultural and environmental sciences. Understanding soil and water resources in the Delta is critical to understanding Delta agriculture.
Alfalfa is an important crop in California and the Delta. California ranks first in alfalfa production nationwide, and in the Delta, alfalfa is one of the top three crops by acreage, occupying approximately 10 percent of the land area.
Most of California's rice is grown in the Sacramento Valley, but production also occurs in the Delta region. Certain challenges, like cooler in-season conditions, and opportunities, like sequestering carbon in muck soils, are unique to Delta rice production.
