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peer-reviewed research article

California communities deal with conflict and adjustment at the urban-agricultural edge

authors

Sonja Varea Hammond, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE)
Maxwell V. Norton, UCCE Merced County
Evan E. Schmidt, UC Davis
Alvin Sokolow, UC Davis

publication information

California Agriculture 64(3):121-128. DOI: 10.3733/ca.v064n03p121. July-September 2010.

abstract

About 2.5 million agricultural acres are located adjacent or in close proximity to nonfarm residences in California, leading to widespread farm-residential conflicts. This exploratory study compared high- and low-conflict edges in four crop-growing communities in two counties. (A separate analysis of San Diego County in a sidebar compares two edge situations involving animal and nursery operations.) We present tentative generalizations about conflict variations, sources and solutions. High conflict levels were largely due to residents’ unfamiliarity with agricultural activities, although conflict levels were also related to specific farming practices. We also pose questions to guide further and more systematic research on the edge issue in California agriculture.

author affiliations

S. Varea Hammond is County Director, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Monterey County; M. Norton is Farm Advisor, UCCE Merced County; E.E. Schmidt is Recent Graduate, Geography Graduate Group, UC Davis; A.D. Sokolow is Cooperative Extension Public Policy Specialist Emeritus, Department of Human and Community Development, UC Davis;

author notes

Portions of the research were supported by work group funds provided by the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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