Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a report cost?
Prices range vary depending on your preferred report length and level of analysis. Because analyzing California agriculture's economic value is our specialty, the only thing we do, we can offer the highest quality work for the lowest price.
What's the process for ordering one of these reports? It's surprisingly easy. For a standard Crop Report PLUS report, most counties just do a standard Purchase Order, like they would for any other product. The low cost and specialized nature of these reports make them easy to sole source. For longer, specialized reports, however, some counties opt for the competitive bidding process with a formal Request for Proposals.
How long does it take to research and write a Crop Report PLUS report?
It takes from a few weeks to a few months. The total time depends on our workflow, the kind of analysis you seek, how fast you need it, and the final review process on your end.
Is it true that you help communicate the results to various stakeholders?
Yes! We enjoy sharing these reports with growers, news media, policy makers, and others! We can assist with press releases and do media interviews in English and Spanish. We often deliver oral briefings at public events, including Board of Supervisors meetings. People joke that economics is the "dismal science" but we make it engaging and understandable.
Traditional Crop Reports are published every year. How often should a County produce a Crop Report PLUS?
We recommend you try it once as a landmark innovation for your county, then do a follow-up study every three years to stay abreast of important changes.
Do you do other types of analysis?
Yes. We specialize in the Crop Report PLUS but can do any number of related analysis. For example, we can model the likely economic impacts of a new regulation or a change in the price of key input such as labor. Please ask for more details.
Is it possible to analyze agriculture at a geographical scale other than the "county" level?
Yes. We can analyze data from an individual zip code all the way up to the state level and everything in between. For example, we can focus on a productive valley, a supervisor district, a state assembly district and any other level.
Can you analyze how agriculture in one county affects the economies of neighboring counties?
Definitely. We do something called "multi-regional analysis" that captures inter-county effects. It shows how one county's agricultural sector (or a product within that sector) impacts the economies of nearby counties. A single county (or agricultural product) may support a surprising amount of economic growth and job creation in the surrounding region.
I am not with the Office of the Agricultural Commissioner. Can I still order a Crop Report PLUS?
Technically yes, but we prefer to work through your county Agricultural Commissioner & Sealer of Weights. The commissioner often brings partners into the project for cost-sharing, reviewing draft versions of the report, and public events related to the report's release.
