• Low-cost dairy-ready land:

• 143,000 acres

 • Average price: $2,500 per acre.

• Unlimited quality water and power:

• Colorado River water for only $16.00 an acre foot
• Electricity to the Valley for 0.0785 cents per kw hour.

• Large available labor pool

• Over 135,000 acres alfalfa selling for $100 a ton
• 17 feed mills
• Extensive livestock services network:
  feeding and nutrition, vets, breeding and supplies.
  Dairies proven to attract specialized dairy
  equipment firms

• Clean, smog-free air:

• Climate, wind patterns and absence of polluting
  industries allows for cleaner air not found in the
  San Joaquin Valley or L.A.

• Dry mild winters with high production:

• Modern desert dairying techniques promote higher
  winter production, which compensates for lower
  production during the summer heat.
• Annual production potential is 19,000 lbs. per cow
• Annual rainfall is only 3 inches.

• Humidity:

• Humidity, a major component in summer heat stress
  for cows, is lower in the Imperial Valley than in Phoenix.

• Misting sheds reduce heat stress:

• Using modern shade/misting systems with fans,
  heat stress is significantly reduced and production
  and conception rates increase.
• Body temperature drops from 105° to 102.1°, about
  6° over normal
• Milk production goes up 6-7 lbs. per cow per day.
• Conception rates of 1-15% improve under cooling
  to 35-50%.  The normal rate is 45-50%.

• Short permit process:

• Where land is already zoned for dairies, permits can
  normally be processed in three to six weeks,
  compared to the six months or longer required in
  the San Joaquin Valley.

• Good water drainage:

• Dry climate and porous soil allows standing water
  to quickly evaporate or disperse. 
• The Imperial Valley does not have the ground water
  contamination problems plaguing other dairy areas
  of California.

• Easy manure disposal:

• Over 400,000 acres of cultivatable land available
  for waste disposal.

• A community with tradition:

• Agriculture is basic to the Imperial Valley's way of
  life and the county's "right-to-farm" rules give
  precedence to agricultural activities and prevent
  restrictive urbanization.  The community is
  enthusiastic about the future of dairying and is
  ready to help you move.

• Milk transportation allowance available:

• Ranch to plant transportation allowance now applies to all milk that originates in Imperial county.