I don't think it is, mrclint, but it's very close. I would have a chat with the folks at Gro Power. Let them give you their explanation. It is such an excellent product, I think you may find it will fit the bill for you.

Oh dear me ...

such happens everywhere ...
destruction of land ...

Daddy used to say in a perfect world the best farmers would eventually get all the best land because they were the best farmers. It's not a perfect world. Highest and best use of the land doesn't include agriculture in most viable economies.....Tom

what I mean is that best farm land is used to build houses ...

what can be more idiotic ???

all we really need is water and food ...

money is an illusion and gold cannot be eaten ...

Well, this is the age-old issue with land in California. A few things that affect land prices here, and what we can do with the land: First thing is the cost of water here in S. California. Since the majority of the water is shipped in from either N. California (Feather River) or east, from the Colorado River, the cost of our water has gone through the roof in the last 30 or 40 years. It has simply driven our agriculture out, and sent it up to the Central Valley. The farmers simply cannot cover their costs of doing business here any longer, primarily due to the cost of water. Secondly, this is a nice place to live, still. We have ideal weather, which causes people to move her to live. So, it becomes a supply and demand issue. More people demanding a home or land to live, and a limited land/house inventory, which drives the prices up. The family that owns this 147 acre orchard abandoned the business about 6-8 years ago. They were losing money trying to grow oranges. And, they have 6 wells on that property, but it's still not enough to supply the orchard with enough water, and the cost of the municipal water was more than they could manage. The land as an orchard, is probably worth about a million dollars, maybe less. However, that land with an approved development plan is worth nearly five times that. That makes it very attractive to sell for them. It provides that family with a retirement for 3 generations of the family. So, I can understand. If I owned it, and had to sell it, I would be doing exactly what the owners are doing. Doesn't take much to say, "Hmmm, 1 million dollars or 5 million dollars, which should I do??" That takes about a hot second to decide.

And what is the CA tax rate now?

again .. money does not exist and it is therefore no argument, but I can understand that if there is too little water, they use it for something else ...

We have achieved the magnanimous reputation of having the surpassed "Taxachussetts". I believe we sit in the #4 position, for having the highest tax burden per person. Here is some info from USA Today,

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2012/10/28/state-taxes-states-highest-lowest/1654071/


4th place: California
> Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 11.2%
> Total state and local taxes collected: $172.63 billion (the highest)
> Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 84.5% (the highest)
> Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 15.5% (the lowest)

In 2010, the state collected individual income taxes amounting to $1,229 a person, the fifth-highest in the country. There were seven different tax brackets in California, with income over $1 million for both individuals and couples taxed at 10.3%, higher than all top tax rates with the exception of Hawaii's. Currently, the state levies a 7.25% general sales or use tax — the highest in the country. Those who refuel in California had to pay 36 cents per gallon in excise taxes and fees — the third-highest amount in the country (actually, we are now the 2nd highest).

Spoke with a nurseryman for a bit and he agreed with you that Gro Power is almost organic. I'm not an ideologue when it comes to organic, it's just a preference. As an oversimplification, inorganic fertilizers are designed to feed the plant directly, and organics feed the soil micro-herds and plant food web that in turn feeds the plant. It appears that the Gro Power products do a bit of both which is very reasonable. It's about a 1/3 humus with some time release elements. And 14 N is not even close to most chemical fertilizers. I'll still use fish emulsion, compost, and apply mulch liberally through out the growing season.

So when I walked down the aisle with a huge bag of Gro-Power Hi-Nitrogen in my cart heading to check out, I felt like Queen for a day or something. Store help and customers all commented that this was the good stuff. You'd have thought I had a bottle of Cristal or beluga caviar in the cart. Good times.

I know, lol! I can tell you for sure that I have seen a significant improvement in my citrus with Gro Power. Especially some of my citrus that struggled with Phytophthora. I will have to see if I can dig up my old photos of my Ortanique. I figured it was a goner, so I ended up buying a second one and put it in a pot, and the poor one in the ground became a science experiment. I put a double dose of Gro Power on it, put a large amount of compost, a bag of worm castings and mulched. Then, kind of forgot about it. I will snap a pic of it tomorrow, and post the before and after. I really am impressed with the product, it is well respected here in my neck of the woods with us CRFG who grow citrus. We have all had very good results. Switching to the High Nitrogen with my second fertilizing application, though.