Dairy big player in world's eighth largest economy

Despite all the computer electronics in Silicone Valley and Hollywood's massive stake in entertainment, it is agriculture that competes right with the high-tech industries as an anchor of California's economy. And that is quite impressive, given California's rank as a stand-alone world economy which currently stands at eighth and fluctuates between fifth and tenth, depending on the year.

Despite all the press California's wine gets, it is the dairy industry's milk and cheese that takes the top spot in the agricultural sector, capturing roughly 20 percent of all cash receipts in 2007. That means one in five ag dollars comes from dairy. Next on the list is greenhouse and nursery stock at 11 percent and then grapes at 8.4. Rounding out the top five are lettuce at 6 percent and almonds at 5.8 percent.

Dairy's impact on California is even more impressive given the fact California is the world's fifth largest supplier of food and agricultural commodities. California's agricultural sales are twice that of any other state in the Union.