Saturday, Oct. 03, 2009

Walnuts, almonds, tomatoes boost crop income

Gross farm income hit a record $2.13 billion in San Joaquin County last year, according to a report presented Tuesday.

Big gains came from walnuts, almonds and tomatoes, three of the county's long-established crops. The emerging blueberry business contributed, too.

Milk remained the No. 1 farm product, though reduced from 2007 because of lower prices, the report from Agricultural Commissioner Scott Hudson said.

The county's total was up 6 percent from 2007, Hudson told the Board of Supervisors.

The report does not show the cost of production or profit. Nor does it reflect the severe drop in milk prices in 2009.

Highlights of the Top 10:

 1.  Milk: $412.6 million in gross income in 2008, down from $446.2 million in 2007. The volume changed little, but prices slipped.

 2.  Grapes: $221.8 million, up from $216.9 million. The yield per acre dropped, but prices per ton rose.

 3.  Walnuts: $178.5 million, up from $129.4 million. The yield per acre was up sharply, but prices declined.

 4.  Cherries: $175.9 million, down from $201.7 million. The volume dropped a little, prices more so.

 5.  Almonds: $175.2 million, up from $158.9 million. The gain in per-acre yield more than made up for lower prices.

 6.  Tomatoes: $145.5 million, up from $125.3 million. The per-acre yield of fresh-market tomatoes doubled, but prices were down. Prices for cannery-bound tomatoes improved, but the tonnage dropped.

 7.  Hay: $108 million, up from $96.6 million. Prices were up; the volume was unchanged.

 8.  Cattle: $97.8 million, down from $103.5 million. Prices slipped. The number of head sold was little changed.

 9.  Feed corn: $69.6 million, up from $56.4 million. Prices were up sharply, tonnage down slightly.

 10.  Apples: $48.5 million, up from $38.5 million. The yield per acre rose a lot, but the prices were down.

Blueberries, although not in the top 10, tripled in value to $24.7 million last year. The report attributed this to increased acreage and higher yields "as young plants came of age."

Asparagus, one of the county's signature plants, rose to $36.3 million from $32.5 million. Yield was up sharply and prices rose a little.

On the Net: www.sjgov.org/agcomm.