Stanislaus crop report for 2021: Almonds dip, milk rises and cherries crack Top 10
Gross farm income in Stanislaus County rose 2% to about $3.55 billion in 2021, officials said Tuesday.
Almonds were the top-grossing product once again, despite another year of weak prices paid to growers. Milk remained in second place, bolstered by an increase in what dairy farmers received from processors.
Drought and wildfire cut into the income for cattle producers, and poultry ranchers and nurseries saw a drop in prices. Conditions were better for cherries, which made the top 10 for the first time.
Agricultural Commissioner Kamaljit Bagri presented the report to the county Board of Supervisors. She noted that it does not reflect production costs, which determine profits.
The total is well short of the record $4.4 billion in 2014, when both nut and milk prices were especially high. But county officials said it nonetheless reflects farming’s key role in job creation.
“This is really, really important, that we figure out every year what the ag economy is doing,” said Supervisor Vito Chiesa, who grows almonds.
Income ripples through region
The report does not quantify the ripple effect from the gross income, but it is substantial. Tens of thousands of people work at canneries, wineries, nut processors, dairy plants and other businesses. The farmers spend some of their income on tractors, fertilizer, hired labor and other goods and services.
State law requires counties to issue the annual reports. They list the total acreage for numerous crops, the total number of livestock and the average prices paid by processors.
The 2021 report for Stanislaus highlights women in agriculture, including a cover photo from Kelley Flower Farm near Salida. As usual, it also recaps the ag commissioner’s work in pest detection, pesticide spraying permits and certifying that exports are safe.
Some counties have not yet issued their 2021 reports. Fresno was the top-grossing county in 2020, followed by Kern, Tulare, Monterey, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin.
Details on the top 10
The Stanislaus board got a rundown of the top 10 from Amy Lomeli, an agricultural inspector for the county:
1. Almonds: Gross income was $1.08 billion in 2021, down from $1.12 billion the previous year. Acreage expanded last year, but prices remained low due to carryover from the bumper crop of 2020.
2. Milk: $801.5 million in gross income, up from $736.6 million. Prices rose thanks to increasing use for cheese and other higher-value items, and a federal program aimed at keeping dairy farms solvent.
3. Poultry: $334 million in gross income, down from $400 million due to lower prices per bird. The vast majority is Foster Farms chicken and turkey, though it’s precise share is not specified.
4. Cattle: $162 million, down from $202 million. The total includes animals marketed to meat packers as well as calves sold to dairy farms and cattle ranches. Grazing land suffered from drought and lingering effects of the massive 2020 wildfire in the hills west of Patterson.
5. Fruit and nut nurseries: $145.6 million, down from $163.1 million due to lower prices per plant. The category covers young trees and vines sold to farmers. Ornamental nurseries are a smaller industry.
6. Silage: $128.6 million, up from $99.5 million. Silage is a dairy feed made by fermenting corn or other grains under tarps. Drought reduced the state’s overall supply, meaning higher prices for farmers with enough water to get by.
7. Walnuts: $109 million, up from $103 million. Acreage declined slightly, but prices per ton improved.
8. Almond pollination: $91.5 million, up from $88.8 million. This is income to beekeepers who rent colonies to orchard owners each winter.
9. Cherries: $59.7 million, up from $32.6 million thanks to a large crop matched with strong demand. Despite the jump, neighboring San Joaquin remains the top cherry county by far.
10. Hay: $45.4 million, up from $33.6 million due to higher prices prompted by the drought.
This story was originally published October 5, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
