Agriculture Today - August 2008

Fresno County agriculture tops $5.3 billion for 2007

For some Fresno County farmers and ranchers, last year may not be remembered as a banner year for crop production. But collectively, 2007 was another record-breaker with more than $5.347 billion in food and fiber products produced in Fresno County.

On July 22, Fresno County Agriculture Commissioner Jerry Prieto, Jr. presented the County’s 2007 Agricultural Crop and Livestock Report to the Board of Supervisors, announcing the annual production value for all crops produced in Fresno County. The $5.347 billion represents a 10.35 percent increase over 2006. The growth of Fresno County agriculture has been steady over the years and consistently has come in over the one billion mark. Twenty-five years ago, the 1982 production value was $1.85 billion. Last year set a new benchmark, but one that may be hard to beat given the uncertainties with this year’s drought-induced acreage and production reductions.

In hearing the announcement of $5-billion-plus amount, Supervisor Phil Larson said, “I shudder because it’s not going to stay that way.” Citing the idling of 20,000 acres on the west side because of federal water policies and legal rulings, Larson emphasized the need to build additional water storage and conveyance facilities to help ensure an adequate water supply for the County and region. Concern with water supply inadequacies was echoed by Supervisor Judy Case. “This coming year, the competition for water will only intensify. It’s a troubling time for our state,” she said.

Following the announcement of the 2007 report, Fresno County Farm Bureau issued a statement emphasizing the resourcefulness of Fresno County farmers and ranchers, but cautioned the concerns producer face this year due to inadequate water supplies.

“The many changes we see in agriculture, including new marketing opportunities for what we grow, are made possible as long as we have the resources needed to produce this bounty. Water is the key to keeping our county in production. Because of reduced water supplies and subsequent reductions in acreage this year, 2007 may be the last year we retain the number one status. Already this year, we have seen $88 million in losses from an inadequate water supply in the county. The litigated/regulated drought that currently is affecting the west side is creating hardships that will be felt throughout the county for some time to come,” according to the statement.

Prieto attributed the increased 2007 production to growth in livestock, poultry, apiary products, pollination services, fruit, nut and seed crops. In particular, beef slaughter stock was up in the number of head at 298,000 and in price per hundredweight. Likewise, the number of turkeys was up -- 4.47 million turkeys last year, up from 3.8 million in 2006. Other notable changes are milk replaced tomatoes as the number 3 crop and garlic replaced nectarines as number 10. Fresh market garlic acreage was at 7,710, up from 4,820 in 2006. Total garlic acreage in the county in 2007 was 20,210. Corn used for grain and silage each showed increases in acreage and per-acre yield.

Cotton, which once rivaled grapes for the top spot, came in at number 7 with a total of 144,500 acres of Pima and Upland varieties. Interestingly, in 1996 total cotton acreage was 401,300. The shift into more permanent crops, such as almonds that tend to bring higher prices, and uncertain water supplies are primary reasons for long-term trend in reduced cotton acreage. Last year’s harvested almond acreage was 116,700, up from 99,300 acres in 2006. Twelve years ago in 1995, almond acreage was 41,568 acres.