2022 Crop Report Documents Drought Devastation
Colusa County, CA (MPG) – Colusa County’s agriculture was once on a trajectory to reach $1 billion annually, but the impact of multiple years of drought and other unprecedented weather conditions last year plunged agricultural production values 47.7%.
The gross value of Colusa County’s agriculture in 2022 was $433 million, down from $828 million in 2021, Agricultural Commissioner Anastacia Allen reported to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
“Crop production hit unprecedented lows,” noted Allen, who issued the 2022 Crop Report to California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross on Aug. 1. “The drought conditions throughout California led to some of the lowest water allocations ever seen in Colusa County. The allotments of water were so low that many growers were forced to fallow fields, while others pulled orchards. The crop values presented in this report are a reflection of a year that will always be remembered as a year of tribulations.”
Allen said Colusa County’s agriculture industry faced a devastating crop year due to drought, freeze, and a late season heat that practically wiped out the county’s top three commodities. Agriculture production had already been declining amid severe weather conditions the past few years, and dropped more than $98 million the year before. Between 2013 and 2020, Colusa County steadily produced between $800 million and $932 million in gross agriculture values, the report shows.
Almonds once again overtook rice as the county’s top crop in 2022, but the freeze reduced harvest 62%, grossing $82.6 million, down from $217.5 million in 2021, Allen said. About 55,000 acres of almonds were harvested, down from 67,000 acres the year before, with yield and value also down. The value of almonds dropped from $3,921 per ton in 2021 to $2,868 per ton in 2022.
Allen said water allocations took down rice, last year’s top crop, by 80 percent, with total values plunging from $271 million in 2021 to $82.6 million, putting rice for the first time behind tomatoes.
Although rice values jumped from $482 per ton to $666, only 16,958 acres were harvested, down from 99,214 acres the year before.
Walnuts, historically Colusa County’s third leading crop, were hit by extreme heat in September, affecting walnut quality, which dropped their value by 49 percent, Allen reported. About 22,000 acres of English walnuts were harvested, down from 26,749 acres the year prior, with price per ton dropping from $1,660 per ton to $816.
The gross value of walnuts dropped from $80.3 million in 2021 to $40.9 million in 2022.
Tomatoes, which has historically claimed fourth place in the top ten commodities in Colusa County, jumped above rice and walnuts by increasing in both yield per acre and value.
Processing tomatoes were harvested on 12,400 acres, down from $13,200 in 2021, but production increased from 653,400 tons to 669,000 tons, with prices coming in at $106 per ton, up from $81 in 2021.
The total value of tomatoes jumped from $52.9 million to $71 million, the crop report states.
Miscellaneous fruit and nut crops held steady at fifth place, with values at $25 million in 2022 and 2021.
Although not hit as hard as the county’s leading crops, drought had an impact on nearly all other agriculture commodities as well. Almond pollination, at $23.8 million, dropped from $24.9 in 2021, but retained its position as the seventh leading crop. Miscellaneous fruit and vegetable crops also dropped in 2022, from $24 million to $23 million. Cattle and calves, in eighth place, dropped from $22.7 million to $21.6 million.
Alfalfa, at $14 million, displaced certified rice seed in ninth place, after rice seed values plunged from $21.8 million in 2021 to $12.4 million. Alfalfa hay was harvested on 7,439 acres, down from 7,774 in 2021, but values increased from $237.90 per ton to $345.
Although they are not leading crops, Colusa County did see slight increases in wine grapes and prunes, due to increased values per ton.
That the agriculture industry can flip from an upward trajectory in value to complete devastation – due to extreme weather – serves as a reminder of how important it is for Colusa County farmers to complete the annual crop survey, officials said.
Allen said she appreciated all the growers, individuals, and industry stakeholders who assisted the county by providing the data necessary to compile the report, which is mandated by the state.
Colusa County’s 2012 crop report can be viewed online at countyofcolusa.org.