Bottom line……Got Milk
-October 7,2023-
Fresno’s 2022 annual Crop Report will be announced next Tuesday Oct 10. Fresno Kern and Tulare jockey each year over number one status in ag crop production. In 2021 the ranking was Kern,Tulare and Fresno – in that order.
So far Tulare County is announced a record number – $8.6 billion in 2022, as higher milk prices vaulted the county to this rarified level.Tulare County’s crop value increased by 6.5% over 2021.In Tulare County, Milk continued to be the leading agricultural commodity in 2022 with a gross value of $2,671,291,000, an increase of $728,248,000 or 37%. Milk represents 31% of the total crop and livestock value for 2022.
Meanwhile Kern County, which counts Almonds and Grapes as their leading crops, suffered a rare decline in value in 2022 to 7.7 billion, a 7% drop from 2021. In Kern County the number one crop – grapes fell from $1.87 billion to $1.39 billion and number 4 crop Almonds declined from $1.13 billion in 2021 to $845 million in 2022. Between the two crops they added up to nearly $800 million less. Ouch!
PRICE CHART : ALMOND PRICES RECEIVED 2016 to 2023
Price was $1.40 lb. in 2022 says USDA
Similar to Kern County, Fresno’s top crops include Almonds – the leading agricultural commodity with a gross value of $1,441,392,000 in 2021 representing 17.8% of the total gross value of all crops produced. In 2021, number two crop – Grapes was valued at $1,348,592,000. Milk is a $500mil crop in Fresno vs $2.67 bil in Tulare County.
Like in Kern County these two major Valley crops suffered in 2022 meaning Fresno’s 2022 Crop Report will likely be lower than it was in 2021 when it was $8 billion.We won’t have to wait long to find out.
Looks like Tulare County will have the bragging rights as number one.
