Fresno
County Has Its First
Billion-Dollar Crop
Fresno
County Has Its First
Billion-Dollar Crop
Fresno County Continues to Lead
the Nation in Farm Gate Value
The 2012 Annual Crop
and Livestock Production Report is a statistical compilation that presents data
pertaining to the acreage, yield, and gross value of Fresno County agricultural
products. This year’s report will be posted on the Department of Agriculture’s
website.
Fresno County
agriculture has produced the first billion-dollar crop. Grapes produced a total
gross value of over $1.1 billion dollars. The total gross value for Fresno
County agricultural commodities in 2012 was $6,587,266,000. This represents a
3.9 percent decrease from the 2011 production value. Increases were seen in
seed crops, fruit and nut crops, nursery products, livestock and poultry,
livestock and poultry products, apiary and pollination services and industrial
crops that include timber and firewood. Decreases in field crops and vegetable
crops are also reflected in this report.
Of utmost
importance, it must be emphasized that the values in this report reflect gross
values only and do not in any manner reflect net income or loss to the
producers. The monetary values reflect the first point of sale dollar amount
that a grower or rancher receives. It does not factor in the outgoing costs to
produce the commodity including land preparation, labor, transportation, pest
control, fuel, feed, nutrient supplementation, packing and storage and many
other costs which continue to rise. These costs are making it more and more
difficult for our agriculturalists to compete with foreign origin food and
fiber for the price conscious consumer market.
The average cost of
production per farm in California is the highest in the U.S. at $382,699 and is
more than 2.5 times the $146,653 national average. California farm production
costs increased 3.5% compared to 2010. California led the nation by
contributing the most to the 2011 U.S Total Expenditures with expenses of $31.2
billion or a 9.8% increase. This data is from the USDA’S National Ag Statistics
Services publication titled, “Farm Production Expenditures 2011 Summary”.
Without the
cooperation and help from the growers and ranchers, and industry associations
of Fresno County, this report could not be produced. Acting Agricultural
Commissioner, Les Wright would like to extend his sincere thanks for their
participation and sharing of data that resulted in the Annual Crop and
Livestock Production Report.