In the world of agriculture, walnuts reigned supreme in Tehama County during 2023, bringing in a total value of $54,571,900, with almonds coming in second at $50.6 million, and table olives third at $30.1 million.
This was according to the county’s 2023 Crop Report presented by Agricultural Commissioner Thomas A. Moss to the Board of Supervisors during the Oct. 8 regular meeting.
“The total gross value of Tehama County agricultural production in 2023 was $303,366,000,” he said. “This represents an increase of 34 percent from the value in 2022.”
Moss said 2023’s top five agriculture value producers in the county were walnuts, almonds, table olives, beef at $29.5 million, and coming in fifth was apiary at $26 million.
During 2023 walnut values increased from 2022 by 21 percent due to increased yields.
Other crops that increased in value, according to Moss, was almonds by 111 percent, table olives by 270 percent, oil olives by 83 percent, prunes at 14 percent, grapes 59 percent, apiary products and services at 24 percent, vegetable crops 25 percent, nursery at 47 percent and beef cattle at 27 percent, Moss reported.
Olives, once Corning’s prime crop, saw a credible jump in values, going from $8 million in 2022 to $30.1 million a year later. The increase is due to a huge increase in tonnage as olives are an alternate bearing crop. Olive acreage continues to stay steady with very little fluctuation, according to the report.
In total, the 2022 fruit and nut values were $185.2 million, Moss reported.
Beef cattle values came in at $29.5 million, with the Livestock and Poultry category bringing in an overall total value of $34.9 million.
Field crops (wheat, alfalfa, grain and other hay, corn and miscellaneous) was one area that saw a decrease in values, Moss said, bringing in a total value of $6.8 million compared to $8.4 million in 2022.
Seed crops also saw a decrease, going from $1.7 million to just under one million in total value.
Vegetable crop values saw an increase, up to $455,100 from $363,000 in 2023.
Nursery products total value was $21.7 million andapiary products and services totaled $26 million.
Livestock and Poultry products, including milk, animal fiber and eggs saw a rise in total values at $12 million, a decrease from 2022’s $17 million
The category of Pasture and Range was $15 million and timber products saw a significant increase with a total value of $9.4 million – up from $2 million in 2022.
According to the report’s A Glimpse Into the Past, the biggest change in agricultural value in the past 10 years is the enormous decrease in walnut values, reported to be $54.5 million in 2023 compared to $123.4 million in 2013. The next largest change was in table olive values, jumping from $13.9 million 10 years ago to the current $30 million.
The county continues to fight the invasive/exotic insect species of small hive beetle, glassy-winged sharpshooter, light brown apple moth, European grapevine moth, Asian citrus psyllid, Mediterranean fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly, melon fly, Japanese beetle and gypsy moth.
The report states the first line of defense against these insects is quarantine inspections, followed by pest prevention.
In addition, the fight against noxious weeds continues.
There were 26 registered organic growers last year with a total of 13,855 acres in Tehama County, according to the report.
Tehama County had 26 certified organic producers with 13,651 organically farmed acres.
“My sincere appreciation is extended to the growers, processors, government agencies, and others who provided information used in preparing this report,” Moss said.
He also thanked his staff in assisting in the report, including Agricultural Biologist Kim Smith, for the report’s overall coordination and production.
