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Receive the 2023 Solano County Crop and Livestock Report from the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures recommends the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation on the 2023 Solano County Crop and Livestock Report.
SUMMARY:
Each year the Agricultural Commissioner submits to the Board of Supervisors and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the annual Crop and Livestock Report. Compilation of the annual report is a mandated duty of the County Agricultural Commissioner, pursuant to California Food and Agricultural Code §§ 2272 and 2279.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Crop and Livestock Report compiles agricultural production data and gross values received by farmers and ranchers for their products. Solano County’s 2023 agricultural production value is calculated at $460,391,000, an 18% increase from 2022 and a new record high value, exceeding the previous high of $407,642,000 in 2021.
A series of atmospheric river-induced rainstorms in December 2022 and early 2023 relieved three years of drought dating back to the winter of 2020. By May, Lake Berryessa recovered nearly 600,000-acre feet of water filling to almost 90% capacity, and soil moisture and rangeland conditions improved dramatically compared to recent years although some areas experienced localized flooding and resultant crop losses. Late spring rains delayed processing tomato plantings which pushed the beginning of harvest until August and extended tomato season into early November.
Three preceding years of drought followed by flooding in the Sacramento Valley deprived over-wintering migratory waterfowl from usual food resources, driving geese into Solano crops and pastures. University of California Cooperative Extension advisors documented $3.6 million in losses across 45,000 acres caused by vast numbers of geese feeding on pasture and developing field crops.
Processing tomatoes were the top grossing crop for the second consecutive year with a new record value of $101,518,000, making it the first Solano crop to exceed $100 million. Contract pricing rose over 30% and harvested acreage increased 54% above 2022 as the tomato processing industry strove to replenish dwindling supplies due to statewide drought conditions and smaller crops in 2021 and 2022. Almonds rebounded from a short, freeze-damaged 2022 crop and gained a modest price increase, still far from historic highs, to rank second in value at $43,779,000. Nursery products were third in value at $41,452,000. Cattle and calves benefitted from strong pricing and improved range conditions following winter and spring rains to rank fourth in value at $40,461,000, despite suffering waterfowl impacts to pastures that limited timely movement of cattle into the county during the spring. Wine grapes rose to fifth in value at $35,044,000 with the largest harvest in crop report history. Alfalfa prices fell from record highs as California transitioned out of a drought, and persistently low walnut prices led to removal of over 1,000 acres of orchards by years’ end. Prunes, pollination and sunflower seed rounded out 2023’s top ten crops.
The report serves as a resource to a wide spectrum of users, providing agricultural statistics for trend analysis. Although the report captures the value of harvested crops, it does not reflect the overall value of agriculture to Solano County. Land values associated with productive soils, water availability, proximity to markets, exports, secondary processing, employment opportunities, and value-added enterprises serve as economic multipliers to the listed crop value. In addition, the preparation of the report could not be completed without the assistance of Solano County agricultural producers and the efforts of departmental staff in compiling the data and assembling the Report for publication.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could elect not to receive the 2023 Annual Crop and Livestock Report. This is not recommended because the record of the County’s agricultural production reflects the viability of this important economic sector.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The annual Crop and Livestock Report is produced with assistance of numerous farmers, ranchers, boards, commissions, and agencies.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION