Among individual crops, rice was planted on 35,820 acres in 2024, producing 158,000 tons at $331 per ton. Photo by Vietnam Photographer via Pexels

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Rice retained its crown as Yuba County’s leading crop in 2024, generating $52 million in gross value despite a sharp price drop that shaved $15 million off its previous year’s total.

Stephen Scheer presented the 2024 Crop and Livestock Report to the Yuba County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 28, offering a detailed snapshot of the region’s farming landscape. The report shows a modest 2 percent increase in overall agricultural production, with total gross value reaching $262 million. That figure does not account for production costs and does not reflect net income to producers.

“Fluctuating commodity prices, increasing prices for inputs, and adverse weather conditions continue to pose significant challenges for producers in the long run,” Scheer noted.  Walnuts posted the most dramatic year-over-year gain, nearly doubling in value from $26 million in 2023 to $51 million in 2024. The price per ton jumped from $773 to $1,761, even as yield declined from 33,000 tons to 29,000 tons. Rice, by contrast, saw its price fall from $411 to $331 per ton, with total production dropping slightly from 164,000 tons to 158,000 tons.

Kiwi, which held the second spot last year, dropped to third with $48 million, down from $52 million in 2023. The crop’s yield fell from 13,200 tons to 12,000 tons, while the price per ton remained relatively stable at just under $4,000.

Prunes climbed to fourth place at $25 million, gaining $1 million thanks to improved pricing, Scheer noted. The price per ton rose from $1,560 to $1,682, while yield dipped slightly from 15,400 tons to 15,000 tons. Livestock rounded out the top five at $24 million, a $2 million decrease tied to lower yields.

The remaining top ten commodities included cling peaches at $16 million, almonds at $9 million, pasture at $8 million, nursery stock at $4 million, and timber at $2 million. Almonds moved up one spot from the previous year, gaining $3 million in value. The price per ton rose sharply from $3,060 to $4,695, even as yield declined from 2,200 tons to 2,000 tons.

Cling peaches dropped $4 million in value, falling from $21 million to $16 million. The yield fell from 33,700 tons to 26,600 tons, while the price per ton held steady at $612. Nursery stock declined by $1 million, and pasture values remained flat year-over-year, with dryland and irrigated pasture contributing a combined $8 million.

Timber, while still ranked tenth, more than tripled in value due to increased yield. Production jumped from 5 million board feet to nearly 11 million, driving the crop’s value from $623,000 to $2 million.

Miscellaneous field and vegetable crops, including pumpkins, tomatoes, and sunflowers, held steady at around $12 million. Hay production declined slightly, with alfalfa hay dropping from $255 to $216 per ton and other hay types falling from $177 to $147 per ton.

Over the past four years, fruit and nut crops have shown the most consistent growth, rising from $83 million in 2022 to $159 million in 2024. Field and vegetable crops, by contrast, have fluctuated widely, peaking at $139 million in 2022 before falling to $76 million in 2024. Timber rebounded sharply from just $38,000 in 2021 to $2 million in 2024. Livestock values have hovered between $23 million and $25 million annually, while apiculture — primarily pollination services — remained under $1 million.

Total agricultural value peaked in 2021 at $279 million, dipped to $246 million in 2022, and has since climbed back to $262 million in 2024. Scheer emphasized that the figures presented in the report are estimated gross values and do not reflect net income to producers.

The report also highlights the broader economic impact of agriculture in Yuba County. According to a study by Agricultural Impact Associates, the industry generates an additional 62 percent in related economic activity — including processing, transportation, and marketing — bringing the total estimated value to $426 million. Agriculture supports one in every eleven jobs in the county.

Acreage data shows that fruit and nut crops occupied 30,236 acres in 2024, up slightly from 29,873 acres in 2023. Field and vegetable crops covered 236,693 acres, down from 239,547 acres the previous year. Total harvested acreage declined marginally to 266,929 acres in 2024.

Among individual crops, rice was planted on 35,820 acres in 2024, producing 158,000 tons at $331 per ton. Walnuts covered 16,180 bearing acres and yielded 29,000 tons at $1,761 per ton. Kiwi acreage remained stable at 1,322 acres, but yield dropped slightly to 12,000 tons. Cling peaches were harvested from 2,170 acres, producing 27,000 tons at $612 per ton. Prunes held steady at 6,450 acres, yielding 15,000 tons at $1,682 per ton.

Almonds were harvested from 3,323 acres, producing 2,000 tons at $4,695 per ton. Miscellaneous fruit and nut crops, including apples, citrus, grapes, and olives, contributed $9 million in value from 791 acres.

Livestock figures were not broken down by head count, but the category retained its fifth-place ranking despite a $2 million drop in value. Pollination services, primarily for almonds and squash, involved 11,397 colonies and generated $740,000 in revenue.

Organic farming continues to play a role in Yuba County’s agricultural landscape, with 24 certified farms operating on an estimated 1,346 acres. Crops include rice, nuts, berries, citrus, grapes, herbs, and a variety of vegetables.

The county also maintains a robust pest management and eradication program, with nearly 2,000 hours logged in 2024. Efforts included biological control of invasive species such as yellow star thistle, puncture vine, and Klamath weed, as well as chemical and mechanical eradication of hydrilla, skeleton weed, and Russian knapweed.

Phytosanitary exports remained strong, with 398 shipments inspected and certified for international markets. More than 23 million pounds of produce — including kiwi, walnuts, prunes, and pluots — were exported to 33 countries. The top destinations in 2024 included the United Arab Emirates, China, Germany, India, and Lebanon.

Scheer closed his report by thanking the growers, businesses, and agencies who contributed data, and gave special recognition to department staff who compiled the report. He credited the continued strength of Yuba County agriculture to the dedication and cooperation of its producers.