Logo courtesy of Sutter County

SUTTER COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Agriculture in Sutter County bounced back in 2025, reaching an estimated gross production value of more than $744 million, the second-highest total ever recorded in the county.

According to Sutter County’s newly released 2025 Crop and Livestock Report, agricultural production was valued at $744.2 million, an increase of approximately $60.7 million, or 8.9 percent, from the previous year. The rebound follows a decline in 2024, when agricultural production came in at roughly $683.5 million after reaching a record $771.8 million in 2023.

Much of the 2025 increase came from Sutter County’s three most valuable commodities, rice, walnuts and processing tomatoes, which gained more than $31 million in combined value over the previous year. Rice remained Sutter County’s top agricultural commodity, once again ranking No. 1 with a total value of $220.2 million.

Although fewer acres of rice were harvested in 2025, increased production and higher prices pushed its overall value up 9.37 percent from the previous year, when rice was valued at $201.3 million. Walnuts ranked second with a gross value of $115.6 million, an increase of 8.6 percent from 2024. County officials attributed the increase primarily to improved yields. The crop has seen a dramatic recovery in value over the past two years. Walnuts were worth approximately $51.6 million in 2023 before jumping to $106.5 million in 2024 and climbing again last year.

Processing tomatoes ranked third, valued at $78.7 million, up 4.92 percent from 2024 as both yields and prices increased. That marks a modest recovery for tomatoes after the commodity experienced a significant decline a year earlier. Processing tomatoes were valued at nearly $117.7 million in 2023 before falling to about $75 million in 2024 as harvested acreage, yields and prices declined.

Not every major crop gained ground in 2025. Almonds remained the county’s fourth-highest valued crop at $68.2 million, a 3.22 percent decrease from 2024. The report attributed the decline to lower production per acre, despite an increase in producing almond acreage from the previous year. Clingstone peaches rounded out the top five at approximately $65.4 million, down slightly from the $66.4 million reported in 2024.

The annual report is compiled by the Sutter County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office using estimates supplied by growers and summarizes acreage, production, yields and commodity values throughout the county. Agricultural Commissioner Lisa Herbert noted that the figures represent gross production value, meaning the numbers do not represent the amount of money farmers ultimately earn after labor, fuel, equipment, fertilizer, water and other operating expenses are deducted.

The report also illustrates the global reach of Sutter County agriculture. Agricultural commodities grown in the county were exported to 79 countries in 2025. The five leading destinations were Turkey, Japan, South Korea, India and China. Turkey received Sutter County walnuts and almonds, while Japan imported walnuts, prunes, grains, beans and seeds. South Korea received walnuts and prunes; India imported walnuts, almonds and prunes; and China was among the leading destinations for the county’s prunes.

Despite agricultural values fluctuating considerably from year to year because of crop prices, yields, acreage and other conditions, the 2025 figures place Sutter County near its historic high. At $744.2 million, last year’s production value trails only the record-setting $771.8 million recorded in 2023 and represents a nearly $61 million recovery from 2024.