MARYSVILLE, Calif. August 21, 2018 – The increased value of walnuts and a rebounding prune harvest led the way to an 8 percent increase in Yuba County crop values during 2017 over the previous year, according to the just-released Crop Report from the county’s Agricultural Department.
The gross value of Yuba County’s agricultural production for 2017 is estimated to have climbed to just over $231.7 million. The estimate for crops during 2016 was just under $215 million, in a year that saw significant crop failures for prunes.
“Walnuts continue to be the strongest crop product for Yuba County, with about a $74 million value in 2017,” said Yuba County Ag Commissioner Stephen Scheer. “Our region enjoys a very strong and supportive collection of farms and ranches that work hard throughout each year, in an industry that sets the pace for Yuba County’s economy.”
Despite a slight dip, rice maintained its position as Yuba County’s number two crop, with a value of $37 million. Prunes saw the most dramatic increase; jumping from a value of about $25 million in 2016 to $33.6 million in 2017. Peaches rounded out the top four crops with nearly $23 million in value.
Among some of the ranching product, milk values increased by nearly $2 million between 2016 and 2017, while the price for cattle and calves dropped by a little more than $1.4 million.
The full Yuba County 2017 Crop Report can be found online at www.yuba.org.