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Fresno Co. Holds Top Crop Ranking: But Value Grew Only 0.81% Due to Declines in Grapes, Cotton.

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 May 2006, 09:05 CDT

By Dennis Pollock, The Fresno Bee, Calif.

May 17--Fresno County retained its standing as the top-producing agricultural county in the nation in 2005, exceeding the $4 billion mark in production for the third consecutive year.

But declines in gross values for some major crops -- led by cotton and grapes -- brought an increase of only 0.81% from the previous year to just more than $4.6 billion.

"It could have been a lot better," said Pat Ricchiuti, president of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, after the annual crop report was presented to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Ricchiuti said weather challenges -- including a wet spring and a summer heat spike last year -- combined with some low commodity prices to keep gross returns in check.

The 2004 total figure had been adjusted downward from $4,691,224,200 to $4,603,936,200 because of corrections in figures for crops that included vegetables. For 2005, the total value of agricultural production was $4,641,194,200, a record.

Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner Jerry Prieto Jr. said the Valley's agricultural economy "is improving, however labor shortages are presenting challenges." He also cited higher costs for labor, energy and fuel to produce crops.

A labor shortage last year prompted some growers to sell Thompson seedless grapes for crushing into concentrate rather than harvesting the grapes for raisins. Because of a decline in demand for concentrate, it was a sector of the grape-growing arena that saw a sharp drop in 2005.

Crushed raisin variety grapes dropped from a value of $87.4 million in 2004 to $49.2 million in Fresno County in 2005.

"Wine grapes were spooky if you just had Thompsons," said Selma grower Bill Chandler, who added that other varieties, such as rubired for crushing, fared better.

The value for all grapes -- table grapes, wine grapes and raisins -- dropped from $592.1million to $554.6 million.

Prieto pointed out Acala cotton acreage decreased more than a third in 2005, part of a continuing trend toward permanent crops and alternative field crops for dairy feed.

Brad Coburn, who grows cotton in the Firebaugh and Mendota areas, said he has scaled his cotton acreage back from 2,500 acres to 300. He has turned to crops that include almonds and wine grapes, as well as alfalfa.

Coburn said he fared well with wine grapes last year, saying that was due in large measure to his having contracts: "You have to have a home for the fruit."

Dennis Plann, deputy agricultural commissioner, cited a long list of crops that saw declines in prices -- including barley, corn, wheat, asparagus, bell peppers and broccoli.

"Supply and demand," he said, by way of explanation.

There were bright spots that included an increase in the total value of livestock and poultry products by more than 5% to $355.5 million. Milk moved to No. 3 on the list of top 10 crops with a value of $334.4 million.

Total gross returns for livestock and poultry was $624.4million.

Almond values rose from $373 million to $469.8 million, thanks partly to an increase in acreage by 5,700.

The total value for all vegetable crops was $1.1 billion, down by more than 6% from 2004.

Overall, fruit and nut crops increased in value by more than 10% to nearly $2 billion.

Field crops decreased from $594.7 million to $476.6 million. The value for all cotton dropped from $417.5 million to $283.7 million.

The reporter can be reached at dpollock@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6364.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Fresno Bee, Calif.

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Source: The Fresno Bee

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