Photo by David Castellon

Higher commodity prices and increased acreage pushed Madera County ag values upward.

The Madera County Ag Commissioner is reporting a 4.92% year-over-year increase of gross values for ag products in 2021 — to $2.05 billion.

Almonds and milk continued to be the highest-valued products in the county, while grapes overtook pistachios for the No. 3 rank. Pistachios dropped to No. 4.

The gross income for almonds increased 6.96% year-over-year to $707.5 million. Receipts for almonds increased to $3,685 per ton, up from $3,482.

Milk increased 4% to $330.8 million. Grapes increased 14% to $252.7 million, led by jumps in raisins and table grapes.

Mandarins made their first appearance on the top 10 crops, grossing $32 million in 2021. The citrus had previously been reported as miscellaneous fruits.

A near-doubling of production per acre as well as increased acreage increased the value of cherries 133% year-over-year. The ag commissioner reported cherry income of $11.6 million.

In total, the value of fruits and nuts increased $56.3 million, just below $1.4 billion.

Vegetables increased $6.09 million to $29.2 million in 2021.

In 2020, Madera ranked No. 11 in California for ag values.

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