Drought Hits Farm Industry High temperatures across the state of California have hit San Mateo County's farm industry, which contracted nearly 6 percent in 2022, according to a report. new report.
The study detailed that the total value of agricultural production in 2022 was 92 million 179 thousand dollars, which meant 5 million 790 thousand dollars of what was registered in 2021, when it was 97 million 969 thousand dollars.
"Drought continued to be a factor for farmers and ranchers in 2022," County Agriculture Commissioner Koren Widdel said in a report submitted Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.
The official highlighted that “with the scarcity of water, some operators switched to staples that they could grow dry, such as field crops with a 9.32 percent increase in gross value.”
Even so, increases in field crops such as dry beans, grains, and hay could not offset declines in other categories, he said.
Floral and nursery crops represent the largest commodity group in San Mateo County. Total production of $55.1 million in 2022 fell 8.57 percent from $60.27 million in 2021.
With 20.65 million dollars, the value of vegetable production fell slightly from the 21.13 million that was reported in 2021.
While the exact impacts of the drought are hard to add up, January 2022 was the sixth driest January in San Mateo County since 1895, with 0.54 of an inch of rain.
February 2022 was the third driest February since 1895, with 0.10 inches of rain. By comparison, the series of storms that began in late December 2022 brought 11.76 inches of rain in January 2023, one of the wettest Januarys on record.
In 2022 San Mateo County agricultural crops, Brussels sprouts topped the list of locally grown vegetables by value, with 8.25 million, up from 8.78 million in 2021.
Potted plants with flowers and foliage were valued at $30.2 million, up from $35.5 million in 2021.
Notably, San Mateo County posted an all-time record in total livestock value of nearly $6.4 million due to increased poultry sales.
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