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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 05182010 - C.68RECOMMENDATION(S): Accept the 2009 Annual Crop Report submitted by the County Agricultural Commissioner. FISCAL IMPACT: No Fiscal Impact BACKGROUND: Sections 2272 (a) and 2279 of the California Food and Agricultural Code require the County Agricultural Commissioner to submit an annual report to the State Secretary of Agriculture, regarding the condition, acreage, production, and value of agricultural products in the county. An annual report shall also include what is being done to eradicate, control, or manage pests and actions relating to the exclusion of pests and quarantine against pests. The report may also include information about organic farming, biotechnology, integrated pest management and biological control activities in the county. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 05/18/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor ABSENT:Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Vincent L. Guise 6-5250 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: May 18, 2010 David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Katherine Sinclair, Deputy cc: C.68 To:Board of Supervisors From:Vincent L. Guise, Director of Agriculture/Weights & Measures Date:May 18, 2010 Contra Costa County Subject:Accept the 2009 Annual Crop Report CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: ATTACHMENTS Transmittal Ltr 2009 Crop Report 2009 Crop Report Cover 2009 Crop Report To: A. G. KAWAMURA, SECRETARY CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE and THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS I am pleased to submit the 2009 Annual Crop and Livestock Report for Contra Costa County in accordance with the provisions of Section 2279 and 2272 of the California Food and Agricultural Code. This report includes information on Organic Farming and Biological Control activities in our county. The total gross value of agricultural crops and products in 2009 was $64,423,280, down $6,810,340 from 2008. The value of the Vegetable and Seed Crop category increased sharply as the harvested acres and price per ton of sweet corn, processing tomatoes, and crops in the miscellaneous vegetable and seed crop category improved. The continuation of drought conditions in 2009 left rangeland in poor condition, causing cattle producers to keep herd size low. Apple production decreased to low levels and had to be included in the miscellaneous fruit and nut crop category. However, olive production increased to the point that the crop could be removed from the miscellaneous fruit and nut crop category and listed separately. Hay prices dropped sharply in 2009 as reduced demand due to cuts in dairy production in California led to a glut in supplies of both grain hay and alfalfa. Low wheat prices plus poor grain development due to the lack of winter rain led to growers either harvesting their fields as wheat hay or not harvesting them at all. Low prices for safflower and field crops used for livestock feed reduced both the harvested acreage and value of the miscellaneous field crop category. Walnut acreage decreased due to development. Because of the loss or reduced operations of producers of bedding plants, herbaceous perennials, and miscellaneous nursery crops during 2009, there were decreases in those crop categories. Several crop categories exceeded $1 million in value. These categories in decreasing order include sweet corn, tomatoes, grapes, cattle and calves, field corn, rangeland pasture, cherries, alfalfa, apricots, beans, walnuts, herbaceous perennials, and irrigated pasture. It should be emphasized the values stated in this report are gross receipts and do not include the cost of production, transportation, or marketing of the products. The economic benefit of agricultural production is generally thought to be about three times the gross production value. I wish to thank the many individuals and organizations who supplied us with the information to complete this report. Their cooperation is truly appreciated. I also would like to thank Nancy Niemeyer and the rest of my staff for their diligent work in obtaining, compiling, and coordinating their efforts to put together our annual report. Respectfully submitted, Vincent L. Guise Agricultural Commissioner Contra Costa County 2009 Annual Crop Report Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture/ Weights & Measures Agricultural Commissioner - Director of Weights & Measures Vince Guise Chief Deputy Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Cathleen M. Fisher Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney Gene Mangini Larry Yost Deputy Sealer of Weights & Measures Patrick J. Roof Agricultural Biologist/Weights & Measures Inspector III Ralph Fonseca Arthur Mangonon Ann McClure Nancy Niemeyer Steve Reymann Gil Rocha Cecilie Siegel-Sebolt Beth Slate Matthew Slattengren Jorge Vargas Agricultural Biologist II Chris deNijs Abdoulaye Niang Mariah Slusser Kathryn White Weights & Measures Inspector II Gabriel Adebote Patrick Bowen Ngozi Egbuna Keely Kirkman Administrative Support Executive Secretary Senior Clerk Susan Griggs Roxann Crosby Information Technology Retiree Volunteer Susan Wright Suzanne Maddux On the Cover: sweet corn production - (left top to bottom) plowing the field, beds ready for planting, harvest, packing, roasted corn ready to eat; and (right) a field before harvest. Above: Growing sweet corn requires careful monitoring and pest management in order to control the many insects, weeds, and diseases that attack the crop. Some of these pests are shown above: cutworms, grasshoppers, corn earworm, bindweed, purslane, johnson grass, root rot, and corn smut. Pest Detection/GWSS/Pest Management Dan Angcla K. C. Canario Nancy Dennis Oscar Dillard Paul Greer Michele Jensen Louellen Kelly Hardy Leopando Phyllis Lewis Rick Mata Betsy Montgomery Christine O’Boyle Richard Padfield Eldren Prieto William Schaub Craig Shoener Lindsay Skidmore Susie Somers Greg Spurlock Samantha Tomlinson Zsuzsa Vnagy Oscar Zaldura Plant Quarantine Detector Canines Bella (handler: Cecilie Siegel-Sebolt) Bart (handler: Mariah Slusser) Production Value Crop Year Harvested Per Per Acreage Acre Total Unit Unit Total Field Corn 2009 4,270 4.38 18,700 Ton 182.00 3,403,000 2008 7,700 4.00 30,800 Ton 164.00 5,051,000 Hay Alfalfa 2009 3,400 5.58 19,000 Ton 109.00 2,071,000 2008 3,590 5.71 20,500 Ton 184.00 3,772,000 Grain 2009 1,940 2.01 3,900 Ton 69.00 269,000 2008 1,540 2.76 4,250 Ton 153.00 650,000 Pasture Irrigated 2009 5,790 Acre 175.00 1,013,000 2008 5,060 Acre 180.00 911,000 Rangeland 2009 169,000 Acre 19.60 3,312,000 2008 169,000 Acre 19.60 3,312,000 Wheat 2009 85 1.29 110 Ton 161.00 17,700 2008 634 2.22 1,410 Ton 219.00 309,000 Miscellaneous 2009 2,490 560,000 Field Crops* 2008 4,550 1,502,000 Total 2009 186,975 $10,645,700 2008 192,074 $15,507,000 * Barley, Forage Hay, Hay (Wild), Rye, Silage, Straw, Sudan Grass, Safflower Field Crops Production Value Crop Year Harvested Per Per Acreage Acre Total Unit Unit Total Beans 2009 302 4.07 1,230 Ton 1,070.00 1,316,000 2008 326 3.93 1,280 Ton 1,090.00 1,395,000 Onions 2009 5 7.36 37 Ton 1,810.00 67,000 2008 5 5.61 28 Ton 1,810.00 50,700 Squash 2009 15 4.81 72 Ton 937.00 67,500 2008 15 3.73 56 Ton 1,040.00 58,200 Sweet Corn 2009 3,470 10.20 35,400 Ton 434.00 15,364,000 2008 3,280 10.20 33,500 Ton 403.00 13,500,000 Tomatoes Total 2009 1,746 94,651 Ton 8,038,000 2008 1,548 78,769 Ton 6,382,000 Fresh 2009 36 15.30 551 Ton 925.00 510,000 2008 48 18.10 869 Ton 934.00 812,000 Processing 2009 1,710 55.00 94,100 Ton 80.00 7,528,000 2008 1,500 51.90 77,900 Ton 71.50 5,570,000 Miscellaneous 2009 1,010 4,382,000 Vegetable & 2008 378 1,768,000 Seed Crops* Total 2009 6,548 $29,234,500 2008 5,552 $23,153,900 * Asparagus, Artichokes, Beets, Cabbage, Cardoon, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginseng, Lettuce, Okra, Greens, Herbs, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes Vegetable & Seed Crops Production Value Crop Year Harvested Per Per Acreage Acre Total Unit Unit Total Apricots Total 2009 470 4.62 2,170 Ton 1,470,000 2008 531 7.01 3,720 Ton 1,800,000 Fresh 2009 Ton 2,770.00 2008 Ton 2,930.00 Processing 2009 Ton 325.00 2008 Ton 300.00 Cherries 2009 369 2.46 908 Ton 2,940.00 2,670,000 2008 344 1.85 636 Ton 3,150.00 2,003,000 Grapes 2009 1,930 4.61 8,900 Ton 748.00 6,657,000 2008 1,980 3.97 7,860 Ton 732.00 5,754,000 Nectarines 2009 36 2.17 78 Ton 3,260.00 254,000 2008 38 3.90 148 Ton 3,770.00 558,000 Olives*** 2009 86 0.89 77 Ton 1,550.00 119,000 Peaches 2009 134 2.75 369 Ton 1,770.00 653,000 2008 144 5.24 755 Ton 1,880.00 1,419,000 Plums and Pluots 2009 34 3.56 121 Ton 2,760.00 334,000 2008 35 3.58 125 Ton 2,760.00 345,000 Walnuts 2009 390 2.14 835 Ton 1,460.00 1,219,000 2008 466 2.22 1,030 Ton 1,400.00 1,442,000 Miscellaneous 2009 282 1,948,000 Fruit & Nut Crops* 2008** 419 3,044,000 Total 2009 3,731 $15,324,000 2008 3,957 $16,365,000 * Almonds, Apples, Apriums,Asian Pears, Berries, Citrus, Figs, Melons, Olives, Pears, Pecans, Persimmons, Pistachios, Prunes, Pomegranates, Quinces, Strawberries ** 2008 values revised *** New Category for 2009 Fruit & Nut Crops Production Value Item Year No. of Total Per Head Liveweight Unit Unit Total Cattle & Calves 2009 10,100 74,200 Cwt 81.20 6,025,000 2008 20,100 141,000 Cwt 85.10 12,000,000 Value Item Year Production Per Unit Unit Total Honey 2009 24,000 Lbs. 7.00 168,000 2008 24,000 Lbs. 7.00 168,000 Beeswax 2009 180 Lbs. 6.00 1,080 2008 180 Lbs. 4.00 720 Pollination 2009 400 Colonies 160.00 64,000 2008 400 Colonies 150.00 60,000 Miscellaneous 2009 500,000 Livestock and 2008 500,000 Livestock Products* Total 2009 $6,758,080 2008 $12,728,720 * Chickens, Ducks, Emus, Goats, Hogs, Llamas, Ostriches, Pigs, Rabbits, Sheep, Turkeys, Milk, Wool, Eggs, Pollen Livestock Production Area Value Crop Year House Field Sq. Ft. Acres Total Bedding Plants 2009 34,900 1.10 368,000 2008 151,000 3.10 1,051,000 Herbaceous 2009 53,400 0.50 1,092,000 Perennials 2008 78,400 4.05 1,321,000 Indoor 2009 120,000 0.10 139,000 Decoratives 2008 120,000 0.10 159,000 Vegetable Plants 2009 25,500 0.80 382,000 2008 0 0.91 128,000 Miscellaneous 2009 0 28.80 480,000 Nursery Crops * 2008 0 44.90 820,000 Total 2009 233,800 31.30 $2,461,000 2009 349,400 53.06 $3,479,000 * Christmas Trees, Cactus, Ground Covers, Propagative Materials, Ornamental Trees & Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Cut Flowers. Nursery Products ApricotsCherriesNectarinesPeachesPearsPistachiosPlumsFruit, otherHerbsPeas/BeansSweet CornVegetables, leafyVegetables, rootVegetables, otherNursery products No. of Farms 3 6 2 2 2 1 3 3 3 1 3 3 2 4 1 Estimated Acres 11.0 15.0 17.0 40.0 8.0 36.8 5.0 4.9 1.2 175.0 38.0 0.5 0.4 2.3 0.5 Total Acres Organically Farmed 358.6 Number of Organic Farms 12 Organic Farming Gross Value/Million Dollars Ranking Category 2009 2008 2009 2008 Vegetable & Seed Crops 29.2 23.2 1 Fruit & Nut Crops 15.3 16.4 2 Field Crops 10.6 15.5 3 Livestock 6.8 12.7 4 Nursery Products 2.5 3.5 5 Gross Value Change Category 2009 2008 Field Crops 10,645,700 15,507,000 -4,861,300 Vegetable & Seed Crops 29,234,500 23,153,900 6,080,600 Fruit & Nut Crops 15,324,000 16,365,000 -1,041,000 Livestock 6,758,080 12,728,720 -5,970,640 Nursery Crops 2,461,000 3,479,000 -1,180,000 Total $64,423,280 $71,233,620 -6,810,340 Total Acres in County 482,000 Population in County January 2009 1,060,435 Land in Farms - Acres (2007 Census) 146,993 Harvested Cropland - Acres (2007 Census) 23,876 Recapitulation Pest Agent/Mechanism Scope of Program Yellow Starthistle Hairy Weevil (Eustenopus villosus) Ongoing (Centaurea solstitialis) YST Flower Weevil (Larinus curtus) Ongoing Rust Pathogen (Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis) Ongoing Red Gum Lerp Psyllid Encytrid Parasitoid Wasp (Psyllaephagus bliteus) Ongoing (Glycaspis brimblecombei) Biological Control Million Dollar Crops Gross Value/Million Dollars Ranking Category 2009 2008 2009 2008* Sweet Corn 15.4 13.5 1 1 Tomatoes, All 8.0 6.4 2 3 Grapes 6.7 5.8 3 4 Cattle & Calves 6.0 12.0 4 2 Field Corn 3.4 5.1 5 5 Rangeland Pasture 3.3 3.3 6 7 Cherries 2.7 2.0 7 9 Hay - Alfalfa 2.1 3.8 8 6 Apricots, All 1.5 1.8 9 10 Beans 1.3 1.4 10 13 Walnuts 1.2 1.4 11 11 Herbaceous Perennials 1.1 1.3 12 14 Irrigated Pasture 1.0 13 *2008 rankings revised Contra Costa County Certified Farmers’ Markets Tuesday Concord El Cerrito Walnut Creek Kaiser Wednesday Point Richmond Thursday Antioch Kaiser Concord Danville Martinez Martinez Kaiser Friday Richmond Walnut Creek Rossmoor Saturday Brentwood Clayton Danville Diablo Valley El Cerrito Hercules Orinda Pinole Pittsburg Pleasant Hill San Ramon Sunday Crockett Kensington Martinez Moraga Walnut Creek For more information about the Certified Farmers’ Markets in Contra Costa County, visit our website at www.co.contra-costa.ca.us and click on Departments, then Agriculture/ Weights & Measures. Pest Exclusion Shipments Inspected Mail/UPS/Fed Ex/Express Carriers 60,126 Truck shipments from within California 4,469 Truck shipments from other states 135 Household Goods 105 Total A & Q Rated Pests Found 57 Canine Quarantine Rejections Total Program* Cedar-Apple Rust 16 2 Live Pests 13 3 Japanese Beetle 10 Citrus Pests 9 2 Plum Curculio 8 Burrowing Nematode 4 2 Colorado Potato Beetle 4 Caribbean Fruit Fly 2 Gypsy Moth 2 Medfly 2 Nursery Stock Certificate 2 Red Imported Fire Ant 1 Hydrilla 1 Peach Rosette 1 Hawaii Certification 1 European Corn Borer 1 Golden Nematode 1 Glassywinged Sharpshooter 1 Chestnut Bark/Oak Wilt 1 Reasonable Cause 1 Origin/Markings 197 15 Total 273 29 * Contra Costa County has two canine detection teams that work in the Bay Area. The canine program values represent finds not marked as containing plant material in Contra Costa County only. “A” and “Q” Rated Pests Pests vary as to the level of potential harm they can do, so it is necessary to have a rating system to represent the statewide importance of the pest. Of special interest are pests that are rated “A” or “Q”. These organisms have the potential to cause serious harm and require enforcement action when they are found. “A” rated pests, such as the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, are known to cause serious harm. “Q” rated pests are those that are suspected to cause serious harm but their status is uncertain because of incomplete information about the species. Japanese BeetleCedar Apple Rust Glassywinged Sharpshooter Rating Rejections ANTS Technomyrmex albipes / White-footed Ant Q 10 Ochetellus glaber / Black House Ant Q 1 Pheidole megacephala / Bigheaded Ant Q 4 SCALES Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli / Magnolia White Scale A 4 Pseudaulacaspis pentagona / White Peach Scale A 1 Ceroplastes rubens / Red Wax Scale A 1 OTHER INSECTS, MITES, & MOLLUSCS Lymantria dispar / Gypsy Moth A 1 Empoasca sp. / Leafhopper Q 1 Cerataphis sp. / Aphid Q 2 Dreissena bugensis / Quagga Mussel Q 1 PLANT DISEASES Uromyces transversalis / Gladiolus Rust Q 27 Mycosphaerella buckinghamiae / Leaf Spot Q 1 Phytophthora ramorum / Sudden Oak Death Q 1 Phytophthora hibernalis / Disease Q 1 WEEDS Cuscuta japonica / Giant Dodder A 1 A & Q Pest Interceptions in 2009 Little Fire Ant Magnolia White Scale Spiraling Whitefly