Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Tag: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

  • California Bearing Almond Acreage Drops for the First Time in Decades

    California’s bearing almond acreage decreased slightly over the past year, according to a new report from Land IQ to the Almond Board of California (ABC). It is the first time since at least 1995 that the total of bearing acres has not grown.

    Land IQ’s 2024 Standing Acreage Initial Estimate issued recently looked at bearing acreage – orchards planted before 2022 and that have matured enough to produce a crop for the coming 2024 harvest. It estimated that bearing almond orchards at harvest will cover 1.373 million acres across California, a decrease of about 600 acres.

    In addition, Land IQ estimates that approximately 71,000 acres of orchards will be removed by the end of the crop year, adding to the 83,000 acres removed in the 2023-24 crop year, according to Land IQ’s estimate issued in November last year.

    While the bearing acreage drop may be small – far less than 1 percent – it marks the first time since at least 1995 that bearing acreage has not increased, according to numbers issued previously by the USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS), and with the orchard removals continues a trend over recent years of decreasing almond acreage in California.

    “The decrease in bearing acreage and continued orchard removals, coupled with drops in overall acreage and non-bearing acreage the last two years, signal a probable trend toward lower overall California almond acreage,” said Clarice Turner, ABC president and CEO. “We continue to see strong shipments this year, so we know global demand for California almonds continues to grow. There is no doubt that almonds will continue to have a very significant role in California and global agriculture and food industries for the foreseeable future.”

    The Land IQ report is a snapshot of the coming 2024 harvest but does not offer an estimate on the actual almond yield this 2024-25 crop year. A fuller picture of crop size will come with USDA-NASS’ Objective Report in July.

    Land IQ’s estimate covers bearing acreage and removals from Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2024. Note that the almond crop year runs Aug. 1-July 31, so this estimate looks at the harvest for the 2024-25 crop year.

    Land IQ will issue a final acreage report on the 2024-25 crop year in November that will include total acreage along with bearing and non-bearing acres. Their report in November 2023 found that California’s total almond acreage had dropped two years in a row to 1.56 million acres.

    Land IQ’s Initial Estimate and its Final Acreage Estimate in November are commissioned by ABC to provide statistical transparency and a robust picture of California almonds to industry stakeholders around the world. In 2018, ABC first commissioned Land IQ, a Sacramento-based agricultural and environmental scientific research and consulting firm, to develop a comprehensive, living map of California almonds, with the first report issues in 2019. The map is the result of more than a decade of research.

    About the Almond Board of California

    California almonds make life better by what we grow and how we grow. The Almond Board of California promotes natural, wholesome and quality almonds through leadership in strategic market development, innovative research, and accelerated adoption of industry best practices on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond farmers and processors in California, most of whom are multi-generational family operations. ABC is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the USDA. It was established in 1950 and is based in Modesto, CA. For more information on the Almond Board or California almonds, visit Almonds.com.

  • California Walnut Crop Forecast Down 15%

    USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service — The 2021 California walnut production is forecast at 670,000 tons, down 15% from 2020’s record production of 785,000 tons. The forecast is based on 385,000 bearing acres, up 1% from 2020’s estimated bearing acreage of 380,000.

    Widespread freezing temperatures in late fall of 2020 resulted in frost damage to walnut orchards across the state. Growers reported the frost damage delayed leaf out and reduced nut set in affected orchards. Additionally, because of the state’s drought conditions, orchards experienced a higher degree of freeze injury. Walnut growers throughout the state struggled with drought conditions and water availability, as most of the state is in a drought emergency. Chilling hours were up from last year.

    Survey data indicated an average nut set per tree of 992, down 17% from 2020’s average of 1,197. Percent of sound kernels in- shell was 99.5% statewide. In-shell weight per nut was 22.2 grams, while the average in-shell suture measurement was 32.4 millimeters. The in-shell cross-width measurement was 33.4 and the average length in-shell was 37.9 millimeters.

    Estimated nut sets, sizing measurements, average number of trees per acre, and estimated bearing acreage were used in the statistical models.

    SURVEY HISTORY

    The Walnut O.M. Survey began in 1958 to fulfill industry needs for an accurate walnut production forecast prior to harvest. The original sample was chosen proportionally to county and variety of bearing acreage. With each succeeding year, additions and deletions have been made in the sample to adjust for acreage removed, new bearing acreage, and operations that choose not to participate in the survey.

    SAMPLING PROCEDURES

    The 2021 Walnut Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey was officially conducted from July 25 through August 26, 2021. There were a few samples completed before July 25th for training and scheduling purposes. There were 1,402 trees sampled from 701 orchards.

    Once a block is randomly selected and permission is granted by the operation for enumerators to enter the block, two trees are randomly selected. An accessible branch is chosen which is 5- 15 percent of the total cross-sectional area of the primary limbs and reachable with a twelve-foot ladder. Measurements are made on the trunk, each primary, and each split leading to and including the accessible branch. The sample tree and accessible branch are marked by a single tag, so that the same trees are sampled the following year if that orchard is selected. On the accessible branch, every nut is counted and the first of every five nuts is picked for use in size and grade determinations. If available, at least ten nuts are harvested from the accessible branch for this purpose.

    The following measurements are made on nuts selected for sizing:

    1. Weight of nut including hull
    2. Width of shell at suture
    3. Width of shell 90 degrees to suture line (cross-suture) 4. Length of shell
    5. Kernel grade
    6. Weight of nut in-shell

    The Objective Measurement Survey is funded by the California Walnut Board.

    DATA RELIABILITY

    The 80 percent confidence interval is from 610,000 tons to 730,000 tons.

  • USDA Hawaii Macadamia Final Crop Estimate

    Macadamia Nut Utilized Production up 17 Percent from Last Season

    Hawaii utilized macadamia nut production for 2017-2018 increased 17 percent from last season to 49.0 million pounds (net, wet-in-shell basis) according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The crop posted the largest production in six year and had a new record high farm price. Growing conditions were generally favorable for the crop but spoilage was higher. Labor shortage, wild pigs, and pest problems continued to be challenges this season.

    The in crop and harvested acreage estimates for 2017-2018 remained unchanged from the previous season at 18,000 and 16,000 acres, respectively. Approximately 1.3 million trees were estimated for in crop acreage.  Yield averaged 3,060 pounds per acre, up 16 percent as compared to the previous year’s estimate of 2,630 pounds.  Average moisture content for the overall crop this season was 20.5 percent compared with 19.8 percent from last season.

    Farm value for the 2017-2018 crop is estimated at $53.9 million (net, wet-in-shell basis), up 28 percent from the 2016-2017 season. The 2016- 2017 net farm price of 100 cents per pound increased 10 cents to 110 cents per pound for 2017-2018 crop year and a new record high. Please see Table 2 on the next page for the macadamia nut historical data series.

    For the full USDA release, click Here.