2016 Crop Report: beyond food and farm gate values – agriculture’s significant impact on Solano’s economy

August 3, 2017

SOLANO COUNTY – The Solano County Board of Supervisors will receive the annual crop report from the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures at their regular meeting on Tuesday – and new this year – in addition to production values and acreage, the department will also quantify the significant impact and role agriculture plays in Solano County’s economy.

“Agriculture has a long tradition in Solano County, and for more than 160 years it has been a pillar of our economy and culture,” says Jim Allan, Solano County’s Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures.  “Today, with twenty-first century economic tools, we can provide much more than production values and acreage – quantifying agriculture’s total economic contribution through food production, local processing, employment, economic diversity and multiplier effects.”

During the 2016 cropping season, the total gross value of Solano County’s agricultural production was $347.1 million, representing a $6.7 million (or 1.9 percent) decrease in overall value when compared to the 2015 season.  Although overall production values dropped from the previous year due to a fifth year of state-wide drought, Solano County growers were successful in maintaining farm gate values that were higher than pre-drought values. 

Walnuts regained the top spot in 2016, ending a two-year streak by tomatoes with a total value of $44.8 million.  This value represents an 18.2 percent increase over the previous year.  Nursery products and almonds rounded out the top three crops with values of $39.7 million and $35.9 million respectively.  Tomatoes fell from first to fourth place on the list, losing 19.7 percent of their overall value when compared to last year, coming in at $33.8 million.  Alfalfa, cattle and calves and wheat also dropped in ranking and value, whereas wine grapes, sunflower (seed) and sheep and lambs increased a combined 40 percent in value over the previous year.

“This year’s report celebrates the County’s agricultural diversity and spotlights its economic, cultural and historic importance,” Allan says.  “I’m excited to share the report with the public and our Board of Supervisors, as it will demonstrate how Solano’s diversity over the past 160 years has supported and maintained a strong and thriving agricultural economy, even when some crops rise while others fall.”

The public is invited to receive the 2016 Crop Report as part of the Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting, hosted on Tuesday, August 8 starting at 9 a.m. in the County Administration Center, located at 675 Texas Street in Fairfield.

To see the 67th annual Crop Report and any of the previous crop reports online, or to learn about the services programs and services provided by the Solano County Department of Agriculture and Weights and Measures, visit www.SolanoCounty.Com/AG