MERCED — The gross value of Merced County’s agricultural commodities reached an all-time high in 2022.

According to the recently released Merced County Crop Report, the gross value for 2022 was $4,743,281,000, marking an impressive 27 percent increase of $1,022,573,000 from the 2021 figure of $3,720,708,000.

These figures represent gross returns to the producer and do not account for the production costs, marketing expenses, or transportation fees, nor do they reflect the net income or losses to the producer. In other words, the figures do not represent a 27 percent increase in profits.

“Overall, our crops didn’t do as bad as other counties, as far as prices were concerned,” said Sean Runyon, Merced County agricultural commissioner. “Tulare county also did pretty well because it’s another milk county.”

Milk production continued to dominate as Merced County’s leading agricultural commodity, with an overall gross value of just over $1.5 billion. The milk market saw a remarkable 37 percent increase in 2022, with prices surging to $26.40 per hundredweight (CWT), a substantial increase from $19.20 CWT from 2021.

Almonds remained the second leading commodity with a gross production value of just over $482 million, despite a minor decrease of 1 percent from the previous year. Factors such as a 5 percent decrease in production per acre, persistent drought conditions, rising production costs, and supply-chain bottlenecks played a role in the drop.

In a significant shift, chicken eggs moved up five spots to claim the eighth position in Merced County’s agricultural ranking, contributing $145.2 million to the total value. The industry experienced a staggering 109 percent increase in total production value. The price per dozen surged to $1.83, up from $1.13 in 2021, primarily due to national shortages related to avian influenza outbreaks in other regions.

Miscellaneous vegetables moved up three positions to secure the ninth spot, registering a substantial 45 percent increase in total value. The cultivation of a diverse range of specialty vegetables on the county’s Westside, including asparagus, basil, broccoli, carrots, cilantro, garlic, kale, onions, parsley, spearmint, and squash, contributed to this growth. The total acreage also saw a significant increase of 5,366 acres from 2021.

Alfalfa hay moved up three positions to become the 11th leading commodity, with a total value of $105,188,000. This marked a 54 percent increase from 2021. The price per ton surged to $347.52, primarily driven by high demand and limited supply due to severe drought conditions.

“There was high demand for all the dairy-support crops, such as hay and silage,” said Runyon.

To view the complete crop report, visit https://www.countyofmerced.com/151/Crop-Statistics-Reports