Marin posts 4% gain in agricultural production
Marin County’s agricultural production grew 4% in 2019, marking the second consecutive year of growth after declines in 2016 and 2017, according to the county’s annual farming report.
The total gross value of all Marin agricultural products amounted to more than $97.9 million in 2019, up from $94.1 million in 2018.
Milk production, organic and conventional combined, increased 12% to about $35 million in 2019. It was the first increase in milk production in five years, even though milk continues to be Marin’s leading agricultural commodity. The amount of milk produced increased by only 3%.
“Production typically remains fairly consistent from year to year,” said Stacy Carlsen, Marin County’s agricultural commissioner. “Pricing is what affects the overall value.”
Organic milk production increased 17%, reaching a value of $32.8 million after declining 8% the previous year. Conventional milk production fell 29% to $2.2 million, compared with a decline of 17% in 2018. The price of organic milk has fallen as the supply has increased because more conventional dairies are switching to organic.
Other major sectors contributing to Marin’s agricultural production grew more modestly or declined. Poultry production, which accounted for $20.3 million in value, was 13% lower than in 2018. Cattle production increased 4% from the previous year to $14.8 million.
The biggest year-to-year increase came in aquaculture — the harvesting of oysters, mussels and clams — which jumped 34% to $6.9 million. The production value of Marin’s sheep also increased a 27% to $2.1 million.
The value of Marin’s fruits and vegetables amounted to about $3.59 million, down 13% from 2018. Hay production was down 36%, while the production value of silage rose 22%.
“Wet weather in the first half of 2019 impacted various producers in the county,” Carlsen wrote in his report. “Field crops as well as fruit and vegetable producers saw a decrease in yields and value due
to delayed plantings.”
Carlsen said wine grape production remained at peak levels in 2019 with high yields and high prices. The value of wine grapes grew 12% to $1.37 million.
Carlsen expects that the county’s agricultural production will diminish some
in 2020 due to the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think the milk pricing is going to be affected a little bit next year,” Carlsen said, “Milk prices have come down.”
He said fruit and vegetable production might also suffer.
David Lewis, a farm adviser with the University of California Cooperative Extension, says overall Marin
agriculture has held up pretty well despite the pandemic.
“Not unlike what we saw in the 2008 recession, people have really looked to their local food system,” Lewis said. “You could see that evidenced at farmers’ markets where pasture egg producers can’t keep enough eggs in their stalls. We have niche meat producers who sell either directly from their farm or farmers’
markets who again have experienced weeks where they could not meet demand.”
Lewis credits the diversification of Marin agriculture and its close ties with consumers with allowing it to weather this latest economic storm.
“The underlying philosophy of that diversification is that it makes the system more resilient,” Lewis said, “and gives the producer more options.”