Recent ag reports showing Tulare County still on top

TULARE COUNTY (KFSN) -- Tulare County is keeping the crown as the top ag producing county in California and the nation. This is based on their latest report just released. The county also remains the top exporter, shipping produce and nuts around the world.

Dairy and citrus remain the steady commodities In Tulare County. Nuts remain the up and coming crop, but a lack of water still has farmers pushing over trees. Last year, 17,000 acres were yanked in Tulare County.

Even though mass fresh milk production is a mainstay in Tulare County, many farmers struggled last year with lower prices than the previous year. This contributed to the overall gross production value in ag dropping 13.7-percent.

Tulare County's strength remains the diverse crops it produces, and 2015 was no different.

"We did have some success stories. Blueberries had a phenomenal year, we had good yields on our cherries," said Marilyn Kinoshita, Tulare County Ag Commissioner.

Water woes led many farmers to plant short-term temporary crops bearing mostly barley, wheat, corn, and winter silage.

"A special note in the Terra Bella area, we were hit really hard with the lack of surface water deliveries. So, to pull out 6,800 acres of navels it's pretty alarming in the number one citrus county in the state," said Kinoshita.

Pistachios, tangerines, and tangelo crops also had a strong showing, but the record year of blanks in pistachios caused, what's being called, the worst harvest of that crop in history. Even though almond production remained consistent growers were not too thrilled about an $800 decrease in price per ton.

The only county that has yet to report its numbers is Kern County. They should be released in a few weeks, but Tulare County officials are confident they will remain in the top spot.