SMC Agriculture Took 6% Hit Last Year, Report Finds

REDWOOD CITY, CA — San Mateo Coiunty's agricultural industry took another hit as drought conditions lingered last year, with output shrinking by nearly 6 percent, according to a new county report.

Releasing the findings Tuesday, the county said the industry's value dipped to $92.2 million in 2022, down from $98 million the year before. Some growers made the shift to field crops — like dry beans, grains and hay — but it wasn't enough to offset declines in other crops, officials said.

"Drought remained a factor for growers and ranchers in 2022," said Koren Widdel, the county's Agricultural Commissioner. "With water in short supply, some operators switched to commodities they could dry farm, such as field crops with a 9.32 percent increase in gross value."

Accounting for more than $55 million in production last year, floral and nursery crops were the county's largest commodity, but production totals fell more than 8.5 percent. Vegetables saw a slight decline, valuing $20.65 million, down from 21.1 million.

Brussels sprouts were the most valuable locally grown vegetable, generating $8.25 million in value last year. The county also saw livestock values reach a historic high thanks to higher poultry sales.

The county notes January 2022 was the sixth driest on record since 1895, with rain totals measuring barely a half-inch of precipitation. That was followed by the third-driest February. Fortunately, this year was a much different story, including nearly a foot of rain that fell in January.