Nevada County's agricultural market just hit a new high, without a whiff of cannabis included, cashing in at a remarkable $28.5 million for 2024, this figure marks a significant upswing of 17% from the previous year, says the County's annual Crop and Livestock Report. But before you start envisioning farmers rolling in hay made of dollar bills, the Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner Chris de Nijs wants you to know that this gross value is just one part of the tale—it doesn't "account for expenses related to labor, seed, planting, irrigation equipment, transportation or other production activities," all of which are continually climbing, sometimes even outpacing revenue gains, according to a report by Nevada County.
Lumberjacks are back at work, with timber harvesting bringing in $3.3 million—a 429% jump after crews returned from fire-damaged areas. Logging had been on hold while crews worked elsewhere in the state, but once that ended, local trees were back in production. Meanwhile, cattle saw a 12% boost in value, now making up half of the county’s total agricultural output.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows in the ag world, though. While legal cannabis didn't make it into the master tally this time, its standalone numbers tell a less cheery story—a 6% dip in market value at $11.4 million, even as farming acreage expanded 16% and permits grew to 185 from 175 as per the previous year. This suggests that more isn't always merrier in the tricky tango of supply and demand when it comes to pot.
The exhaustive Crop and Livestock Report does not only talk turkey about the gross values; it's a treasure trove of information. You can peruse it at www.NevadaCountyCa.gov/2024CropReport, where you'll find stories about local producers—fancy that—the department's year of defending against exotic pests, inspecting thousands of shipments, trapping bugs, hunting invasive weeds, and conducting more than a thousand tests of weighing and measuring devices to make sure businesses keep things on the level for consumers—duty and diligence, in a neat annual package.
"The annual crop report is such a great explanation and showcase of how we are working to protect and support our agricultural industry, which is so important here," Board of Supervisors Chair Heidi Hall expressed about the report's significance to local industry and its stakeholders, as mentioned in the county's official website.
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