County ag revenues down 6 percent in ’08

Both the quantity and quality of Calaveras County agricultural production dropped in 2008, according to the latest report from county officials.

The value of the county’s agricultural production fell 6 percent to $20,449,500 last year.
 

 Last year “was a difficult year for agriculture,” said county Agricultural Commissioner Mary Mutz.

Continued drought, reducing feed, was blamed for a drop in cattle herd numbers. Cattle remain the top farm commodity in the county, with a value of $6.122 million.

Murphys resident Tim Folendorf, of the Calaveras County Cattlemen’s Association, said the drought forced many ranchers to purchase expensive hay because of the lack of natural greenery. With that added expense, some had to slaughter their cattle earlier, and at lighter weights, than anticipated, providing a double financial setback, he said.

There is a mixed outlook for 2009, Folendorf said.

“That last rain in April just made that feed pop up,” he said, reducing most ranchers’ reliance on hay.

However, a potential federal dairy buyout looms on the horizon that may make beef prices plummet later this year, Folendorf said.

A late freeze in April took its toll on the almond and winegrape harvests. About 200 acres of walnuts and 50 acres of grapes could not be harvested due to the unseasonable chill and the two crops were a total of $935,000 off from 2007 totals.

Scott Klann, president of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance, said the gloomy 2008 report “is not a surprise at all.”

“The frost we had in late April ... that killed us. It’s single-handedly responsible,” he said.

Angels Camp vineyard manager Mark Skenfield said the unusual late cold snap took its toll primarily on his syrah and grenache grapes while other varietals like zinfandel and petite syrah weathered it better.

No area of the county or elevation gained immunity from the frost, which dropped temperatures as low as 21 degrees, he said. The usually warm Salt Springs Valley in the west county even took damage, Skenfield said.

Klann and Skenfield both said this year’s climate has been much kinder thus far.

“Maybe it’s just because it’s been two years since I’ve seen a full crop but it looks pretty darn big,” Klann said. “The slow start to the summer, these kind of cool temperatures have been ideal.”

“It’s looking really nice out there right now,” Skenfield said, noting some vines have shown lingering effects of frost damage but most have recovered quite well.

Timber production slipped from $4.9 million to $4.72 million, possibly just the beginning for a hard-hit industry.  

“This year, there will definitely be a drop in timber ... just from what I know is going on,” Calaveras County Farm Bureau president Stuart Mast said.

Overall agricultural production was down a little more than $1.3 million, Mutz said. Though some of the biggest commodities took big hits, some other products showed slight improvement.

Poultry, for example, gained in value from $3 million to $3.1 million. Busy bees also got a boost, jumping from $45,000 in production to $82,300.

The county continues ongoing efforts to eradicate pests and noxious weeds such as ash whiteflies and Scotch thistles.

Natural predators such as parasitic wasps and various weevils have been introduced to get rid of the unwanted guests.