Colusa County crop values up by about 1 percent

The Colusa County crop value rose by about 1 percent in 2011, despite dips in the two largest commodities — rice and almonds.

The gross value of all crops was $647 million, up 0.97 percent, making it the second largest year in county history. The 2010 value was $640.8 million, the annual crop report released this week states.

The largest year was 2008 when the gross value was $662.6 million.

"The value and diversity of Colusa County crops continue to grow," Agriculture Commissioner Joe Domiano states in the report. "Colusa County growers export over 30 varieties of vegetables and flower seeds as well as rice, wild rice, plums, prunes, almonds and beans to over 75 countries around the world."

Domiano presented the report to the Board of Supervisors this week.

After an 11 percent jump from 2009 to 2010, and seven straight years of growth, the gross value of the rice crop fell to $243.3 million last year.

That was below the 2009 value of $243.4 million and 10 percent below the 2010 value of $270.3 million.

Still, rice represents 45 percent of the total gross value, and when added with the rice seed — the fourth largest crop at just shy of $34 million — puts that percentage at 51 percent of the total value.

Growers harvested 4,540 fewer acres of rice in 2011 than in 2010, and though the yield per acre was slightly higher, the price per ton dropped from $418 to $370, the crop report states.

The gross value also includes all subsidy payments to growers.

The increase in the overall value was found in large part to the increase in seed crops.

Combined, the certified and noncertified seed crops were up more than 34.4 percent — or $24.76 million.

The certified seed crops — led by rice ($33.99 million) and sunflower ($8.54 million) — increased from $28.3 million in 2010 to $44 million last year, the crop report states.

The noncertified seed crops — led by cucumber ($15.53 million), onion ($11.14 million) and watermelon ($11.04) — went from $43.5 million in 2010 to $52.6 million last year, the crop report states.