Ag Report

Jun 25, 2009      The Ukiah Daily Journal

Zack Cinek

Jun. 25, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The Mendocino County Department of Agriculture has released its 2008 crop report detailing losses of millions of dollars to the county's top commodities. A timber industry on hard times managed to top a frost-bitten wine grape crop to be number one in 2008.

Timber was valued at $67 million as the county's top agricultural commodity. Wine grapes sustained a 17.7 percent drop in value to about $62 million, the report stated.

"That is really primarily due to frost," said Tony Linegar, agricultural commissioner of Mendocino County. The majority of frost-related losses for wine grapes, Linegar said, came from an April 20, 2008 frost when a cold air mass and wind moved into the region.

The county's agricultural value without timber is reported to be about $108.69 million, down 15.2 percent from the 2007 crop report. The county's total agricultural value is $175,695,400, down from $202,800,000 in 2007, which was a 9.4 percent decrease from 2006.

The top 10 varieties remain mostly unchanged from 2007 to 2008, according to the report. Chardonnay, worth about $16.75 million, Pinot Noir about $13.76 million, Cabernet Sauvignon about $8.34 million and Zinfandel about $7 million hold their positions as the top grape types in the county.

Wine grape varieties ranked lower did see changes from 2007 to 2008. Sauvignon Blanc overtook Sirah for sixth place. Petite Sirah is seventh rising one position and Syrah eight dropping two positions from 2007.

The 2008 crop report

was compiled from growers, packers, processors, department staff, U.C. Cooperative Extension and other agencies, the Agricultural Department stated. The report stated that Humboldt, Siskiyou, Shasta and Plumas County lead Mendocino as timber-producing counties. At sawmills in the county there was about 92.65 million board feet produced, down from about 103.03 million board feet in 2007.

The value of pasture and range lands also took a hit, likely due to dry conditions that warranted a drought declaration last year. "The numbers had to reflect that loss," Linegar said.

Pasture land in the county dropped from about $3.65 million to about $2.03 million while range land dropped just over $800,000 to $941,500, the crop report stated.

Livestock was another category to see a lower value in 2008. Cattle value dropped from about $6.34 million to $5.94 million, sheep dropped from $344,100 to $298,900 and swine dropped from $93,700 to $87,800.

The total value of all pear varieties in the county dropped from about $16.93 million in 2007 to about $15.02 million last year.

According to records kept on exporting agricultural goods, 31 countries bought local commodities. Of the items exported to foreign countries, one of the more common is nursery plants, said Linegar.

Timber is not expected to turn around suddenly, but some other categories are looking to be healthy this year. "We will come back strong in 2009," Linegar said.

Zack Cinek can be reached at udjzc@pacific.net or 468-3521.

GLOBAL ECONOMY:

Countries where county grown commodities have been exported, according to the Ag Department.

Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, England, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Holland, Italy, Lithuania, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

Newstex ID: 36003982

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