Urban and Agriculture Water Usage
Agricultural Water Use
Kern County is ranked number 3 or 4 in agricultural production in California, and in the nation. Over 250 crops are produced in Kern County, ranging from cotton to potatoes, pistachios to grapes, pomegranates to roses. There are also many dairies, poultry farms and cattle ranches in Kern County.
The 2010 gross value of all agricultural commodities produced in Kern County was $4,757,260,700, representing an increase of $1,141,687,700. That’s up 31% from the 2009 crop value.
The major factors affecting the increase in total value from the 2009 crop year were significant increases in acreage and production in fruit and nut, and vegetable crops. Increases in the livestock and poultry Inventories also played a significant role in the 2010 increase in overall milk production.
The top five commodities for 2010 were grapes, almonds, pistachios, milk and citrus, which make up more than $2.8 Billion (60%) of the total value.
The official 2010 Kern County Crop Report can be found on the Department of Agriculture and Measurement Standards website: www.kernag.com
Kern County’s top 20 crops
| COMMODITY | VALUE | 2009 RANKING |
| 1. Grapes, All | $ 703,961,000 | 1 |
| 2. Almonds, Including By-Products | 622,973,000 | 3 |
| 3. Pistachios | 533,847,000 | 6 |
| 4. Milk, Market & Manufacturing | 521,460,000 | 2 |
| 5. Citrus, Fresh & Processing | 487,419,000 | 5 |
| 6. Carrots, Fresh & Processing | 391,523,000 | 4 |
| 7. Cattle & Calves | 265,349,000 | 7 |
| 8. Cotton, Including Processed Cottonseed | 148,357,000 | 11 |
| 9. Potatoes, Fresh & Processing | 130,956,000 | 9 |
| 10. Pomegranates, Fresh & Processing | 114,727,000 | 10 |
| 11. Hay, Alfalfa | 105,162,000 | 8 |
| 12. Cherries | 96,826,000 | 21 |
| 13. Tomatoes, Fresh & Processing | 54,764,000 | 12 |
| 14. Apiary Products | 54,650,000 | 14 |
| 15. Silage & Forage | 51,009,000 | 13 |
| 16. Bell Peppers, Fresh & Processing | 43,429,000 | 16 |
| 17. Nursery, Fruit and Nut Trees & Vines | 42,035,000 | 18 |
| 18. Onions, Fresh & Processing | 41,580,000 | 20 |
| 19. Wheat | 39,226,000 | 17 |
| 20. Eggs & Egg Product | 32,046,000 | 15 |
About one-third of Kern’s area is on the valley floor, which is intensively cultivated. In 2010, there was about 804,000 harvested acres in Kern County. Approximately one third of that acreage is in permanent crops - that is crops like almond trees that are not replanted each year.
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