Almond cultivation in California

Almonds were California's fifth most valuable agricultural product in 2022, accounting for $3.5 billion of agricultural output. Almond production increased from in 2000 to in 2017. USDA NASS data indicates that bearing acreage has continued to increase in early 2020, reaching 1.39 million acres in 2025. However, nursery sales reports published by USDA NASS also showed a declining estimated planted acreage for new orchards between 2021 and 2024.This suggests a slowdown in new plantings. The 2024 nursey report shows a declining rate in planted acreage, from 43,000 acres in 2021-2022 to 31,000 in 2022-2023 and 17,000 to 5,000 over those same periods. Prices rose over the same period, fueled in part by overseas demand. Newly planted almond acreage has displaced more traditional cash crops, such as cotton. In addition to consumer demand, the industry's growth has benefitted from mechanization. During the harvesting process, tree shakers are used to aggressively shake each almond tree, causing the nuts to fall to the ground. This reduces the need for labor relative to other crops, which has attracted farmers who are concerned with shortages of migrant workers. A 2014 report commissioned by the Almond Board of California, an industry group, found that the industry directly employed 21,000 people and indirectly supported an additional 83,000 jobs statewide. Including indirect effects, the industry added about $11 billion to the state's GSP. Exports Almonds are California's most valuable export crop. Farmers exported $4.5 billion worth to foreign countries in 2016, about 22% of the state's total agricultural exports. The majority of these exports went to the European Union, China and India. During the global supply chain disruption, shipping companies placed a lower priority on products that paid lower shipping rates resulting in various exports being delayed. More than three-quarters of the containers leaving Los Angeles were empty in July 2021 whereas about two-thirds of the containers leaving U.S. ports are typically filled with exports. Many of containers were going back empty due to the rush by shippers to bring in imports of back-to-school supplies and fall fashions from Asia. This impacted the almond growers along with Midwestern farmers who ship to customers overseas. ==Environmental issues==

Bees Like many crops, almond cultivation requires cross-pollination. Although almonds can be pollinated by many insects, commercial almond farming is heavily dependent on honey bees. Commercial almond growers may rent hives during the blooming season to ensure pollination success. Starting in 2006, California almond growers began to suffer losses due to colony collapse disorder, a poorly understood phenomenon resulting in the decline of bee populations. Furthermore, almond acreage increased by 14% from 2007 to 2014, while almond irrigation increased by 27%. Critics have pointed out that the state's 6,000 almond farmers use roughly 35 times the amount of water as the 466,000 residents of Sacramento. To supplement reduced deliveries from the state's water system, many almond farmers increased groundwater pumping, which can unsustainably deplete aquifers and cause land subsidence. Almond production fell somewhat as a result of the drought, contributing to higher prices and dampening consumer demand. To compensate, many farmers removed older, less-productive almond trees and replaced them with newer plantings that use less water. Since these trees will take about five years to become productive, some farmers have expressed concerns about a future almond surplus. Waste products |alt=An avenue of trees in an orchard in Winton In the 2015/2016 crop year, the California almond industry produced over of hulls and over of shells. Historically, these byproducts have been used for livestock feed and bedding, or as fuel for cogeneration plants. However, declining demand for these uses combined with an increasing supply of almonds has created a mismatch. The Almond Board of California, an industry association, has researched ways to incorporate almond byproducts into other industries such as food, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. One possible use investigated by the Board is feedstock for bioenergy. For example, biochar made from almond shells can be integrated into automobile and plane tires, allowing them to better resist changing temperatures. Biochar can also be used to make stronger, biodegradable plastic goods such as garbage bags and flower pots. A similar sustainability initiative has been "whole orchard recycling". At the end of their productive life, whole almond trees are ground up and the remains are integrated back into the soil, which retains the tree's nutrients. This process also increases the soil's ability to hold water. == Pests ==

Ferrisia gilli is an economically significant pest of almond in California. F. gilli was formerly known as a California population of F. virgata (the striped mealybug), only being studied sufficiently to recognize that it is distinguishable from F. virgata due to its severe impact on pistachio and almond in this state. Amyelois transitella (the misnamed navel orangeworm) is one of the worst pests of this crop here. Because larvae are unable to bore through the hull, early adults oviposit into the previous year's fallen wasted almonds (mummies) and then attack the new crop in mid-June or early July when the hulls split. == See also ==