2010 CA CITRUS ACREAGE REPORT RELEASED

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the results of the 2010 California Citrus Acreage Survey. The detailed acreage numbers are based on the information obtained from questionnaires set to the approximately 4,300 citrus growers in the NASS database. It represents the most detailed information available, but probably not absolutely complete because it does not capture first-time growers with new plantings and any growers that are not yet in the NASS database. And because the survey is voluntary it is unlikely that it achieves one hundred percent participation. This year for the first time NASS included a table of the estimated bearing acreage for navel oranges. To arrive at this number NASS compares the citrus acreage database with Census of Agriculture data, which requires mandatory participation, and pesticide application data from the counties and the Department of Pesticide Regulation. In the case of navel oranges the estimated bearing acreage is 8,531 acres or 7% higher than the detailed acreage number. NASS will release estimated bearing acreage numbers for the other citrus varieties in October.

According to the Detailed Acreage Survey, the total number planted citrus acres was virtually unchanged from the 2008 survey, increasing by only 445 acres. However, there were significant shifts in acreage by variety and county. Citrus acreage in most of the major citrus producing counties declined, only Tulare and Kern Counties gained citrus acreage. Tulare County has 39 percent of the total citrus acreage, remaining far and away the largest citrus growing county in California, with 105,759 acres up 565 acres from 2008. Kern County, a distant second, with 57,963 planted acres saw its acreage increase by 4,479 acres from 2008 to 2010. The largest decrease in acreage was in Ventura County, which lost 2,087 of citrus during the two-year period.

Acreage of all citrus varieties, with the exception of mandarins, decreased between 2008 and 2010. In total mandarin acreage was up 23.67%, an increase of 7,432 acres, exceeding by 445 acres the decline in all other varieties combined.

Change In Planted Acreage Between 2008 and 2010 - by Variety:

Grapefruit -179 Acres -1.97%         Lemons -2,093 Acres - 4.49%

Limes -25 Acres -5.02%                  Navels -2,541 Acres - 1.85%

Valencias -1,932 Acres -4.34%       Pummelos -217 Acres -12.08%

Mandarins 7,432 Acres 23.67%

(from california citrus mutual)