The newest official dimension estimate of California’s almond crop this 12 months — that it’ll find yourself 11 p.c smaller than final 12 months’s — got here nearly as good news Friday to an trade burdened with oversupply.
Based on samples taken from 880 orchards across the state, Friday’s so-called goal measurement forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service got here in at 2.6 billion kilos, or 7 p.c decrease than May’s “subjective” estimate launched by the identical company.
The smaller crop partly outcomes from a spring frost that broken orchards, extra in northern counties than in Kern, mixed with impacts from the drought.
A extra modest crop is seen as a preferable consequence this 12 months as a result of a record-high carryover stock from final season has translated to decrease costs being paid to growers of Kern’s third-highest grossing agricultural product.
Less can be higher currently as a result of the trade continues to have hassle getting almonds to abroad consumers who usually don’t pay for deliveries till their arrival. A smaller crop could imply much less product to maneuver by means of congested ports, probably at increased costs per pound based mostly on the extra restricted provide.
The goal report predicted the common nut set shall be 12 p.c decrease than in final 12 months, at 4,082 per tree. It stated the common kernel weight for all varieties seems to be to be lower than 1 p.c higher than the 2021 common, at 1.47 grams.
In a news launch Friday, President and CEO Richard Waycott of the Almond Board of California complimented growers of the nut for their efforts amid troublesome circumstances. He famous trade experiences present the trade set new cargo data in April and May.
“Despite the shipping and logistical logjams, recent shipment numbers have set monthly records, which demonstrates the demand for California almonds continues to increase in the U.S. and around the world,” Waycott said.
“Almond growers are putting what resources they can afford this year into producing their crop, and their efforts show,” he continued. “Although there was a drop from last year, the forecast reflects the efforts of growers to meet global demand and ensure a steady supply of high quality California almonds.”
The subjective forecast could put to relaxation disagreements inside the trade over how a lot the drought and frost this 12 months impacted product. More than one group predicted this 12 months’s crop would measure as a lot as 2.9 billion kilos, which stirred concern of falling costs.
Almonds have been an necessary crop not solely to impartial growers round Kern but in addition massive farming operations and institutional buyers whose involvement has helped broaden California’s almond-bearing acreage by two-thirds prior to now 10 years.
