Agriculture production dropped a bit more in 2016, compared to 2015, in Nevada County. The gross value was $20.8 million, down 2.75% from 2015, which dropped 1%. County Agriculture Commissioner Chris de Nijs  says one factor for the decline was a major decrease in the value of timber products, or 23%, after the value was up in 2015. He says the recent surge in wildfires has created a glut of less-valuable fire salvage timber that continues to monopolize the industry and flood the mills with supply…

click to listen to Chris de Nijs

The continued decline in cattle prices also meant another 13% drop in value for the livestock industry. But on the plus side, de Nijs says there was a significant increase in winegrape acreage, resulting in a 117% increase in value…

click to listen to Chris de Nijs

The report also says fruit and vegetable crop values were up 14%, due to improved farmer knowledge, distributions, and demand at the local level. The top 5 commodities in Nevada County are Livestock and Poultry, Pasture and Rangeland, Fruit and Nut Crops, Timber Products, and Vegetable Crops.