Marin agriculture reported at $83.8 million in 2024; county study finds larger economic and ecosystem contributions

Marin County’s agricultural commissioner on July 8 released the county’s 2024 Crop and Livestock Report, which lists $83.8 million in gross farm production for the year, and an accompanying economic study that estimates the broader economic contribution of local agriculture at roughly $257.2 million in 2023 when local processing and multiplier effects are included.

Agricultural commissioner Joe Divini presented the annual, state‑mandated crop and livestock totals and introduced a special companion section that encourages buying local through farmers markets, farm stands and direct sales. Allison Klein, Agricultural Weights and Measures inspector, supplied commodity details: poultry remained the top commodity by value at about $21.9 million; organic milk totaled about $21.6 million; cattle and calves rose to $16.1 million; aquaculture increased to $6.4 million; and field crops and wine grapes showed variances tied to yields and business choices.

The county commissioned an economic impact study from Agricultural Impact Associates. The consultants — Dr. Fernando de Paulis and Dr. Jeff Langholz — presented a broader accounting that adds local processing, supplier spending and induced household spending. Their analysis produced a total economic output estimate of about $257.2 million for 2023, comprising roughly $89 million in on‑farm production, $101 million in local processing (cheese and dairy processing were highlighted) and about $66 million in indirect and induced multiplier effects. The study estimated agriculture supported roughly 1,081 jobs countywide (about 750 direct jobs plus 331 jobs from multiplier effects).

Dr. Langholz also presented preliminary estimates for the value of ecosystem services provided by Marin’s working lands — services such as open space, scenic value, firebreaks, water filtration, wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration. Those services were broadly valued in the report between $464 million and $2.08 billion annually; the authors said the range is wide and requires further study to refine.

Speakers from the agricultural community and land‑conservation partners praised the report. Andy Najjaris, CEO of the Agricultural Institute of Marin, emphasized local market programs that accept CalFresh and match benefits at farmers markets, noting nearly $500,000 in EBT/market match benefits and nearly 900,000 servings of fresh produce in the combined Marin/Southern Sonoma area for recent reporting. Lily Verdone of Marin Agricultural Land Trust said the analysis reinforces the benefits of preserving working lands and the layered public values those lands deliver.

Board members and staff discussed resilience, agritourism and the vulnerability of small, land‑rich but cash‑poor operations. Commissioners and presenters said agritourism and direct‑to‑consumer sales are promising revenue streams but require additional study to measure impacts precisely. The report’s authors said they used national county multipliers (IMPLAN) to estimate indirect and induced effects and noted those multipliers are updated annually.

Action: The board accepted the Crop and Livestock Report and the economic contributions analysis at the July 8 meeting. The motion to accept the report was made on the record and the roll call vote was recorded as aye by Supervisors Lukin, Colbert, Rodoni and President Sackett; Supervisor Moulton Peters also voted in favor. The acceptance will allow county distribution of the report and a companion fold‑out guide that lists local producers and market links.

Why it matters: The annual crop and livestock report is the formal farmgate accounting required by state guidelines. The companion economic analysis highlights the larger role of agriculture in county jobs, local processing and ecosystem services, providing a baseline for future policy, marketing and land‑conservation decisions. The board asked staff to broaden public distribution of the reports and to explore agritourism and other supports for small producers.

The county will publish a fold‑out “Marin Fresh” companion map and distribute the report to local partners and media; staff and partners signaled interest in further analysis of agritourism and shared approaches to strengthen producer market channels.