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Sonoma County releases 2024 Crop Report showing $857.6 million total value as agriculture faces market pressures
Summary
County agricultural officials presented the 2024 Sonoma County Crop Report, reporting a total crop value of $857,620,400 (a 9.3% decline from 2023), significant wine‑grape tonnage loss, poultry losses from HPAI, and policy work planned through an Ag ad hoc committee to help growers adapt.
Andrew Smith, Sonoma County’s agricultural commissioner, presented the 2024 Crop Report to the Board of Supervisors, saying the county’s total agricultural value was $857,620,400 for 2024 — a 9.3% decrease from 2023. The presentation, delivered by Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Pierpaolo Aymar and Senior Agricultural Inspector Misty Eland, outlined commodity‑level shifts and threats facing local producers.
Aymar told the board that wine grapes and poultry drove much of the change in value. He said wine grape value per ton slipped slightly (to $2,962 from $2,975 in 2023) while overall wine grape tonnage fell about 12.21%, leaving more fruit uncontracted. "We’ve heard anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 acres that are likely to come out and not go back in," Aymar said, and he urged farmers to consider alternative uses such as pasture, hay or other crops while markets stabilize.
Misty Eland highlighted the local impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza, saying about 1,200,000 commercial birds were lost in the county during 2023–24 and that egg production value fell sharply. Eland also corrected a printing error in the report: Sonoma County’s Chardonnay bearing acres are 14,870, not 41,870 as previously printed. The presentation noted nursery product value at more than $62 million and a recorded cannabis sector value of $12,197,000 for 2024.
Board members discussed ways to support farmworkers and producers through the county’s Ag ad hoc committee. Supervisor Gore emphasized workforce impacts from acreage reductions and expressed interest in incentives and permitting changes to allow diversification and agritourism. Aymar said the ad hoc will coordinate with Permit Sonoma and other agencies to explore short‑term and long‑term policy options.
The report also flagged programs and tools already available to producers: the Vineyard Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance (VESCO) can allow multi‑year permit forecasting, and Assembly Bill 732 (pending at the time of the presentation) would give Ag Commissioners enhanced civil‑penalty authority to address abandoned orchards on a per‑acre basis. Commissioner Smith said the department will work with the ad hoc to craft recommendations for the general plan update and other county policies.
The board received the report as information; no vote was required. Staff said they will continue outreach to growers, expand agro‑economic analysis with contracted partners and return with policy proposals via the Ag ad hoc.
