Farm Progress

About 108,000 acres of almonds planted within the past year25 percent of trees sold replaced existing orchardsNurseries sold over 14.5 million almond trees in 2015-16

tfitchette, Associate Editor

October 28, 2016

1 Min Read
<p>A USDA survey reveals that at least 14.5 million almond trees were planted in California from mid-2014 to mid-2015. That is an estimated 108,000 acres of trees, of which about 71 percent were new plantings. The remainder was replacements for old orchards.</p>

Nursery sales of almonds in California have never been higher, according to official figures.

According to the 2016 California Almond Nursery Sales Report, at least 14.51 million almond trees, enough to cover about 108,000 acres based on common density practices, were sold in California between June, 2015 and May, 2016. Nine of the 10 commercial nurseries surveyed for this year’s report completed questionnaires.

The latest figure compares to at least 12.23 million trees sold in 2014-15, and 8.33 million trees sold the previous year, based on the returned surveys from eight of the 10 commercial nurseries queried.

The USDA extrapolated acreage planted based on the most recent almond acreage survey, which reported tree densities at 116 per acre. This is two more trees per acre than was planted the previous year, and four more than the average the year before that.

Previous year’s plantings:

  • 2014-2015: 12.23 million trees (96,000 acres);

  • 2013-2014: 8.33 million trees (67,000 acres); and,

  • 54,000 acres of trees planted in 2012-13.

The report, issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture uses data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service from commercial nursery surveys.

Of the estimated 108,000 acres of trees planted within the past year, 32,000 were Nonpareil. Of the total plantings, 71 percent, or 77,000 acres were new plantings.

An earlier survey of almond acreage in California shows 900,000 bearing acres of almonds in California as of the latest growing season. Production from those trees is predicted to be 2.05 billion pounds.

Funding for the survey is provided by the Almond Board of California.

About the Author(s)

tfitchette

Associate Editor, Western Farm Press

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