Combined gross agricultural receipts were up 12 percent in Stanislaus County, Calif. in 2017, a trend that is starting to be seen in other farm counties in the state.

The county’s 4,243 farms combined to produce a gross $3.64 billion in products ranging from tree nuts, dairy and livestock, to vegetables and fruits. Though improved after a slide in values seen in 2015 and 2016, the new number is still significantly short of the $4.4 billion record set in 2014.

Part of this boost can be credited with organic food production, which doubled in value to nearly $200 million on acreage that remained little-changed at over 8,500.

The largest increase in a single commodity for 2017 was seen in almonds. A 3 percent boost in bearing acres to 188,000 and an 8.6 percent jump in per-acre yields to 2,260 pounds pushed overall almond values up by about $125 million, according to Stanislaus County Agricultural Commissioner Milton O’Haire.

The total almond value of $1.05 billion reflects gross sales of almond kernels, hulls and shells based on 212,000 tons of almond kernels. Grower prices were little-changed at about $2.42 per pound, on average. Almond hull and shell prices remained little-changed as well. Stanislaus County produces almost 14 percent of the state’s almond crop by volume.

Almonds overtook dairy in 2013 as the single-highest valued commodity. It has remained in the No. 1 spot ever since.

At No. 2 in value, milk production remained surprisingly stable given the precipitous decline in milk herds throughout the state as farmers complain about unprofitable dairy prices. Even so, milk prices from dairy cows rebounded $1.50 per hundredweight in 2017. Goat milk production and pricing fell significantly in 2017.

Stanislaus County is home to a large goat milk processor. Meyenberg Goat Milk produces a variety of products from goat dairies in the region.

Also seen in 2017:

The Stanislaus County Crop Report is available online.