Agriculture
What is the economic impact of agriculture in San Joaquin County?
$3.14B
in reported total agricultural production value in San Joaquin County in 2024.
7th
ranked San Joaquin County realizes the seventh largest agricultural production value among California counties, which reflects its significant contribution to the state’s agriculture and food supply chains.
378,055
acres of Prime Farmland in San Joaquin County, as well as 79,981 acres of Farmland of Statewide Importance, 89,194 acres of Unique Farmland, 63,494 acres of Farmland of Local Importance, and 123,956 acres of Grazing Land in 2022 demonstrate the extensive land dedicated to agricultural activities.
Agriculture
Agricultural Trends
San Joaquin County’s agricultural sector has shown a dynamic trend over the past two decades, reflecting resilience and adaptability amid changing market conditions, weather patterns, and other factors influencing agricultural production. This indicator displays annual agricultural production values, which tracks growth and fluctuations in output over time. Notable increases are evident in certain years, which reflects the county’s ability to adapt and expand its agricultural capacity. This historical perspective underscores the strength and evolving nature of agriculture as a cornerstone of the county’s economy.
95%
increase in agricultural output in San Joaquin County from 2004 to 2024, which represents a significant growth in the sector over the last couple of decades despite a decrease in the amount of farmland during this same time period.
Agricultural Net Income Trends
The agricultural net income trends in San Joaquin County illustrate the dynamics between production expenses, cash receipts (and other income), and net income over time. This indicator shows that net income, while fluctuating, remains lower than rising production expenses, highlighting the challenges faced by local farmers in sustaining profitability amid escalating costs. The data provide insights into how factors like market prices, land availability, input costs, and economic conditions impact the financial health of the agricultural sector. Since 2016, expenses have been growing faster than inflation, driven primarily by labor, fertilizer, animal feed, and, more recently, rising interest expenses. Consequently, net income has been gradually decreasing from its peak of over $1 billion in 2014, reaching a ten-year low of less than $544 million in 2022. Profit margins (net income as a share of total revenue) saw historic highs of 35% from 2012 to 2014 but declined to 18% by 2022, reflecting the ongoing pressures on agricultural profitability.
18%
decline in agricultural net income in San Joaquin County from 2021 to 2022 reflects the continued challenges in achieving high profitability despite steady cash receipts due to rising production expenses.
Prime Farmland
The “Prime Farmland” indicator provides a view of land conversion trends in San Joaquin County from 1990 to 2022. Over the years, there has been a gradual reduction in farmland, particularly prime farmland, due to a shift towards growing urban and built-up land. As agricultural land is repurposed to meet the needs of urban expansion, the availability of prime farmland becomes increasingly limited. This data highlights the importance of managing land use carefully to preserve valuable farmland while addressing the county’s development needs. The data underscores the importance of strategic land use planning to safeguard valuable agricultural resources and ensure sustainable development.
60.9%
increase in urban and built-up land in San Joaquin County from 1990 to 2022 occurred alongside a nearly 14% decrease in prime farmland area during the same period. This shift reflects the ongoing challenges of balancing agricultural preservation with the demands of population growth and infrastructure needs.
Top 10 Agricultural Counties
San Joaquin County ranks 7th among California’s agricultural counties in terms of the value of its agricultural output, which represents a significant share of the state’s total agricultural output. This indicator highlights the production value of the top 10 agricultural counties in California, with Tulare, Fresno, and Kern leading the list. San Joaquin County’s agricultural production continues to be a vital component of the regional economy, showcasing resilience and growth despite varying conditions.This indicator allows users to explore comparative data for the past two years, which illustrates shifts in production values and reinforces San Joaquin’s place within California’s agricultural landscape.
7th
ranking San Joaquin County represents a significant contributor to the region’s agricultural output, with surrounding Merced and Stanislaus counties ranking 5th and 6th among California’s 58 counties, which demonstrates the strength of agriculture in San Joaquin County and the surrounding region.
Top 10 San Joaquin Crops by Value
The “Top 10 San Joaquin Crops by Value” indicator highlights the leading crops that drive the county’s agricultural economy. Milk leads as the highest-value product, generating $536.9 million, which accounts for about 21% of the Top 10 crops’ combined value. Almond (shelled) follow with a substantial contribution of $492.3 million, or about 19%, while Grapes hold the third position at $319.3 million, representing nearly 12% of the Top 10 crops’ combined value. These top crops reflect the diversity of San Joaquin County’s agricultural landscape and emphasize the importance of dairy, viticulture, and nut production within the region. These shares are calculated against the Top 10 crops’ combined value, not the county’s full agricultural production total — a county-wide share would use the full county total and would therefore be smaller.
$536.9 M
value of milk production in San Joaquin County makes it the highest-value crop in the county, accounting for over a quarter of the county’s agricultural revenue.