Though the Coastside got less rain in 2014 than the year prior, the effects of the drought on local agriculture last year were not as severe as a casual observer might expect.
That’s one of the primary takeaways from the 2014 Agricultural Crop Report, published annually by the San Mateo County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures.
In fact, one of the most substantial losses in county agriculture in 2014 involved plants grown indoors. Growers dedicated less greenhouse square footage to indoor cut flowers that year, and that industry saw a gross value loss of 40 percent to a total of $4.1 million. That’s down from $6.8 million the previous year.
San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner Fred Crowder said some of that might be a result of growers dedicating more greenhouse space to indoor potted plants, as its reported value increased nearly 13 percent over 2013. But he also says the loss in the indoor cut flower category is part of a trend.
“We’re going to have a strong floral industry regardless,” Crowder said. “But it’s going to be an industry that will have to evolve as the competition dictates. The problem with San Mateo County is the cost of doing business here – labor is higher here, the cost of housing, supplies, and land. Those are at a premium in this community and it puts an additional burden on growers.”
Crowder added that competition from South America is also a factor that local flower growers have to contend with.
As far as the drought is concerned, it continues to take its toll on the local ranching industry. The overall livestock value dropped 8.2 percent last year, largely because ranchers have been forced to reduce their herds in response to the drought. Since 2010-11, the last rainy season with normal precipitation, there has been a 45 percent decline in the number of cattle and calves sold at market.
However, several other agricultural categories saw decreases that Crowder deemed relatively minor, and the county’s overall agricultural production value did increase in 2014. Crowder said he was surprised that field crops decreased in value by 6.6 percent. He attributed that to growers planting earlier and making other adjustments to the dry conditions.
“All in all, I’d say the drought hasn’t hurt us substantially up to this point,” Crowder said. “A lot of operations are used to conserving water and making do with the resources available, and that’s held us in good stead through the drought. But we can only do that for so long.”
Now, Crowder says the ag industry is hoping for a “Goldilocks winter” — just the right amount of rain — as the possibility of an El Ni?o winter looms.
“If we have an El Ni?o winter like the type of rain Texas received this year, it could be just as bad as the drought, if not worse,” he said
