Marin County releases 2024 crop and livestock report with $83.8M agricultural value

The Marin County government meeting held on July 9, 2025, focused on the presentation of the 2024 Crop and Livestock Report, a state-mandated document detailing agricultural production values in the region. The meeting began with an introduction by Joe, who highlighted the significance of the report and its adherence to guidelines set by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. He noted that this year’s report would also include a broader economic analysis of agriculture in Marin, prompted by previous discussions about local products, particularly cheese.

Following Joe's introduction, Allison Klein, the Agricultural Weights and Measures Inspector, presented the detailed statistics from the report. The total agricultural production value for Marin in 2024 was reported at $83.8 million, reflecting a 2% decrease from the previous year. Klein emphasized that despite this overall decline, specific sectors showed positive growth.

In the livestock and aquaculture segment, while values for sheep, lambs, and poultry decreased, cattle and calves saw an increase, totaling $16.1 million—an 8% rise from 2023. Poultry remained the top commodity in Marin, valued at $21.9 million, and aquaculture also performed well, increasing by 5% to $6.4 million.

Klein also addressed livestock products, noting a slight decrease in both organic and conventional milk production, although the price per 100-pound unit of milk increased. Organic milk continued to be a significant contributor, valued at $21.6 million.

The report further detailed field crop values, which rose by 7% to $10.3 million, with increases in silage and pasture values. However, the acreage of hay harvested saw a modest decline, which Klein attributed to typical annual fluctuations.

Lastly, the report covered fruits, vegetables, and nursery products, which experienced a decrease in total value due to changes in business practices among producers.

The meeting concluded with a summary of the key findings, emphasizing the resilience of certain agricultural sectors in Marin despite overall declines. The next steps involve further analysis of the economic contributions of agriculture in the region, which will be presented in future meetings.