Cattle, rice and almonds lead growth as Placer County agriculture posts a record year
Auburn, Calif.- Placer County's total gross value of agricultural crops and livestock increased to a record $122 million in 2025, a 9.9% increase from the previous year.
High beef prices and continued growth in tree nuts contributed to the growth, according to the county's (136 MB pdf- 2025 Crop Report presented to the Placer County Board of Supervisors.
Cattle Lead County Agricultural Production
Cattle remained in the number one spot, with a total value of $34,516,728. This follows a national trend of record-low cattle herd numbers, creating supply and demand pressures that have driven cattle prices higher nationwide. Poultry ranked fifth at $12,282,021, an increase from last year's production as the local industry remained largely unaffected by avian influenza.
Rice and Almonds See Strong Growth
Rice went from fifth in 2024 to second place with a gross value of $17,472,844, following an increase in planted rice acreage.
Nut tree crops remained in the top five as well, with almonds in third place at $15,799,602 as more orchards in the county were in full production. Walnuts took fifth place at $9,684,360.
Apiary Products More Than Double in Value
The value of apiary products, such as bees and honey, more than doubled to $1.3 million with an increase of $513,000, or 64.3%, from 2024. This growth is closely tied to the expansion of almond production, which requires increased pollination as more almond acreage comes into production.
"The latest crop report continues to tell the story of the adaptability of Placer's farmers and ranchers," said Placer County Agricultural Commissioner Josh Huntsinger. "Our record crop value reflects our agricultural community taking advantage of new opportunities and adjusting to challenges, as farmers have always done in Placer County."
The crop report also includes statistics on weed eradication, pest detection and exclusion efforts for imported packages, registered organic farms and producers, and the number of farmers markets throughout the county.