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By Mike Gervais
Register Staff 8-14-2008 Though Inyo County saw less livestock production and reductions in some crops in 2007, higher costs and demand brought in more revenue for the local agricultural industry last year than in 2006, Inyo and Mono County Agricultural Commissioner George Milovich reported.
According to Milovich’s just-released 2007 Annual Crop and Livestock Report, Inyo and Mono counties produced a total of $56,903,900 worth of agricultural revenue in 2007, a hearty 17 percent increase from the year before.
“Agriculture continues as one of the integral parts of Inyo and Mono counties’ economy,” Milovich said.
Livestock production in Inyo County, about 55 percent of its total agricultural value, was down slightly this year due to drier conditions, but Inyo still earned more money from its stock than in 2006.
Milovich reported that the total livestock production in 2007 was $10,261,250. In 2006 the county saw $9,755,120 from its livestock.
According to the Ag report, 5,300 calves and steer were raised in Inyo County, selling for $114 per unit, $2 more than in 2006, when production was up by 300 animals. The slightly higher price, despite the lower numbers, allowed the county to earn $27,400 more than the previous year.
That trend is consistent with the cows raised locally as well. Though the county saw 50 less head raised this year, the price for cows was up $2 from last year and the county earned a total of $1,831,500 from their sale, a $9,900 increase over last year.
The county did take a hit in its production of heifers and bulls this year. In 2006 Inyo County raised 4,760 heifers compared to the 4,500 animals raised this year. Ranchers within the county netted a total of $2,598,750 worth of heifers this year as opposed to $2,698,920 last year.
Ranchers brought up and sold 215 bulls this year, 15 more than last, but received $7,000 less in sales in 2007 than they did in 2006.
But with the production of sheep and lambs, the county saw a $36,000 increase in sales this year. That increase is largely due to an increase of the average selling price of the animals, from $70 in 2006 to $78 in 2007.
“One of the driest years in history led to reductions in both livestock numbers and some row crops,” Milovich said. But “alfalfa, due to factors such as high corn prices, led to an increase in value. Our high desert, protein-rich alfalfa hay continues to be in demand.”
In 2006 Inyo County farmers harvested 3,000 acres of alfalfa hay which sold for $132 per unit (one ton). Last year saw a 100 acre increase in production and a much higher selling price of $165 per unit.
In total, the county saw $3,069,000 in revenue from alfalfa alone, a $69,300 increase over last year’s $2,376,000 revenue mark.
The sale price and acreage of other hays also increased last year, according to the report. Inyo County saw 350 more acres of miscellaneous hay in 2007 over 2006 numbers. The miscellaneous hay sold for $43 more per unit over 2006 as well.
Field crops make up about 25 percent of Inyo County’s agricultural value.
In total, Inyo County saw a $1,953,630 increase in agricultural revenues this year over last.
Milovich’s report also outlines measures his department is taking to eradicate “pests” within the county.
The largest pest eradication task before the Ag Department is the saltcedar infestation.
According to Milovich, his staff is using “biological control” at three sites to weed out the saltcedar. The county’s “biological control” refers to the introduction of the tamarisk leaf-eating beetle, which kills the invasive species.
There are also 100 other saltcedar sites that the Ag Department is focusing on, using mechanical and herbicide methods to eradicate the plant.
The county is also using biological control at 25 sites infested with puncture vines. Here, the Ag Department has introduced stem and seed weevils to kill off the invasive species.
The other major pest eradication effort focuses on 20 sites infested with the Canada thistle. The county is using herbicide to kill off those plants.
The Ag Commissioner’s report also included an updated on his department’s outreach efforts in 2007.
The Ag Department sponsored three pesticide safety seminars for farmers “to meet state continuing education requirements.”
There were also two all-day seminars for farmers and ranchers on understanding the dangers of agroterrorism and the principles of preparedness for agroterrorism and food system disasters.
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