Lack of rain, freezing temperatures and even a spate of high winds couldn't keep the value of San Luis Obispo County's crops from hitting a record high in 2007.

Total crop values for last year are estimated at just over $653.8 million, about a 4 percent increase from the revised 2006 total of just over $630.8 million, according to the annual crop report released Wednesday by the County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures.

Although production was down in a number of categories, especially avocados - primarily due to the cold, dry conditions last winter - that lower supply led to higher unit prices.

County Agriculture Commissioner Bob Lilley was not available for comment this week, but a spokeswoman for the County Department of Agriculture said the higher unit prices didn't account for all of the rise in the overall value.

Part of it was also due to increased production in some categories, she said.

Winegrapes retained their spot at the top of the value list for the ninth consecutive year, accounting for 22 percent of the county's total crop value, followed by broccoli at No. 2.

Strawberries climbed one spot to No. 3, while cattle and calves dropped a spot to No. 4.

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The rest of the top 10 crops in overall value were vegetable transplants, head lettuce, cut flowers, indoor decoratives, carrots and cauliflower.

Among the notable changes in the overall crop picture was the rebound of spinach after the 2006 E. coli scare severely damaged the industry.

Acres of spinach harvested rose 125 percent to 859, and the overall value of the spinach crop rose 147 percent to just under $4.9 million.

The acreage planted in carrots also increased, particularly in the Cuyama Valley and northern San Luis Obispo County.

This marked the first year the number of carrot producers and the amount of acreage harvested allowed carrots to be listed as a separate category, the spokeswoman said, so the report did not indicate how much carrot production increased in 2007.

But the value of vegetables as a whole increased 15 percent to nearly $235.5 million, led by broccoli at just under $78 million.

The avocado crop suffered from dry, freezing weather last winter, with production dropping 87 percent.

While the short supply led to a 93 percent spike in prices, rising from just over $1,108 per ton in 2006 to $2,141 per ton in 2007 for the Hass variety, the overall value of the Hass crop fell 74 percent, from just under $23.4 million in 2006 to just over $6.1 million in 2007.

The total value of all other avocado varieties fell even more - 83 percent - from $777,000 in 2006 to $129,000 in 2007.

South County lemon growers reaped an unexpected benefit of the winter freeze that damaged the crop heavily in many areas but left local crops relatively unharmed.

The low supply led to record lemon prices, raising the price per ton from $285 in 2006 to more than $457 in 2007, according to the report.

That boosted the overall value of the county's lemon crop by 85 percent to more than $10.7 million.

While winegrapes as a whole topped the value list at more than $141.6 million, that was still 7 percent less than the overall value of last year's crop.

Wines were led by cabernet sauvignon at just over $39.3 million, which was a 7 percent drop from the 2006 total for the varietal.

Although merlot ranked second at more than $18.5 million, its value dropped 28 percent from 2006.

Other varietals showing a decrease were sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and syrah. Varietals posting increases were zinfandel, chardonnay and other white wines.

A rise in the per-acre yield for strawberries helped push the total value of fresh berries up 47 percent - despite lower prices per ton - to nearly $48.4 million in 2007, boosting the fruit into the No. 3 slot.

Although cattle and calves still ranked No. 4 in overall value, the cattle industry struggled in 2007, hit by low rainfall that provided little grassland forage. Ranchers were forced to provide supplemental feed, and that higher demand pushed up feed prices.

As a result, cattle herds were reduced by 50 percent, with calves sold two to three months earlier than usual and at weights averaging 150 to 200 pounds less than normal, the report said.

Total cattle and calf production was valued at almost $55.3 million, down 8 percent from 2006.

Faced with rising utility and fuel prices, coupled with increasing foreign competition, the value of the nursery crop fell from just over $108 million in 2006 to just over $107.7 million.

That included indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, cut flowers, transplants and fruit trees.

Associate editor Mike Hodgson can be reached at 925-2691, Ext. 2221 or mhodgson@santamariatimes.com.

April 3, 2008