Jul 10, 2024USDA reports 2024 California almond crop estimate at 2.80 billion pounds
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) released its 2024 California Almond Objective Measurement Report on July 10, 2024, estimating a harvest of 2.80 billion meat pounds. This figure marks a 7% decrease from May’s Subjective Forecast.
Despite a solid bloom, growers faced economic challenges throughout the year. Almond shipments hit a record, with ten consecutive months of at least 212 million pounds shipped, reducing the carryout to levels not seen in years.
“The Objective Measurement is in line with what the industry expected and a drop from the Subjective Estimate,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California in a press release. “It reflects both a good bloom and hard work by California almond growers during trying times.”
“California almonds shipped at least 212 million pounds each of the first 10 months of this crop year and averaged 230 million pounds a month. Never before has the industry shipped even 200 million pounds 10 months in a row in the same crop year,” stated Turner in the release and also shared that demand for almonds remains robust and consistent.
Turner expects the almond supply to remain similar to the past 2023-24 crop year.
“The actual supply of California almonds available for the market is the combination of crop size and carryout from the previous year,” she said. “We expect only minor changes, if any, to the supply for market this next crop year because the forecasted increase in crop size will mostly be offset by the smaller carryout.”
USDA-NASS reported favorable weather during the bloom period, with significantly higher bee hours than last year. Despite increased pest and disease pressure in April, dry conditions in May aided crop development. However, heat waves in June and July required increased irrigation.
The 2024 forecasted yield is 2,030 pounds per acre, up from 1,790 in 2023. The average nut set per tree is 4,072, up from 3,953 in 2023. For more details, access the full report here.
