Originally published Monday, October 6, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
State's farm crops hit record value in '07
You might not like the higher prices in the grocery store, but they meant higher values for Washington crops in 2007. The overall value of...
The Associated Press
YAKIMA, Wash. — You might not like the higher prices in the grocery store, but they meant higher values for Washington crops in 2007.
The overall value of agricultural production last year increased 23 percent to a record $8.51 billion, up from a revised $6.9 billion in 2006, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Four of the top five crops — apples, milk, wheat and potatoes — experienced record gains in 2007, as did a number of other foods.
Agriculture continues to be the cornerstone of Washington's economy, particularly when compared with recent downturns in other economic sectors, said Bob Gore, acting director of the state Department of Agriculture.
"On the whole, our 33,000 farmers and ranchers had excellent gains, but they continue to face escalating costs to grow their crops and raise their livestock," Gore said in a statement.
Those costs include fertilizer, which has increased upward of 100 percent, as well as diesel and transportation, said Mollie Hammar, director of public relations for the Washington Farm Bureau.
"We're hearing instances where farmers have to ration how often they go out and run their combine. It reaches a point where it's not cost effective to harvest if they have to use their diesel," she said. "Farmers definitely aren't benefiting from high prices while consumers pay top dollar at the grocery store."
But the higher prices did boost overall crop values.
Apples again topped the list at $1.75 billion, compared with the previous high of $1.41 billion in 2006. Washington is the nation's top apple producer, growing about half the U.S. crop.
Milk, the second crop on the list, for the first time topped $1 billion after declining nearly 18 percent a year before. Milk production was valued at $1.06 billion in 2007, up from $688 million in 2006.
Rounding out the top five crops were: wheat at $975 million, surpassing the previous record of $756 million set in 1996; potatoes at $685 million, ahead of the previous high of $562 million in 2006; and cattle and calves at $581 million.
Other crops breaking records in 2007 included hay, grapes, pears, blueberries and hops.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
More Business & Technology headlines...
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
![]()
Nintendo re-enlists Mario, savior of video-game industry
Verizon-Frontier deal stirs concern among consumers
Brier Dudley: 'Guitar Hero' founder excited about future
Gaps for consumers in Democrat health care bills
Hutch gets $10M from Bezos family for immunotherapy research

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
266 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
166 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
165 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
132 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
125 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
91 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
67 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
64 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
59 - Ranking the Pac
53
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list





