California Walnut Acreage Report

California’s 2017 total walnut bearing acreage is estimated at 335,000 acres, up 6.3% from the 2016 figure of 315,000 acres. The 2017 total walnut acreage is estimated at 400,000 acres, up 10% from 2015. This includes 65,000 acreas of non-bearing acres. With the 2017 crop recipts estimated at 627,798 short tons, we have a total yield per acre of 1.87 short tons per acre. This is down 12.2% from the 2016 yield per acre of 2.13 tons per acre.

Chandler continues leading with 121,524 bearing acres representing 36% of the total bearing acreage. Chandler represents 59%, however, of the non-bearing acres. The pace of new plantings in 2017 slowed to 2,050 acres down 62% from the prior year when 5,461 acres were planted and off considerable from the recent peak planting year of 2013 when 11,398 acres were planted.

Approximately 7,000 acres were removed in 2017. Some acreas were harvested before the trees were removed. Most of the acreage is in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys in the northern parts of the state.