Almond forecast 13% higher than last year’s production

It turns out that California’s almond production forecast for 2024 is higher than expected.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its 2024 California Almond Objective Measurement Report last week, forecasting 2.80 billion meat pounds of production, down 7% from May’s subjective forecast but 13% higher than last year’s crop of 2.47 billion meat pounds.

The forecast is based on 1.38 million bearing acres.

Production for the Nonpareli variety is forecast at 1.10 billion meat pounds, 17% higher than last year’s deliveries of 941 million meat pounds.

The Nonpareli variety makes up 39% of California’s total almond production.

“The Objective Measurement is in line with what the industry expected and a drop from the Subjective Estimate. It reflects both a good bloom and hard work by California almond growers during trying times,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. “For perspective, demand has been strong, consistent and continues to grow, which has reduced the carryout to what may be the smallest in years.

Turner said that 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.

Almond crops experience mostly favorable weather during this year’s bloom period, which began in the second week in February and finished by the middle of march.

Wet and warm conditions in April did increase pest and disease pressure, but dry conditions and mild temperatures in May helped the developing crop.

The almond harvest is expected to be on schedule.

Fresno County almonds had 3,317 nuts per tree in 2024, up from last year’s 2,946.

Madera county had 4,996 nuts per tree this year, up from 3,001.

Tulare County’s almond trees saw a slight decrease in their nuts per tree, with 4,493 this year, down from 2023’s 4,677 nuts per tree.