The Pacific Regional Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts an acreage survey of California citrus growers as funding is available. The purpose of this survey is to provide bi-annual citrus acreage, which includes information on new plantings and removals. It is the continuation of a long series of industry-funded Citrus Acreage surveys. Results of the survey reveal significant interest and growth in mandarin production. Grapefruit and lemon acreage are also on the rise, while Valencia and navel orange acreage is in decline. The bulk of growth in citrus acreage has been taking place in Kern, Riverside, Tulare and Fresno Counties.
Users are cautioned that this report consists of two parts:
- ➢ Table1 shows estimated statewide bearing acreage for the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
- ➢ Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 show detailed acreage data by type, variety, and year planted — as voluntarily reported by citrus growers and maintained in NASS’ database.With perfect information, the estimated statewide bearing acreage and the detailed acreage data would be the same. Generally, this will not be the case for the following reasons:
- ➢ A voluntary survey of approximately 5,000 citrus growers is unlikely to ever attain 100 percent completeness.
- ➢ It is difficult for USDA/NASS to detect growers who are planting citrus for the first time.
PROCEDURES
The major source of the citrus detailed acreage data was a questionnaire mailed to all citrus growers currently in NASS’ database. The mailing was sent in January 2024. The questionnaire contained previously reported crop, variety, and acreage information preprinted. Producers were asked to update the information with new plantings, removals, and any other corrections. New growers were mailed a blank questionnaire. Growers were given about eight weeks to respond by mail. A telephone follow-up was then undertaken. Data collection ended in July 2024.
To arrive at the estimated statewide bearing acreage, the NASS citrus acreage database was compared with pesticide application data maintained by County Agricultural Commissioners and the Department of Pesticide Regulation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The USDA, NASS Pacific Regional Office sincerely appreciates the many orchard operators, owners, and management firms that provided their acreage information. Funding for the survey was provided by the California Citrus industry.
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