Central Valley counties tops in agricultural production, five-year U.S. census shows

California is the world’s No. 1 agricultural producer and nine of the nation’s top 10 agricultural producing counties are in California, according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, which was released in late April. Every five years the census presents an overview of the nation’s agriculture. It is the result of research by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) from 2007-2012. “It will help farmers, ranchers, local officials, agribusinesses and others make decisions for the future,” said Vic Tolomeo, director of the service’s Sacramento-based Pacific Region. While Fresno County was again the nation’s leader with nearly $5 billion in ag sales in 2012 the Central Valley counties of Stanislaus and San Joaquin combined for ag sales of more than $6 billion. Read More