Avian flu cost Stanislaus County more than $100 million in total gross agriculture production, a staggering 27 percent decline from the previous year, according to the 2024 ag report that was presented to the Board of Supervisors recently. 

All told, the county’s total gross ag production came in at $3.15 billion — down about $216 million from 2023 for a 6 percent drop-off.

“This decline is consistent with trends observed across the nation,” said Agricultural Commissioner Linda Pinfold. 

Half of those losses were in the poultry sector, which accounted for just under $400 million in 2023 but only $291.8 million in 2024.

Eggs, the 10th-ranked sector in the county, also saw a decrease, falling from $54.3 million in 2023 to $47.1 million in 2024.

“Since 2022, (avian flu) virus has devastated poultry flocks across the country, and Stanislaus County has been no exception,” said Pinfold. “For the past three winters, we’ve seen cases — especially in turkeys, chickens and egg-laying hens — continue to rise. Avian influenza is devastating because it spreads quickly and causes nearly 100 percent mortality in commercial poultry flocks. That means massive losses for farmers, higher costs for consumers, and disruptions all along the food supply chain.”

Pinfold went on to detail how avian flu affected the dairy sector.

“Last year we saw something entirely new,” said Pinfold. “The virus jumped species into cattle. Between late 2024 and early this year, it spread rapidly, and over 110 of our 132 dairies ended up under quarantine. That’s more than 80 percent of our county’s dairies. Thankfully, the virus doesn’t kill cows the way it does poultry, but it did cause significant drops in milk production.”

Despite these challenges, milk was No. 2 in Stanislaus County for the second consecutive year — $754.5 million in total gross value, down slightly from 2023 — and accounted for about 24 percent of all production.

Just two years ago, milk was No. 1 by a wide margin, outpacing almonds by more than $375 million.

Almonds maintained their position as Stanislaus County’s No. 1 agriculture commodity, accounting for about $825 million in total gross value, up from $813 million in 2023, and making up 26 percent of all ag production in the county.

“These (numbers) should not be interpreted as profit or loss because they do not account for production costs or the incredibly important economic multipliers on our county’s economy,” said Pinfold. 

Rounding out the top 10 were cattle ($208.2 million), fruit and nut nursery stock ($110.8 million), silage ($108.5 million), walnuts (up nearly 60 percent to $87.8 million due to strong prices), pollination (down about $7 million to $78.6 million), and tomatoes (down about 45 percent to $60.2 million).

Pinfold went on to praise the county’s farmworkers, calling them the backbone of the ag industry.

“They plant, prune, irrigate, harvest crops, care for livestock, and make sure food gets from the farm to our tables,” said Pinfold. “Their work keeps food affordable, prevents losses, and supports our entire economy. Without them, we’d see higher prices, more food insecurity, and real disruptions in our food supply.”

Frank Hernandez, of Vermeulen Almond Hulling in Modesto, was named the Farmworker of the Year.