Walnut acreage in California has been continuously increasing despite years of dry conditions in the state. Walnut acreage in the state totaled 216,000 acres in 2006 and grew to 270,000 acres by 2012. As of the latest harvest the state is estimated to have 280,000 bearing acres with a total of 325,000 acres overall – an increase of 8% over 2012 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The growth continues even as growers are pushed to grow with limited water supplies using drip irrigation and pressure chambers. The lack of water has force some grower to pull out trees with NASS reporting 4,300 acres of tree removed over the past two years. However, the lack of water may affect walnut production to a lesser degree than other crops as the majority of walnuts are grown in the north of the state. With the reduction of plum orchard acreage because of lesser demand and walnut prices remaining high, industry insiders do not foresee a slowing of the state’s walnut acreage expansion within the near future.
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