California almond acreage drops for first time since 1995
A land study shows California’s bearing almond acreage decreasing for the first time in more than three decades. The Almond Board of California reported that the 1.385 million acres of almond acres measured in its Land IQ study means a net decrease of 15,227 acres from last year. … The orchard removals come as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act has growers pulling up trees, especially in areas outside the scope of California water agencies — called white areas. … Grape grower Linda Pandol, head of operations for Pandol Brothers Inc., said at the economic outlook that because of SGMA, about 70% of the company’s land gets farmed. In wet years, her family may plant grains on fallowed land. Despite Paldon Brothers digging recharge basins, Pandol said the state is not yet giving out credits for water put back into the ground.
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