SAN MATEO COUNTY

2004 AGRICULTURAL CROP REPORT

SAN MATEO COUNTY 2004 CROP SUMMARY

TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE $181,536,000

On the Cover:
The Brussels sprouts and lighthouse on our 2004 Crop Report cover reflect the unique nature of San Mateo
County coastal agriculture. Pigeon Point Lighthouse, constructed in November 1872, rises 115 feet over fields
of Brussels sprouts south of Pescadero. Brussels sprouts are a common sight all along Highway 1 in San
Mateo County. Our 1940 Agricultural Crop Report listed 2,071 acres of Brussels sprouts with a value of
$260,169. Although the acres of Brussels sprouts have dropped to 734, the 2004 value has risen to nearly
six million dollars.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse was recently acquired by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. It has
been closed to visitors since December 2001 due to structural deterioration; however, the California State
Parks Foundation is spearheading a fundraising campaign to renovate the lighthouse and make this historical
landmark accessible to the public.
Front cover photograph by Leonard Kuwahara
Back cover photograph by William Shek

SAN MATEO COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE / WEIGHTS & MEASURES
728 Heller Street P.O. Box 999 Redwood City, California 94064-0999
(650) 363-4700 Fax 367-0130 smateoag@co.sanmateo.ca.us

SAN MATEO COUNTY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE / WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
A. G. Kawamura, Secretary
California Department of Food & Agriculture
and
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
Mark Church, 1st District
Jerry Hill, 2nd District
Richard S. Gordon, 3rd District
Rose Jacobs Gibson, 4th District
Adrienne J. Tissier, 5th District

I am pleased to submit the 2004 Agricultural Crop Report for San Mateo County in compliance
with Section 2279 of the California Food and Agricultural Code. Also included is the Sustainable
Agriculture Report in accordance with Section 2272 of the Code.
The production values in this report represent gross values and do not reflect the cost of production.
The total gross value of San Mateo County agricultural production for 2004 was $181,536,000,
a 0.51% increase from the total production value for 2003, ($180,621,000). This value does not
reflect the real impact agricultural production has on the local economy. For every dollar of agricultural production, a multiplier of 3.5 may be applied. Using this factor, the estimated economic
impact on San Mateo County for 2004 was $635,376,000.
Increased acreage and production for a number of crops contributed to overall increases in several
crop categories: Floral and Nursery Crops Indoor Grown, Vegetable Crops and Fruit and Nut Crops.
Outdoor Grown Floral and Nursery Crops declined slightly in value, but harvested acreage for outdoor cut flowers dropped 15% from 2003. Board feet of harvested timber decreased 30% from last
year with a corresponding drop in value of $779,000.
I wish to express my appreciation to all individuals, growers and agencies who contributed information for the preparation of this crop report, and especially to Ronald Pummer and Koren Widdel
on my staff who compiled the report.
Respectfully submitted,

Gail M. Raabe
Agricultural Commissioner
Sealer of Weights and Measures

FLORAL AND NURSERY CROPS INDOOR GROWN

VALUE
Item

Year

Square Feet

Production

Unit

Per Unit

Total

Cut Flowers
Alstroemeria _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

459,000
469,000

345,000
338,000

Bunch
Bunch

$ 2.00
1.82

Carnations _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

121,000
196,000

1,319,000
1,825,000

Bloom
Bloom

0.20
0.19

264,000
347,000

Lilies _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

296,000
295,000

630,000
463,000

Bunch
Bunch

4.09
6.06

2,577,000
2,806,000

2004
2003

1,117,000
1,121,000

941,000
967,000

Bunch
Bunch

2.74
2.63

2,578,000
2,543,000

Miscellaneous _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
Cut Flowers 1
2003

652,000
583,000

Snapdragons

______________

690,000
615,000

1,601,000
1,218,000

Potted Plants
Flowering
2004
2003

38,000
58,000

80,000
117,000

Pot
Pot

$ 2.77
2.57

2004
2003

682,000
754,000

1,650,000
1,870,000

Pot
Pot

4.39
4.49

7,244,000
8,396,000

2004
2003

545,000
464,000

643,000
615,000

Pot
Pot

15.69
14.34

10,089,000
8,819,000

2004
2003

555,000
540,000

867,000
944,000

Pot
Pot

4.93
4.44

4,274,000
4,191,000

2004
2003

6,962,000
5,755,000

55,791,000
50,526,000

Foliage 4_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

2,139,000
2,738,000

17,060,000
21,283,000

Subtotal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

13,566,000
12,973,000

$102,390,000
101,045,000

Chrysanthemums
Lilies 2

______

________________

Orchids

_______________

Poinsettias

____________

Miscellaneous 3

________

222,000
301,000

Propagated
Bedding Plants _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
(Ivy, Impatiens, Marigolds, etc.)
2003

387,000
358,000

Cuttings and Liners _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

(Ferns, Hydrangea, Ivy, etc.)
2003

99,000
120,000

1,509,000
1,343,000

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

14,052,000
13,451,000

$105,339,000
103,794,000

Total Glass and Plastic Area _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6,352,000 Square Feet

1
2
3
4

Includes Chrysanthemum, Freesia, Gardenia, Roses, etc.

Includes Calla Lilies, Easter Lilies, Hybrid Lilies, Oriental Lilies, etc.
Includes Azaleas, Campanula, Cyclamen, Freesia, Hydrangea, Roses, Tulips, etc.
Includes Dieffenbachia, Ficus, Ivy, Philodendron, Pothos, etc.
3

1,440,000
1,406,000

FLORAL AND NURSERY CROPS OUTDOOR GROWN

VALUE
Item

Year

Acres

Production

Daisies _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

22
49

250,000
556,000

Bunch
Bunch

$1.15
1.05

$ 288,000
584,000

Calla Lily

2004
2003

28
31

96,000
132,000

Bunch
Bunch

3.15
3.26

302,000
430,000

2004
2003

37
44

52,000
70,000

Bunch
Bunch

2.27
2.25

118,000
158,000

Iris _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

14
20

338,000
308,000

Bunch
Bunch

2.96
2.72

1,000,000
838,000

Larkspur_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

16
16

123,000
80,000

Bunch
Bunch

2.70
2.75

332,000
220,000

Stock

2004
2003

68
62

159,000
142,000

Bunch
Bunch

2.87
2.95

456,000
419,000

2004
2003

29
25

118,000
99,000

Bunch
Bunch

2.21
2.24

261,000
222,000

Yarrow * _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

46
45

283,000
246,000

Bunch
Bunch

1.58
1.50

447,000
369,000

Miscellaneous _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
Flower / Foliage 2
2003

276
342

4,341,000
4,536,000

Subtotal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

536
634

$ 7,545,000
7,776,000

Herbaceous_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
Perennials 3
2003

16
16

$ 2,469,000
2,419,000

Christmas Trees _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003

175
187

360,000
341,000

Nursery Stock 4_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003

211
208

29,496,000
29,814,000

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

938
1,045

$39,870,000
40,350,000

Heather

__________________

___________________

_____________________

Sunflowers

________________

Unit

Per Unit

Total

Ornamentals

Includes Fresh and Dried

Includes Dahlia, Delphinium, Eucalyptus, Gypsophila, Statice, etc.
Includes Cinerarias, Fuchsias, Impatiens, Primrose, etc.
Includes Heather, Mini Christmas trees, other trees and shrubs
* Previously included in Miscellaneous Flower / Foliage
1
2
3
4

VEGETABLE CROPS
PRODUCTION
Crop

Year

Acres

Artichokes 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

93
138

Beans, Snap _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003

Total

Unit

3.87
4.02

360
555

Ton
Ton

$1,405.00
1,242.00

158
155

3.38
2.76

534
428

Ton
Ton

1,213.00
1,127.00

648,000
482,000

Brussels Sprouts 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003

734
697

10.13
9.01

7,435
6,280

Ton
Ton

804.00
725.00

5,978,000
4,553,000

Leeks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

155
156

10.23
11.29

1,586
1,761

Ton
Ton

823.00
792.00

1,305,000
1,395,000

Mushrooms _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

14
14

Peas _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

267
282

1.81
1.85

483
522

Ton
Ton

1,101.00
1,041.00

532,000
543,000

Pumpkins_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

242
252

11.43
11.31

2,766
2,850

Ton
Ton

202.00
196.00

559,000
559,000

Miscellaneous Vegetables _ _ _ 2004

Field and Indoor Grown 2 2003

773
714

3,271,000
3,215,000

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

2,436
2,408

$29,845,000
29,687,000

1
2

Per Acre

VALUE
Per Unit

Total
$

506,000
689,000

17,046,000
18,251,000

Includes Processed
Beets, Cabbage, Corn, Herbs, Leaf Lettuce, Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, etc.

FIELD CROPS
PRODUCTION
Crop

Year

Acres

Beans, Dry Edible 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003
Grain
Oats _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003
Hay
Oats _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

50
200

Total

Unit

0.81
0.75

41
150

Ton
Ton

$3,400.00
2,000.00

$139,000
300,000

200
200

0.80
0.80

160
160

Ton
Ton

400.00
400.00

64,000
64,000

300
300

2.92
4.18

876
1,254

Ton
Ton

191.00
128.00

167,000
161,000

Volunteer_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003
Pasture
Irrigated _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

300
300

2.00
2.00

600
600

Ton
Ton

91.00
91.00

55,000
55,000

300
300

140.00
140.00

42,000
42,000

Other _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

30,000
30,000

9.00
9.00

270,000
270,000

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

31,150
31,300

Per Acre

VALUE
Per Unit

Total

$737,000
892,000

Includes Cranberry, Fava, etc.

5

FRUIT AND NUT CROPS

Item

Year

Acres

Total Value

Bushberries _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

28
29

$ 374,000
248,000

Strawberries _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

15
17

282,000
228,000

Wine Grapes _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003

86
60

417,000
363,000

Miscellaneous 1

2004
2003

30
25

351,000
40,000

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

159
131

$1,424,000
879,000

____________

Includes Apples, Kiwi, Pears, Walnuts, etc.

LIVESTOCK
Item

Year

Number Head Sold

Total Value

Cattle and Calves_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003

2,272
2,750

$1,267,000
1,321,000

Sheep and Lambs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004

2003

859
886

83,000
84,000

2004
2003

1,436
1,429

226,000
225,000

Other 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

2,025
2,101

201,000
204,000

Hogs and Pigs

_____________

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003
1

$1,777,000
1,834,000

Includes Chickens, Goats, Turkeys

LIVESTOCK AND APIARY PRODUCTS

Item

Year

Honey_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003
Beeswax

__________________

2004
2003

VALUE
Per Unit
Total

Production

Unit

34,000
50,000

LB.
LB.

$3.49
1.60

$119,000
80,000

450
700

LB.
LB.

2.59
2.15

1,000
2,000

Other 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

621,000
521,000

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

$741,000
603,000

Includes Goat Cheese, Eggs, Wool

6

FOREST PRODUCTS
TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2004
2003

3,799,000 Board Feet

5,441,000 Board Feet

$1,803,000
2,582,000

Department of Agriculture

COASTSIDE RAIN STATIONS

Half Moon Bay
1991 / 1992 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1992 / 1993 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1993 / 1994 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1994 / 1995 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1995 / 1996 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1996 / 1997 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1997 / 1998 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1998 / 1999 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1999 / 2000 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2000 / 2001 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2001 / 2002 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2002 / 2003 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2003 / 2004 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

25.31 inches
33.17 inches
17.93 inches
37.48 inches
30.69 inches
26.05 inches
50.69 inches
29.48 inches
31.54 inches
22.78 inches

Pescadero
28.98 inches
29.87 inches
15.45 inches
31.00 inches
25.56 inches
19.31 inches
81.71 inches
22.63 inches
29.83 inches
20.13 inches
22.06 inches
24.95 inches
19.29 inches

*
*
23.15 inches

*Data not available.

50 YEARS AGO
Top Ten Agricultural Commodities in 1954
Item
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

TOTAL VALUE

Chrysanthemum (Field Grown) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Hogs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Brussels Sprouts _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Artichokes _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Dairy Cattle _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Potted Plants (Glass House Grown) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Carnation (Glass House Grown) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Heather _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ducks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Fern (Glass House Grown) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

196
26,261
2,738
1,791
7,012
534,923
566,204
353
220,732
675,343

Acres
Head
Acres
Acres
Head
Square Feet
Square Feet
Acres
Birds
Square Feet

$1,604,080
1,302,556
1,233,438
873,292
778,140
695,400
668,121
568,330
446,615
351,178

RECAPITULATION
PRODUCTION VALUES
2004

2003

FLORAL AND NURSERY CROPS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $145,209,000

VEGETABLE CROPS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
29,845,000
FOREST PRODUCTS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1,803,000
LIVESTOCK _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1,777,000
FRUIT AND NUT CROPS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
1,424,000
LIVESTOCK AND APIARY PRODUCTS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
741,000
FIELD CROPS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
737,000

$144,144,000
29,687,000
2,582,000
1,834,000
879,000
603,000
892,000

TOTAL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $181,536,000

$180,621,000

MILLION DOLLAR CROPS

Ornamental Nursery Stock _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Potted Foliage Plants _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Mushrooms _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Orchids (potted) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Lilies (potted) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Brussels Sprouts _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Poinsettia (potted) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Snapdragons _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Lilies (cut) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Herbaceous Perennials _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Forest Products _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cuttings and Liners _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Bedding Plants _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Leeks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cattle and Calves _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Iris (cut) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2004

2003

$29,496,000
17,060,000
17,046,000
10,089,000
7,244,000
5,978,000
4,274,000
2,578,000
2,577,000
2,469,000
1,803,000
1,509,000
1,440,000
1,305,000
1,267,000
1,000,000

$29,814,000
21,283,000
18,251,000
8,819,000
8,396,000
4,553,000
4,191,000
2,543,000
2,806,000
2,419,000
2,582,000
1,343,000
1,406,000
1,395,000
1,321,000
838,000

SAN MATEO COUNTY

2004 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE REPORT
Sustainable Agriculture is the implementation of agricultural programs and practices designed to promote
the economic viability of agriculture, while minimizing the impact of agricultural practices on natural
resources and the environment. This report includes information on San Mateo Countys programs for the
eradication, control or detection of pests, as well as the enforcement of quarantines to exclude such
pests. Also included is information on alternative pest control measures employed by the agricultural
industry and organic farming.

COUNTY PROGRAMS
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Pest

Agent / Mechanism

Scope of Program

Yellow Star Thistle

Bangasternus orientalis, weevil

Eustenopus villosus, weevil

Monitored established populations

of these two bio-control agents at
13 sites.

Urophora sirunaseva, gall fly

Monitored established populations

at 5 sites.

Ash Whitefly

The release and natural disbursement of Encarsia partenopea and

Clitostethus arcuatus since 1991 has been highly successful in keeping
the Ash Whitefly under control. These bio-control agents have now become
established and no further releases are planned.

PEST ERADICATION
Skeletonweed, Chondrilla juncea, was treated at five locations. This is an A rated pest. Pests with this
designation are detrimental to agriculture and require complete eradication.
PEST DETECTION
Insect Trapping for Exotic Pests
4,361 insect traps were depolyed for exotic pests, with 56,768 trap servicings during the year. This included
traps for the following economically significant insects: Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Mexican and Oriental Fruit
Fly, Melon Fly, Gypsy Moth, Japanese Beetle, Khapra Beetle, European Pine Shoot Moth, European Corn
Borer and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter.

PEST EXCLUSION
Inspection of incoming shipments of plant products and other high risk articles to prevent the introduction of
pests and diseases harmful to Californias agricultural industry. Shipments are rejected due to the presence
of live pests, improper container markings, or lack of valid certification.
Type of Shipment

Number Inspected

Parcel Carriers_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20,236

Truck _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1,857
Air _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6,289
Sea Containers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
15
Household Goods _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
54
Other _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
12

Number Rejected
520
41
607
0
0
6

EXOTIC PESTS INTERCEPTED*

Number of
Interceptions

Rating

Number of
Interceptions

Aspidiotus destructor
coconut scale

Ants
(various species)

133

Ceroplastes rusci
fig wax scale

Aphids
(various species)

18

Chrysodeixis eriosoma
green garden looper

23

Beetles
(various species)

11

Coccus viridis
green scale

Bugs
(various species)

39

Cylas formicarius elegantulus

sweet potato weevil

Flys
(various species)

Diastrophus radicum
root gall wasp

Katydids
(various species)

12

Frankliniella tritici
eastern flower thrip

Leafhoppers & Planthoppers

(various species)

133

Hemiberlesia palmae
tropical palm scale

Mealybugs
(various species)

37

Ostrinia nubilalis
european corn borer

Moths
(various species)

Pinnaspis buxi
boxwood scale

41

Scales
(various species)

56

Pinnaspis strachani
lesser snow scale

11

Slugs
(various species)

12

Pomacea canaliculata
channeled apple snail

Snails
(various species)

Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli
magnolia white scale

68

Whiteflys
(various species)

25

Selenaspidus articulatus
rufous scale

Other

29

Pest

Pest

Rating

* Pest rating of A or Q requires that quarantined plant products be destroyed, treated under departmental
supervision, or shipped out of state.

AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
ALTERNATIVE PEST CONTROL MEASURES
The following alternative pest control methods are being utilized on indoor ornamentals, outdoor ornamentals,
vegetables and fruit.
Bacillus thuringiensis, bacteria
Botanicals
Cover Crops
Crop Rotation
Insect Growth Regulators
Insect Monitoring, Pheromone Traps
ORGANIC FARMING
Number of Farms
9
Estimated Acres
125

Insecticidal Soaps
Lacewings
Ladybird Beetles
Mechanical
Mulch

Parasitic Nematodes
Parasitic Wasps
Predatory Mites
Refined Oils
Steam Sterilization of Soils
Weed Covers

Crops

Apples, apricots, artichokes, arugula, beans, berries, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, corn, cucumbers, edible flowers, eggs, figs, flowers
(cut and potted), garlic, herbs, kale, leeks, lemons, lettuce, nectarines, oats, onions,
peaches, pears, peas, plums, potatoes, quince, radish, spinach, strawberries, squash,
tomatoes, turnips, vegetable transplants, watermelon.
10

SAN MATEO COUNTY

Department of Agriculture
Weights & Measures
728 Heller Street
P.O. Box 999
Redwood City, California 94064-0999