Apples remain the leading agricultural commodity in the State
Apples remain the leading agricultural commodity in Washington, with a 2023 value of $1.99 billion, down 4 percent from the previous year’s value of production of $2.07 billion. (dailyinvention, Flickr/Creative Commons)
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The value of Washington’s 2023 agricultural production totaled $14.0 billion, up almost 6 percent from the previous revised record high of $13.2 billion in 2022, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The value of Washington’s crop production in 2023 was $7.71 billion, down about 10 percent from the record high value of $8.56 billion in 2022. The value of livestock production in 2023 totaled $4.35 billion, up nearly 5 percent from the previous year. The value of livestock production was a new record high following the 2022 record high.
Apples remain the leading agricultural commodity in the State, with a 2023 value of $1.99 billion, down 4 percent from the previous year’s value of production of $2.07 billion. In 2023, apples represented 14 percent of the total agricultural value in 2023, down from 16 percent of the total share in 2022. Cattle and calves value of production climbed to second in the State rankings from fourth in 2022. The record high value of cattle and calves in 2023 was $1.33 billion, up 30 percent from the previous year. Milk dropped into third position when compared to 2022, with a value of production totaling $1.33 billion in 2023, down 21 percent from 2022. Potatoes value of production is up 23 percent from the previous year with a record high value of production of $1.16 billion, ranking fourth in the State. Hay value of production rounded out the top five with $861 million, down 4 percent from 2022. All wheat, valued at $672 million, represented the sixth highest value in the State, down from third in the State rankings in 2022. The top five commodities had a combined value of $6.68 billion, or 48 percent of the 2023 value for all commodities (excluding government payments). The same five commodities in 2022 had a combined value of $6.61 billion, 50 percent of the total value.
Eight of the top ten commodities in Washington decreased from the record high value of production in 2022. While all grapes entered the top ten in 2023 with a value of production of $309 million, this is down 22 percent from the record high in 2022 of $395 million. Egg value of production dropped 12 percent from the record high value of production in 2022 of $460 million but remained in the top ten in 2023. All wheat value of production dropped from third to sixth rank in 2023, with value of production at $672 million, a 43 percent decrease from the record high of $1.71 billion in 2022. Onion value of production was $383 million, down 24 percent from the record high in 2022 of $504 million. Hops value of production of $405 million dropped 7 percent from 2022 but was still ranked eighth in the State. Other notable commodities that declined in value in 2023 were blueberries, down 57 percent to $78 million. Raspberries were down 43 percent, with a value of production of $76 million in 2023. Sweet cherry value of production of $290 million, is down 27 percent from 2022.
While several commodities decreased from 2022, other notable commodities outside the top ten increased in value in 2023. The value of sweet corn increased 8 percent, with value of production at $123 million in 2023. Dry bean value of production increased to $43.9 million, up 17 percent from 2022. Green pea value of production increased by 9 percent, with a value of production of $39.1 million. Barley value of production at $36.3 million in 2023, increased 16 percent from 2022.
All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS website http://www.nass.usda.gov.
— USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service