Business

Marin Agricultural Productivity Dips 3%: Final year of four-year drought reflected in new report to Supervisors

Historic drought conditions that challenged Marin County’s agricultural producers for almost four years are prominently reflected in the new 2022 Marin County Crop & Livestock Report. The report, publicly released June 20 before the Board of Supervisors, covers a block of time before the 2022-23 winter arrived to soothe and restore parched lands. Agricultural production in Marin dipped 3% in 2022, following a 5% slide a year earlier, all closely tied to a drought that forced farmers to fallow more of their land.

Published

3 years ago

June 24, 2023

Oakland Post

One of the bright spots in the 2022 Marin County Crop & Livestock Report was the 8% increase over the previous year in the value of livestock, which includes poultry.

San Rafael, CA – Historic drought conditions that challenged Marin County’s agricultural producers for almost four years are prominently reflected in the new 2022 Marin County Crop & Livestock Report.

The report, publicly released June 20 before the Board of Supervisors, covers a block of time before the 2022-23 winter arrived to soothe and restore parched lands. Agricultural production in Marin dipped 3% in 2022, following a 5% slide a year earlier, all closely tied to a drought that forced farmers to fallow more of their land.

Agricultural Commissioner Stefan Parnay and Inspector Allison Klein presented the new report, which showed an estimated gross total production value of local products of $94,147,000. The value in 2021 was $96,656,000. The local record is $111,061,000 in 2015.

The brightest news in the report was the 28% increase in the value of fruits and vegetables. Late spring rains helped many growers reestablish land that had been fallowed the year prior. There was a 30% boost in acres of fruits and vegetables planted compared to 2021.

For the fifth consecutive year, Marin’s top three commodities were organic milk, poultry, and cattle with a combined value of $70 million, or roughly 75% of the total gross value of all agricultural production. The value of livestock (cattle, sheep, and poultry) was up (8%, 1%, and 3%, respectively). Many ranchers were able to maintain herd sizes from 2021, but cautiously await increasing herd sizes while the long-term impacts of the drought are determined. The value of locally produced organic milk ($32 million) far outpaces the value of conventional milk ($2 million).

The good-news points in this year’s report helped offset downturns in aquaculture (27%) and field crops (11%). The amount of harvested silage and hay from fields was down (20% and 19%, respectively) due to continued lack of water.

“Despite extraordinary challenges, agricultural producers have shown remarkable resiliency and steadfastness in adapting to the unpredictability of the times,” Parnay said. “Their resourcefulness, hopefulness, patience, and fortitude are commendable as they continue to work toward a brighter future.”

During the drought, ponds and wells on local ranches ran dry and many farmers and ranchers resorted to an expensive step: hauling in water to support their ag operations. Fallowing fields and selling off animals were among other drastic measures that ranchers had been forced to consider. For part of 2022, the lingering COVID-19 pandemic required agricultural producers to deal with labor shortages, high fuel and feed costs, and the need to find new markets for products.

This year’s report features Marin’s rich organic farming heritage. “With over 75 organic operations, we wanted to share the stories of some of our innovative organic farmers and ranchers,” Klein told the Board members. In 2022, Marin farms produced over $39 million worth of organic agricultural products and farmed over 51,000 acres organically.

The annual report includes updates on pest prevention programs, sudden oak death, invasive weed management, and the organic certification program.

All Marin County livestock and crop reports are online, including the new one. Reports are sent to the California Department of Food and Agriculture to be included in statewide reports.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

6 days ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC