United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

2007 California Walnut Objective Measurement Survey Report

Cooperating with the California Department of Food and Agriculture

California Field Office • P.O. Box 1258 • Sacramento, CA 95812 • (916) 498-5161 • (916) 498-5186 FAX • www.nass.usda.gov/ca

Released: September 5, 2007, 12:00 Noon PDT

WALNUT PRODUCTION FORECAST DOWN

The 2007 California walnut production is forecast at

320,000 tons, down 8 percent from 2006's production of

346,000 tons. This forecast is based on the 2007 Walnut

Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was officially

conducted August 1 through August 25, 2007. There were

a few samples completed before August 1 for training and

scheduling purposes.

The 2007 Walnut O.M. Survey utilized a total of 665 blocks

with two sample trees per block. Survey data indicated an

average nut set of 1,357 per tree, down 7 percent from

2006's average of 1,458. The Hartley nut set was down 8

percent; Chandler was down 23 percent; Serr was up 46

percent; Vina was down 7 percent from 2006. Percent of

sound kernels in-shell was 98.4 percent Statewide. In-shell

weight per nut was 20.3 grams, while the average in-shell

suture measurement was 31.9 millimeters. The average

length in-shell was 37.6 millimeters.

Estimated nut sets, sizing measurements, average number

of trees per acre, and estimated bearing acreage were

used in the statistical models.

SURVEY HISTORY

The Walnut O.M. Survey began in 1958 to fulfill industry

needs for an accurate walnut production forecast prior to

harvest. The original sample was chosen proportionally to

county and variety of bearing acreage. With each

succeeding year, additions and deletions have been made

in the sample to adjust for acreage removed, new bearing

acreage and operations that choose not to participate in the

survey.

SAMPLING PROCEDURES

Once a block is randomly selected and permission is

granted by the operation for enumerators to enter the

block, two trees are randomly selected. An accessible

branch is chosen, which is 5-15 percent of the total crosssectional area of the primary limbs and reachable with a

twelve-foot ladder. Measurements are made on the trunk,

each primary, and each split leading to and including the

accessible branch. The sample tree and accessible branch

are marked by a single tag.

On the accessible branch, every first of five nuts is picked

for use in size and grade determinations. If available, at

least ten nuts are harvested from the accessible branch for

this purpose.

The following measurements are made on nuts selected for

sizing:

1. Weight of nut including hull

2. Width of shell at suture

3. Width of shell 90 degrees to suture line (cross-suture)

4. Length of shell

5. Kernel grade

6. Weight of nut in-shell

DATA RELIABILITY

The 80 percent confidence interval is from 298,000 tons to

342,000 tons. This means there is an 80 percent chance

the 2007 production will fall within this range.
- 2 -

California English Walnut Acreage, Production, Price And Value In-Shell

Year Bearing Acres Total Production Per Bearing Acre Price Per Ton Total Value

Tons Dollars

1987 176,000 247,000 1.40 984.00 243,048,000

1988 177,000 209,000 1.18 922.00 192,698,000

1989 179,000 229,000 1.28 1,070.00 245,030,000

1990 181,000 227,000 1.25 1,040.00 236,080,000

1991 181,000 259,000 1.43 1,060.00 274,540,000

1992 178,000 203,000 1.14 1,410.00 286,230,000

1993 185,000 260,000 1.41 1,390.00 361,400,000

1994 189,000 232,000 1.23 1,030.00 238,960,000

1995 193,000 234,000 1.21 1,400.00 327,600,000

1996 192,000 208,000 1.08 1,580.00 328,640,000

1997 193,000 269,000 1.39 1,430.00 384,670,000

1998 198,000 227,000 1.15 1,050.00 238,350,000

1999 197,000 283,000 1.44 886.00 250,738,000

2000 200,000 239,000 1.20 1,240.00 296,360,000

2001 204,000 305,000 1.50 1,120.00 341,600,000

2002 210,000 282,000 1.34 1,170.00 329,940,000

2003 213,000 326,000 1.53 1,160.00 378,160,000

2004 214,000 325,000 1.52 1,390.00 451,750,000

2005 215,000 355,000 1.65 1,570.00 557,350,000

 2006 a/ 216,000 346,000 1.60 1,600.00 553,600,000

 2007 b/ c/ 216,000 320,000 1.48 --- ---

a/ Price Per Ton and Total Value are July 2007 preliminary data.

b/ Bearing years include plantings of the following: Chandler, Chico, Howard, Tulare (2003 & Earlier); 50-55, 59-124, 4946, Amigo,

 Ashley, Bardoni, Cisco, Earhorn, Grove, Gustine, Honeycutt, Houston, Jensen, Lompoc, Marchetti, Nuggett, Payne, Pedro, Serr,

 Sunland, Tehama, Trinta, UCD 67-13, Vina, Westside (2002 and Earlier); Franquette, Franquette Scharsch, Mayette, Placentia,

 Poe, Willsons/Willsons Wonder, Woodland (2000 & Earlier); all other varieties not specified (2001 & Earlier).

c/ Price Per Ton and Total Value preliminary data will be released July 2008.
- 3 -

Walnut Objective Measurement Survey Data, By District

Measurement Year Coast 1/ Sacramento Valley 2/ San Joaquin Valley 3/ State 4/

In-Shell Weight (gm) 1996 20.0 24.4 19.9 22.1

1997 20.9 23.7 22.2 22.9

1998 21.2 22.4 20.3 21.4

1999 21.0 24.9 19.5 23.0

2000 19.7 22.4 19.7 21.2

2001 21.9 23.7 18.1 21.5

2002 19.1 22.9 20.5 22.0

2003 23.0 24.6 19.2 22.4

2004 22.0 24.1 19.7 22.5

2005 23.1 21.3 18.1 20.0

2006 19.8 24.1 21.0 22.7

2007 19.1 21.4 18.7 20.3

In-Shell Width (mm) 1996 31.4 32.5 32.2 32.3

1997 32.3 33.0 31.1 32.3

1998 31.4 32.2 31.5 31.9

1999 31.2 32.6 31.6 32.2

2000 31.5 32.4 32.1 32.2

2001 31.7 31.8 31.6 31.7

2002 31.4 32.2 32.7 32.4

2003 32.1 32.8 32.0 32.5

2004 31.4 32.5 32.7 32.6

2005 32.9 31.4 32.1 31.7

2006 29.5 30.3 32.9 31.4

2007 31.6 31.5 32.4 31.9

In-Shell Cross-Width (mm) 1996 31.4 32.6 32.5 32.5

1997 32.3 33.2 31.9 32.6

1998 31.2 32.1 31.5 31.8

1999 31.6 33.3 31.8 32.7

2000 31.3 33.0 32.6 32.8

2001 31.1 31.7 31.5 31.6

2002 31.0 32.6 33.1 32.7

2003 31.7 32.7 32.0 32.4

2004 31.5 32.2 33.1 32.5

2005 32.2 31.3 32.0 31.6

2006 32.3 34.0 33.2 33.6

2007 31.6 32.5 32.9 32.6

In-Shell Length (mm) 1996 38.4 39.4 38.7 39.0

1997 38.2 39.4 37.6 38.6

1998 39.1 40.0 39.0 39.5

1999 38.3 39.7 38.9 39.4

2000 37.4 38.2 38.4 38.2

2001 38.6 38.5 37.9 38.3

2002 37.5 38.4 38.8 38.5

2003 38.8 39.7 38.3 39.1

2004 37.7 39.1 38.7 39.0

2005 42.0 38.4 38.7 38.6

2006 38.6 39.6 39.5 39.5

2007 37.4 37.3 38.1 37.6

Kernel Grade – Percent Sound 1996 92.6 93.8 95.3 94.4

1997 97.8 97.4 97.3 97.3

1998 79.9 93.2 98.3 94.4

1999 96.8 98.2 97.4 97.9

2000 98.0 96.7 97.0 96.9

2001 98.3 97.5 98.1 97.8

2002 96.0 95.3 98.7 96.3

2003 95.5 95.4 99.3 97.0

2004 97.6 97.7 99.2 98.2

2005 97.4 96.5 98.8 97.5

2006 98.1 98.5 97.2 98.0

2007 97.8 97.9 99.2 98.4

Nuts Set Per Tree 1996 1,362 1,836 1,497 1,630 

1997 1,128 2,233 1,439 1,753 

1998 1,070 1,654 1,253 1,407 

1999 1,355 2,180 1,250 1,709 

2000 1,195 1,812 1,204 1,483 

2001 937 2,020 1,478 1,719 

2002 1,254 1,982 1,142 1,572 

2003 640 1,846 1,429 1,599 

2004 924 1,943 1,168 1,526 

2005 818 1,854 1,372 1,575 

2006 1,316 1,660 1,267 1,458 

2007 1,221 1,548 1,162 1,357 

1/ Coast includes: Contra Costa, Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties.

2/ Sacramento Valley includes: Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, and Yuba counties.

3/ San Joaquin Valley includes: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties.

4/ District and State averages are derived by weighting county averages by county bearing acreage figures.
- 4 -

Walnut Objective Measurement Survey Data, By Variety

Measurement Year Ashley Chandler Eureka Franquette Hartley Howard Payne Serr Tehama Tulare Vina Other 1/

In-Shell Weight 1996 20.0 23.3 20.6 20.1 24.8 --- 18.1 19.8 21.2 --- 20.1 21.1 

(gm) 1997 19.8 24.4 23.2 21.1 24.8 --- 20.4 21.3 20.5 --- 20.5 22.2 

1998 19.2 21.9 20.8 20.2 24.0 --- 19.6 19.5 19.5 --- 19.2 19.9 

1999 20.3 24.9 22.1 20.0 24.6 --- 19.0 20.3 19.1 --- 20.7 20.9 

2000 17.5 22.9 21.7 18.3 22.8 --- 18.8 19.3 19.8 --- 19.3 19.9 

2001 17.8 22.7 20.0 21.2 23.2 --- 16.9 17.8 21.7 --- 19.9 19.3 

2002 18.0 24.1 20.8 18.3 23.6 --- 19.3 19.4 19.6 --- 20.0 21.0 

2003 17.1 23.6 21.0 23.7 25.2 --- 16.6 17.2 20.8 --- 19.8 22.1 

2004 18.4 23.4 20.4 22.1 24.5 --- 17.7 18.5 20.3 --- 19.1 22.2 

2005 16.3 19.8 18.9 20.3 22.9 --- 16.4 16.7 16.6 --- 18.1 20.0 

2006 18.1 23.0 22.3 19.2 24.8 --- 19.0 20.4 21.8 --- 21.3 22.6 

2007 15.8 21.5 21.0 18.6 22.2 22.5 17.2 15.7 16.8 22.2 18.2 17.5

In-Shell Width 1996 31.7 32.4 31.6 31.1 33.0 --- 32.2 33.0 32.3 --- 30.9 31.2 

(mm) 1997 31.8 32.3 30.7 30.6 33.3 --- 31.5 33.3 32.0 --- 31.0 30.8 

1998 31.2 31.8 30.2 30.7 33.0 --- 31.4 32.1 31.2 --- 30.6 31.1 

1999 30.7 32.8 30.4 31.0 32.8 --- 31.5 32.6 30.9 --- 30.4 31.2 

2000 31.0 32.8 31.3 30.6 32.8 --- 32.3 33.1 31.1 --- 30.9 31.0 

2001 30.3 32.0 32.0 30.5 32.3 --- 31.2 31.8 31.3 --- 30.3 30.7 

2002 31.7 32.9 31.8 29.8 32.8 --- 33.0 32.9 31.7 --- 31.0 31.7 

2003 31.0 32.9 32.1 32.4 33.2 --- 31.7 31.5 31.6 --- 30.8 32.3 

2004 32.1 32.5 31.5 31.8 32.8 --- 32.9 33.4 31.5 --- 30.8 33.4 

2005 31.4 31.1 30.7 31.6 32.5 --- 31.7 32.2 31.0 --- 31.4 32.4 

2006 31.0 31.1 31.9 28.8 31.4 --- 32.7 32.9 31.4 --- 30.5 32.1 

2007 31.0 31.7 31.1 29.9 32.3 32.0 32.1 32.5 31.0 34.5 30.3 30.3

In-Shell Cross-Width 1996 31.7 33.1 32.1 31.5 32.9 --- 32.2 32.1 32.5 --- 32.1 32.3 

(mm) 1997 31.9 33.0 32.2 31.3 33.2 --- 32.0 33.0 32.1 --- 32.1 32.0 

1998 31.2 30.9 30.5 31.2 32.5 --- 31.4 31.6 30.8 --- 30.8 31.7 

1999 30.8 34.0 31.0 31.2 33.2 --- 31.4 31.9 30.8 --- 31.5 32.0 

2000 31.2 33.9 32.0 30.5 33.2 --- 32.7 32.6 31.6 --- 32.0 32.3 

2001 30.1 32.0 31.1 30.6 32.2 --- 31.0 31.2 30.9 --- 30.6 30.8 

2002 31.8 33.7 32.7 30.1 32.9 --- 33.1 32.6 31.8 --- 31.8 32.4 

2003 30.6 33.1 32.2 32.3 33.1 --- 31.2 30.6 31.6 --- 31.3 32.2 

2004 32.0 32.6 32.3 31.3 32.8 --- 33.1 33.4 31.0 --- 30.9 33.1 

2005 30.9 31.1 31.7 31.4 32.1 --- 31.4 31.5 30.1 --- 31.6 32.6 

2006 32.1 33.9 32.9 32.2 34.0 --- 32.6 33.0 32.9 --- 33.1 34.0 

2007 31.6 32.7 32.0 30.9 32.8 34.1 32.4 32.3 31.4 34.8 31.7 31.9

In-Shell Length 1996 37.0 39.4 41.4 38.6 40.0 --- 37.8 37.3 37.6 --- 38.8 39.2 

(mm) 1997 36.2 39.2 41.0 37.8 39.5 --- 36.6 37.4 37.2 --- 38.1 38.5 

1998 37.2 40.0 40.8 39.6 40.9 --- 38.0 37.7 37.7 --- 38.4 39.6 

1999 36.9 40.4 42.6 38.2 39.6 --- 38.1 38.5 37.3 --- 38.7 39.5 

2000 35.8 39.4 43.0 37.4 38.2 --- 38.2 37.6 36.9 --- 37.3 38.3 

2001 35.2 38.7 41.6 38.4 38.9 --- 37.0 36.4 37.2 --- 37.4 38.3 

2002 36.1 39.7 41.4 37.0 38.7 --- 38.2 37.5 36.8 --- 37.6 38.5 

2003 35.7 39.7 41.7 40.9 40.4 --- 36.5 36.0 37.6 --- 38.0 39.1 

2004 36.4 39.6 41.3 39.3 39.7 --- 37.0 37.1 36.4 --- 37.4 38.8 

2005 36.3 38.4 41.6 40.3 39.8 --- 37.2 37.0 36.0 --- 38.0 38.4 

2006 37.4 39.5 44.2 38.5 40.4 --- 38.1 39.2 37.8 --- 39.3 38.7 

2007 35.7 38.1 43.3 36.8 37.9 37.4 37.3 36.4 36.7 38.9 36.8 37.7

Kernel Grade – 1996 92.3 95.1 93.4 89.8 95.1 --- 95.4 96.6 92.7 --- 95.8 94.2 

Percent Sound 1997 96.2 97.8 94.9 96.6 98.1 --- 96.5 97.0 96.7 --- 97.5 96.6 

1998 94.4 91.4 99.8 89.5 94.4 --- 96.3 97.9 94.3 --- 95.2 95.2 

1999 96.1 98.1 97.1 98.3 98.1 --- 95.0 98.3 96.4 --- 98.2 97.3 

2000 95.6 96.7 93.1 97.8 96.4 --- 97.3 97.7 96.4 --- 98.2 97.3 

2001 94.3 98.8 98.9 98.8 97.4 --- 97.3 96.3 98.0 --- 98.7 97.5 

2002 96.4 96.8 98.6 97.2 96.1 --- 96.8 93.3 98.3 --- 97.0 96.8 

2003 97.5 97.4 98.8 97.0 97.2 --- 99.2 96.1 91.8 --- 96.9 95.1 

2004 97.9 99.0 98.4 95.6 98.2 --- 99.4 98.3 99.1 --- 98.0 96.7 

2005 96.7 96.9 99.8 95.7 97.0 --- 98.4 99.5 97.0 --- 99.1 97.9 

2006 98.4 99.2 95.1 99.6 97.7 --- 91.8 96.0 99.1 --- 98.2 97.7 

2007 96.5 99.4 99.5 96.0 98.5 98.5 99.3 98.5 93.5 99.0 97.7 95.9

Nuts Set Per Tree 1996 1,353 1,659 1,296 2,356 1,853 --- 1,285 1,417 958 --- 1,355 1,472 

1997 1,406 1,570 1,414 2,162 2,228 --- 1,304 796 1,703 --- 1,894 1,839 

1998 1,221 1,306 1,380 1,512 1,457 --- 1,170 1,622 1,347 --- 1,504 1,290 

1999 1,073 1,540 1,369 2,818 2,241 --- 1,076 989 1,210 --- 1,374 1,536 

2000 1,633 1,212 1,325 1,899 1,878 --- 1,696 886 1,167 --- 1,566 1,379 

2001 1,510 1,741 1,718 1,819 2,049 --- 1,443 1,342 1,560 --- 1,488 1,533 

2002 1,534 1,315 1,246 2,072 1,961 --- 1,246 1,259 1,446 --- 1,611 1,642 

2003 1,421 1,594 1,858 1,195 1,735 --- 1,995 1,679 1,021 --- 1,544 1,377 

2004 1,504 1,381 1,223 2,108 2,046 --- 1,152 1,172 1,488 --- 1,471 1,167 

2005 1,323 1,783 1,639 1,267 1,729 --- 1,443 1,429 1,067 --- 1,251 1,256 

2006 1,129 1,386 1,687 2,004 1,883 --- 1,345 1,172 462 --- 1,266 1,319 

2007 1,875 1,069 1,731 1,569 1,738 1,197 1,202 1,710 2,058 963 1,183 1,640 

1/ Beginning in 2007, the Howard and Tulare varieties were taken out of “Other” and published separately.
- 5 -

Percentage Distribution Of Walnut Shell Suture Sizes, By District And Variety

District

and Variety

U.S. Standards Size Intervals 1/

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2/

Mth Jmb Lge Med Bby Oth Mth Jmb Lge Med Bby Oth Mth Jmb Lge Med Bby Oth Mth Jmb Lge Med Bby Oth Mth Jmb Lge Med Bby Oth

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Percent of Total 3/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

DISTRICTS:

 Coast 1 56 14 16 13 0 0 50 12 20 16 1 1 71 15 9 4 0 0 30 15 18 26 11 9 30 17 24 20 0 Sacramento Vly. 1 70 13 10 6 0 2 62 15 11 10 1 1 47 19 15 12 3 0 38 11 16 28 5 1 50 16 17 15 1 San Joaquin Vly. 0 56 19 16 8 0 2 65 15 11 7 0 1 56 20 17 6 0 2 68 16 9 5 0 1 63 16 11 8 0

VARIETIES:

 Ashley 1 34 19 26 19 0 1 56 16 12 16 1 1 47 17 17 16 1 0 46 19 15 18 2 5 31 16 23 21 3 Chandler 0 74 14 8 4 0 1 63 16 11 8 0 0 42 23 21 10 3 1 48 15 14 19 3 1 54 17 15 13 1 Eureka 0 63 26 6 4 0 1 47 30 10 12 0 0 29 37 21 11 1 1 56 34 4 5 0 0 48 28 9 16 0 Franquette 0 65 15 13 6 0 0 51 21 18 9 1 0 53 19 17 11 0 0 21 15 19 34 12 0 23 17 30 28 1 Hartley 1 76 12 7 4 0 1 69 14 9 6 1 1 64 14 9 7 2 0 52 10 14 20 4 1 63 14 13 9 0 Howard --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 1 55 19 15 10 0 Payne 0 49 27 15 8 1 1 67 13 10 8 0 1 51 19 19 8 1 0 72 16 5 7 1 0 60 19 12 8 1 Serr 0 48 19 22 10 1 2 77 10 6 5 0 2 60 16 11 11 0 2 69 11 8 10 1 1 69 11 10 8 1 Tehama 0 52 17 15 16 0 0 53 13 18 15 1 0 45 19 18 15 1 1 52 14 12 17 5 0 38 26 21 14 1 Tulare --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 8 76 7 6 3 0 Vina 0 34 19 26 19 1 0 39 18 18 22 2 4 32 27 21 12 1 0 39 18 18 20 4 0 32 21 21 23 2 Other 4 52 15 16 14 0 8 60 11 12 9 0 2 57 15 12 11 1 4 54 10 12 16 3 0 29 18 22 30 0 STATE 1 64 15 12 7 0 2 63 15 11 9 1 1 51 19 16 10 2 1 51 13 13 18 3 1 55 16 15 12 1Number of Shells Measured 13,539 13,822 12,736 13,491 13,2911/ Sizes used are as follows: Mammoth -- Larger than 96/64" in diameter; Jumbo -- 80/64" to 96/64"; Large -- 76/64" to 80/64" for Eureka variety,

 77/64" to 80/64" for all other varieties; Medium -- 73/64" to 76/64" for Eureka, 73/64" to 77/64" for all others; Baby -- 60/64" to 73/64"; and Others -- below 60/64".2/ Beginning in 2007, the Howard and Tulare varieties were taken out of “Other” and published separately.

3/ Percentage distributions based upon nut samples taken in the field, may not equal 100 percent due to rounding.
- 6 -

The California Walnut Industry has been very supportive.

We appreciate your continued cooperation!

USDA, NASS, CALIFORNIA FIELD OFFICE

P.O. BOX 1258

SACRAMENTO, CA 95812-1258

Phone: (916) 498-5161

Fax: (916) 498-5186

VIC TOLOMEO JACK RUTZ and SARAH HOFFMAN 

 Director Deputy Directors 

DOUG FLOHR and JENNIFER VAN COURT

Estimates Group Statisticians

USDA, NASS, California Field Office publications are available free-of-charge on the Internet at:

http://www.nass.usda.gov/ca