The once leading area of alfalfa hay production in California from Kern to Merced Counties is changing. With the tremendous shift to trees, mainly almonds, alfalfa hay acres have been declining. Almonds continue to be profitable in spite of growing acres and production.
While some of the decline in alfalfa hay acres can be attributed to the weak financial condition of the dairy industry, water has and will become a bigger issue in the future. For example, a state regulation passed on the use of groundwater, particularly in Central California, will push more land into higher value crops that use drip irrigation, such as almonds and grapes.
