Skagit County Agriculture Statistics 2024

Washington State University Skagit County Extension

Washington State University Extension engages people, organizations and communities to advance economic well-being and quality of life by connecting them to the knowledge base of the university and by fostering inquiry, learning, and the application of research.

Greetings!

Washington State University Skagit County Extension has been keeping crop records since 1922. Information is compiled from processing companies, farm organizations, growers, field representatives, media sources, and University sources.

Agricultural statistics with related written details are important for several reasons:

Figures show the past production history of farming in a community.

Statistics show the ups and downs of agriculture in relationship to weather, economics, urban encroachment, disasters, or a shift in production to other areas.

This information provides a basis on which to make important decisions for land-use planning, zoning, and economic development planning related to agriculture.

Your comments and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. Feel free to give us a call and we can discuss the enclosed information. You can download a print copy pdf.

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WSU Skagit County Extension Staff

Name	Role/Title	Additional Info / Location
Don McMoran	Agriculture and Natural Resources Faculty	WSU Skagit County Extension Director
Diane Smith	Extension Faculty	Skagit/Whatcom, Family Consumer Sciences/Food Access Specialist
Kevin Zobrist	Extension Faculty	Puget Sound, Forest Stewardship
Nicole Jones	4-H Youth Program Coordinator
Joan DeVries	Livestock Advisor Program Coordinator	Skagit/Snohomish
Alex DuPont	Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Jennie Goforth	Ideas for Healthy Living Program Coordinator
Allen Bush	Marketing and Communications Support
Debbie Fredricks and Cheryl Reese	DOH Farm Stress Suicide Prevention Co-Coordinators
Maddy Vanderkooy	Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program Coordinator
Katherine Hayes	Entomology Coordinator
Kate Smith	Small Farm/Latino Educator
Rosa Cantu	Grants Coordinator
Sue Moulton	Receptionist / Technical Assistant

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About Skagit County

Geography

Skagit County is 60 miles north of Seattle. It is 24 miles wide (north and south) and 95 miles long (east and west). Several islands in the Puget Sound area are included in the county. Snowcapped Mount Baker (in Whatcom County), elevation 10,000 feet, dominates the northeastern edge of the county and is the start of the North Cascades wilderness area and National Park. The Skagit River, which is famous for steelhead and salmon fishing and serves as important bald eagle feeding grounds, begins in the North Cascade Mountain area. The upper Skagit has three hydro-electric dams which provide power for the northwest. Below the dams, the Skagit is fed by the Sauk, Cascade, Suiattle and Baker rivers. The Skagit River flows through the “upper valley” and continues through thousands of acres of fertile farmland before emptying into Puget Sound.

Climate

Cool, marine temperatures and an abundance of moisture is evidenced by the lush growth of forest, pastures and agricultural crops in Skagit County.

Rainfall. The “rule of thumb” is to add one inch of moisture for each mile traveled east from Puget Sound. Anacortes averages 25 inches per year; Marblemount, 95 inches per year. The driest year since 1948 was in 1987, when precipitation total was 20.71 inches. The wettest year was 1990, with 47.20 inches. Approximately 20% of the rainfall in Mount Vernon occurs June through September. The sun shines 65% of the time in summer, and 25% of the time in winter.

Temperature

The highest temperature ever on record at the WSU Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center at Mount Vernon, was 98°F on August 9, 1960. The average summer temperature is 73° F. The highest recorded winter temperature for December, January and February was 65° F. The lowest temperature on record was –4° F. on January 26, 1957. WSU NWREC has been keeping records since 1948. (See chart on next page).

Weather

2024 Weather Picture

The winter of 2023/2024 began on Oct 26th, 2023 with the first frost of the season; the coldest day of the year occurred on January 13th at 9.8 degrees. The cold weather had a major impact on the perennial cropping systems in Skagit County; with many reported crop failures due to freezing weather on cabbage seed, raspberries and/or blackberries. The spring of 2024 was more normal with weekly rain events that slowed the planting process, experiencing much more rain in 2024 compared to 2023, which had 36 inches of rain compared to the 22.36 inches seen in 2023. The precipitation carried into the summer with an abnormally wet August (2.45 inches). Irrigation did occur in Skagit County but at a reduced frequency to the past few hotter/drier years.  Harvest was difficult with many farms fighting the muddy conditions of Skagit County in the fall. October closed out harvest for the year with 4.26 inches of rain during the month and November slammed it shut several more times with 4.85 inches of rain, forcing farmers to leave some of their crop in the ground.  Most Meteorologists are predicting 2025 to be the exact opposite of 2024 with hotter and drier weather.

January	34.71	40.11	45.51	4.60
February	36.43	42.87	49.31	3.18
March	38.55	45.40	52.25	1.99
April	39.85	48.22	56.58	2.62
May	44.61	53.27	61.92	2.89
June	48.55	57.86	67.17	2.61
July	52.00	64.29	76.58	0.98
August	52.00	62.36	72.71	2.58
September	48.57	58.31	68.05	1.97
October	44.33	51.81	59.29	4.26
November	40.50	45.65	50.80	4.85
December	37.46	43.11	48.76	3.50

Precipitation year total 36.03

Source: http://www.weather.wsu.edu/

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Freeze

Frost Free Days

The lower Skagit Valley area has approximately 230 growing days and the upper valley has approximately 200 growing days. The last spring frost in the lower valley is estimated to occur about April 15, and the first fall frost occurs about October 15.

Fall ‘Freeze’ Probabilities (Jul. 31 – Dec. 31)
MOUNT VERNON 3 WNW, WASHINGTON (455678)

Temp F	Earliest	10%	20%	30%	40%	50%	60%	70%	80%	90%	Latest
36.5	08/29	09/08	09/18	09/23	10/01	10/03	10/04	10/16	10/12	10/18	10/26
32.5	09/03	09/23	10/04	10/12	10/16	10/16	10/26	10/28	10/31	11/07	11/23
28.5	10/04	10/28	10/30	11/02	11/09	11/12	11/18	11/20	12/09	12/19	12/30
24.5	10/28	11/12	11/18	11/22	12/01	12/07	12/15	12/20	**/**	**/**	**/**
20.5	10/29	11/25	12/15	12/20	12/29	**/**	**/**	**/**	**/**	**/**	**/**

Earliest – Earliest date when a minimum temperature below the threshold occurred. Dates listed means the minimum temperature can go below the threshold temperature any day during the July 31 to Dec. 31 period. % Listed are the Percent probability that a minimum temperature below the threshold will occur on or before the given date. **/** means non-occurrence of the threshold or insufficient data to determine a threshold. Latest   – Latest date when a minimum temperature below the threshold occurred. Source: Western Regional Climate Center

Spring ‘Freeze’ Probabilities (Jul. 31 – Dec. 31)
MOUNT VERNON 3 WNW, WASHINGTON (455678)

Temp F	Earliest	90%	80%	70%	60%	50%	40%	30%	20%	10%	Latest
36.5	04/03	04/22	04/26	04/30	05/03	05/07	05/10	05/14	05/18	05/24	05/29
32.5	03/08	03/28	04/01	04/05	04/10	04/14	04/17	04/21	04/24	04/27	05/15
28.5	01/17	02/05	02/13	02/27	03/04	03/08	03/13	03/16	03/24	03/31	04/17
24.5	**/**	**/**	01/06	01/26	01/31	02/03	02/10	02/19	03/01	03/04	03/19
20.5	**/**	**/**	**/**	01/02	01/06	01/11	01/30	02/02	02/15	02/22	03/04

Earliest – Earliest date when a minimum temperature below the threshold occurred. % Listed – Percent probability that a minimum temperature below the threshold will occur on or after the given date. **/** means non-occurrence of the threshold or insufficient data to determine a threshold. Latest   – Latest date when a minimum temperature below the threshold occurred. Dates Listed means the minimum temperature can go below the threshold temperature any day during the Jan. 1 to July 31 period. Source: Western Regional Climate Center

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Agricultural Facts

Irrigation

In June, July and August, irrigation was used on approximately 20,000 acres of cropland in 2024. This was a new record for Skagit County due to drought conditions. The main crops irrigated were corn, grass pasture, berries, potatoes, vegetable seed crops, and tree fruits.

Soils

The Skagit Valley was formed by water-deposited (alluvial) soils. Most cropland and pasture land in the county is located in the floodplain-delta area. This area covers the valley floor and extends east along the Skagit River and its tributaries. There are five primary soil types in the floodplain-delta area. Three types are located in the floodplain: Skagit (26%), which consists of silt loam, silty clay loam, and a small amount of very fine sandy loam; Sumas (15%); and Field (14%). The other two types are found along the Skagit River: Lorus (17%) and Pilchuck (14%). Floodplain soils are highly productive under dry land farming. Elevation in this area ranges from sea level to 500 feet.

Soil wetness is the major limitation for crops in the floodplain area. The Skagit and Samish Rivers have had a long history of flooding. The Skagit River, from just west of Sedro-Woolley to the Puget Sound, is protected from flooding by dikes and levees. The floodplain areas along the lower reaches of the Samish River, below Thomas Creek, are flooded almost every year.

Skagit Agriculture Fun Facts

• Skagit County is a major producer of cabbage, table beet, and spinach seed for the world. There are six vegetable seed companies in the county, most of which market products worldwide.
• There are two remaining processing companies in Skagit County: Sakuma Brothers and Gielow Pickles.
• There are two major ag-supply dealers in the Valley: Skagit Farmers Supply and Wilbur-Ellis provide supplies and services to farmers.
• More tulip and daffodil bulbs are produced in Skagit County than in any county in the United States.
• Skagit County ranks fifth in dairy production in Washington State.
• About 10,000 Trumpeter and Tundra swans, 100,000 Snow geese, and thousands more of mallard and other dabbling ducks utilize Skagit farmland for food and habitat. Skagit County is host to one of the highest concentrations of raptors, which also utilize farmland, in North America.
• Every year since 1999 approximately 20,000 visitors enjoy the Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms.

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Agricultural Labor

Minimum wage in the state of Washington is the highest in the country, the result of a 1998 citizens’ initiative passed by voters that links the minimum wage to the Federal Consumer Price Index.

Skagit County Population Growth

Year	1970	1980	1990	2000	2010	2020	2024
Value	52,381	64,138	79,555	102,300	116,910	130,575	132,736

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Washington State Minimum Wage

Effective Date	Dollars per Hour
January 1, 1976	2.30
January 1, 1989	3.85
January 1, 1990	4.25
January 1, 1994	4.90
September 1, 1997 (Federal minimum wage changed)	5.15
January 1, 1999	5.70
January 1, 2000	6.50
January 1, 2001	6.72
January 1, 2002	6.90
January 1, 2003	7.01
January 1, 2006	7.63
January 1, 2007	7.93
January 1, 2008	8.07
January 1, 2009	8.55
January 1, 2011	8.67
January 1, 2014	9.32
January 1, 2015	9.47
January 1, 2017	11.00
January 1, 2019	12.00
January 1, 2020	13.50
January 1, 2021	13.69
January 1, 2023	15.74
January 1, 2024	16.28

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CROPS A-C

In the past the Skagit County processing industry revolved around green peas. 2010 marked the first year since the early 1900s that no commercial pea processing took place in Skagit County. As a result, growers have been experimenting with new crops in hopes of finding the next niche.

Potatoes have become a very important crop with acreage expanding significantly over the past fifteen years. Other crops, such as cole crops, vegetable seed crops, cucumbers, flower bulbs, and small fruits contribute less in gross dollars but are very important. The net return to the grower on these crops is relatively high, and they provide diversification and many jobs.

Apples

Apple acreage in Skagit County is on the decline. The 2021 Skagit crop showed average yields and average quality with a moderate pricing structure.

Our coastal climate allows us to grow varieties that are different from those grown in the large apple-producing regions of central Washington. Varieties grown here such as Jonagold, Gravenstein, Spartan, Akane and Honey Crisp are excellent apples to consume, but with no apple processing facilities in Skagit County, shipping the apples back and forth across the mountain passes makes commercial production unprofitable.

In 1998 Washington State Department of Agriculture added Skagit to the list of counties quarantined against apple maggot. WSU Skagit County Extension initiated the formation of the Skagit County Horticultural Pest and Disease Board to develop programs to prevent the pest from infesting commercial orchards. To date, no apple maggots have been found in commercial orchards.

Blueberries

Harvested by hand and machine, about half the crop is sold for fresh market, and half is processed. Yields and quality in this area are high relative to traditional production areas in the Midwest and eastern North America. New cultivars are replacing older ones and production is modernizing so the industry remains competitive on a national and international stage. The county produces some organic blueberry, but most growers are not certified organic due to high disease and pest pressure.

Blackberries

Skagit County leads in-state blackberry production, and the acreage of this crop has expanded in recent years due to a rise in fresh market opportunities. Winter hardiness is an important barrier to cultivating blackberries in northwest Washington with semierect cultivars (e.g., ‘Celestial’) being more adapted than trailing cultivars (e.g., ‘Marion’). Blackberry/red raspberry hybrids such as ‘Tayberry’, ‘Boysen’, and ‘Logan’ are also cultivated on a small scale for local markets.

Bulb Crops

Approximately 700 acres of tulips and daffodils are grown in Skagit County. They are sold for both cut flowers and bulbs and shipped throughout the U.S. and Canada. About 20 million bulbs are harvested each summer in Skagit County. About 75 million cut flowers are grown in greenhouses and fields, accounting for over 50% of overall sales. About 500 acres of tulips are grown in the Valley, which represents 75% of U.S. commercial production. Skagit County is known worldwide for its Tulip Festival, which occurs the entire month of April. The Tulip Festival began in 1984 and now brings an estimated 300,000 visitors and $65 million in revenue to the county.

The bulb industry averages about $20 million in annual gross income, $3 million of which is in bulb sales. Since 1968, flower prices have increased three times, while bulbs have only doubled, but prices have decreased steadily since 2000. There are now only two bulb-growing farms in the region. Iris production was discontinued in 2016.

Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower and Broccoli

All Skagit County Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli are grown for fresh market. Head quality is exceptionally high in this region. Approximately 60% to 80% of the Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower grown in Skagit is consumed in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Skagit farmers grew about 2,500 acres of Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli this year. Farmers in the Skagit Valley maintained acreages for these important rotational crops in largely for the disease suppression that brassica crops provide via biofumigation.

Chickens and Eggs

Washington is ranked 19th in the nation for egg production. Two companies produce the majority of the eggs in Skagit County: National Foods and Wilcox Farms. These two farms account for hundreds of millions of eggs being produced in Skagit County and Washington State.

In 2024 the retail price for a dozen eggs in the United States was rose from $1.97 to $3.23 U.S. dollars. Setting a new

peak that hasn’t been seen since 2015.

The sole Washington-owned chicken processor in the state, Draper Valley Farms, is located in Mount Vernon. The company employs approximately 500 people and has sales around 80 million dollars.

In the United States, the price for a pound of fresh whole chicken cost consumers an average of $2.06 which, has increased over previous years.

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CROPS C-R

Cucumbers

The lone large scale commercial pickle cucumber processor in Washington State is Gielow Pickles located at the Port of Skagit County with headquarters located in Lexington, MI. According to their website, “Making pickles is in our blood. When our family began making pickles in the early 1900’s, our goal was to make the highest quality pickle at a competitive price. Today, our goal remains the same. The use of automated packaging equipment, direct contact with growers across America, and the buying power of the market leaders enables Gielow Pickles to accomplish our goal.”

Potatoes

Potato acreage consists primarily of fresh market reds, whites, yellows, purple, fingerlings and some chipping potatoes. Skagit potatoes are in demand for their high quality. Late blight disease is a constant threat to the industry; however, due to a study of all the growers in Skagit and northern Snohomish counties, WSU Skagit County Extension was able to determine that Potato Virus Y (PVY) and Silver Scurf continues to be more of a problem for area growers. Researchers at WSU NWREC and WSU Skagit County Extension are now working on these issues. Because of the need for a three-year rotation, there is limited ground available for the 11,000 acres of potatoes currently grown in Skagit County. Overall production remained relatively constant for potatoes despite consolidation of the industry. There were over 2000 acres of potatoes that were not harvested in 2024 based on heavy rains throughout the harvest season.

Raspberries

Most of the raspberry acreage in Skagit County is now harvested by hand for the fresh market due to a major reduction in raspberry production for processing beginning around 2010 and a switch from raspberry to blueberry production. Most of the raspberry production in Washington State is concentrated in Whatcom County with key cultivars including ‘Meeker’, ‘Kulshan’, and ‘WakeField’. Important fresh market cultivars for Skagit County includes ‘Prelude’, ‘Tulameen’, and some producers are trialing proprietary genetics.

Seed Crops

A large variety of vegetable seed crops are grown in the Skagit Valley; the top 3 in both acreage and farmgate value are spinach, cabbage and beet seed. Skagit and Snohomish counties produce nearly 75% of the US supply of spinach and cabbage seed and nearly 95% of the U.S. table beet seed. Skagit County is known as a significant world contributor with approximately 8% of the world’s spinach seed, 25% of the world’s cabbage seed, and 25% of the world’s beet seed. Other vegetable seeds produced in Skagit County include arugula, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, coriander, mustard, parsley, parsnip, rutabaga, swiss chard and turnip.

Vegetable seed production is highly technical and often involves long rotation intervals— sometimes stretching beyond a decade. Skagit County farmers have developed innovative tools and cultural practices along with a close relationship with Washington State University research scientists and Extension professionals to be proactive in managing specialty seed crops challenges.

Vegetable seeds from the Skagit County are marketed all over the world. The need for isolation distances to prevent contamination from cross-pollination keeps the vegetable seed acreage below 5,000 acres in Skagit County. Skagit-based seed companies contract some of their acreage with Snohomish, Island, Whatcom, and Clallam County growers. To protect these areas, seed companies joined together in the 1940s to designate where the crops would be grown. On the first Monday in March and again in June, the seed companies meet at WSU NWREC for the annual pinning days that determine which crop/variety will be planted and where. It is this spirit of cooperation that keeps the seed industry growing in Skagit County.

Beet and spinach seed yields were average in 2024 due to wetter conditions.

Of the cabbage that survived the winter of 2023/2024 seed harvest was above average due to wetter weather conditions.

There are nine vegetable seed companies in Skagit County: Sakata, Illinois Foundation, McDonald, Rijk Zwaan, Schafer, Skagit Seed Services, Syngenta, Universal and Vikima Seeds USA.

Some turf and forage grasses for seed are also grown in Skagit County; production varies widely depending upon market volatility.

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CROPS S-Z

Strawberries

Skagit County produces high quality strawberries that historically were sold on the processing market. Strawberry acreage is decreasing in Skagit County and elsewhere in Washington State due to shifting markets, difficulty securing labor, and the disbanding of the in-state strawberry commission. Many growers are shifting to day-neutral, fresh market cultivars to capture more of the fresh market. Important processing cultivars are ‘Puget Reliance’, ‘Totem’, ‘Tillamook’, ‘Hood’, and ‘Sweet Sunrise’. ‘Albion’ is the top fresh-market, day-neutral cultivar.

Wine Grapes

The marine climate in the Skagit Valley is similar in many ways to the fine-wine-producing areas of France and Germany. Research conducted from 1976 to 1988 at WSU NWREC produced several white wine grape varieties, which have already proven successful in area vineyards. More recent research involves projects in evaluating new wine grape varieties, and rootstock trials evaluating potential for earlier maturity in ‘Pinot Noir’ grapes.

Currently, there are 7 wineries producing 25,000 cases of wine on approximately one hundred acres valued at over $1 million.

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Organic Farming

Organic production continues to grow in Skagit County is valued at more than thirty million dollars making it the highest organic agricultural producing county in Western Washington.

WSU Skagit County Extension has been teaching the Cultivating Success Beginning Farmer and Rancher course and the Agricultural Entrepreneur bilingual 12-week course in partnership with Skagit Valley College since 2006. To date more than 600 students have been educated on organic/sustainable agricultural production.

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Dairy

U.S. dairy product consumption statistics reveal interesting trends. The USDA’s Economic Research Service reports the following changes between 1975 and 2013:

• Milk and cream: 28% decrease in consumption
• Yogurt: 645% increase in consumption
• Cheese: 89% increase in consumption
• Evaporated and condensed milk: 16% decrease in consumption
• Frozen products: 23% decrease in consumption

Table 1. Skagit County Milk Production Data 2012-2024

Year	Number of Dairies Start of Year	Number of Dairies End of Year	Total Pounds Milk Produced	Uniform Average Milk Price/cwt*	Total Milk Cows Skagit Inventory
2024	8	8	45,258,042	$19.95	9,500
2023	16	8	100,616,221	$18.33	9,300
2022	20	16	67,882,343	$ 23.31	13,900
2021	22	20	216,921,976	$16.64	15,000
2020	26	23	255,033,223	$15.57	15,500
2019	30	26	262,945,486	$16.76	15,000
2018	30	29	279,152,302	$14.83	14,700
2017	30	30	279,118,178	$16.16	14,500
2016	30	30	277,208,444	$14.67	14,500
2015	29	30	287,906,784	$15.59	14,000
2014	29	29	299,584,645	$22.66	13,500
2013	30	29	280,182,987	$18.84	13,000
2012	31	30	270,573,960	$17.20	14,100

* Weighted Average Uniform Price = Class III milk price + producer price differential.

Table 2. Skagit County Milk Production Data 2024

Month	Pounds of Milk Produced	Price/cwt	Total Value	Dairies	Total WA Dairies
January	2,236,341	17.39	388,900	8	154
February	2,145,163	17.96	385,271	8	155
March	2,216,003	18.41	407,966	8	148
April	2,318,000	18.26	423,266	8	147
May	2,372,816	19.52	463,174	8	146
June	2,199,686	20.57	452,475	8	139
July	2,213,656	20.87	461,990	8	137
August	2,263,123	21.37	483,629	8	136
September	9,431,975	22.59	2,130,683	12	217
October	9,062,398	21.67	1,963,821	12	213
November	8,798,881	20.90	1,838,966	12	210
December	2,261,701	19.94	450,983	8	135
TOTALS	45,258,042	19.95	9,851,124	10 avg.	161 avg.

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Vegetable Seed

Table 1. Vegetable Seed Production in Western Washington (Acres)

Harvest Year	Skagit County Beet	Skagit County Cabbage	Skagit County Spinach	Skagit County Misc.	Total Skagit County	Total Clark	Total Clallam	Total Cowlitz	Total Island	Total Jefferson	Total Lewis	Total Snohomish	Total Whatcom	Total Western Washington
2024	535	513	1994	42	3084	40	55	12	34	0	60	619	124	4028
2023	290	570	2069	112	3041	5	53	416	28	6	72	559	273	4453
2022	313	503	1839	147	2802	2	85	485	28	0	110	407	116	4035
2021	319	416	1841	142	2718	300	30	250	75	10	125	500	100	4108
2020	300	200	1500	40	2040	350	30	250	75	10	150	650	80	3635
2019	345	189	2045	45	2624	344	32	251	62	NA	116	643	70	4142
2018	598	271	2036	67	2972	35	35	493	57	10	176	766	94	4638
2017	486	260	1956	17	2719	NA	NA	NA	67	10	300	742	54	3892
2016	581	236	1260	45	2122	NA	NA	NA	73	10	300	507	45	3057
2015	609	250	1227	25	2111	NA	NA	NA	56	10	250	503	43	2973
2014	734	202	1622	20	2578	NA	NA	NA	50	10	200	252	30	3120
2013	1005	322	2139	25	3491	NA	NA	NA	59	1	NA	479	50	4080
2012	733	388	1847	50	3018	NA	NA	NA	44	1	NA	531	57	3651
2011	668	339	1454	68	2529	NA	NA	NA	76	1	NA	235	NA	2841
2010	512	495	1619	44	2670	NA	NA	NA	46	1	NA	384	NA	3101
2009	305	433	1631	75	2444	NA	NA	NA	70	NA	NA	315	NA	2829
2008	457	381	1456	20	2314	NA	NA	NA	60	NA	NA	367	NA	2741
2007	530	400	1493	80	2503	NA	NA	NA	73	NA	NA	272	26	2874
2006	519	352	1680	69	2620	NA	NA	NA	60	NA	NA	458	NA	3138

Table 2. Vegetable Seed Production in Western Washington (Dollars)

Harvest Year	Skagit Beet	Skagit Cabbage	Skagit Spinach	Skagit Misc.	Total Skagit	Total Clark	Total Clallam	Total Cowlitz	Total Island	Total Jefferson	Total Lewis	Total Snohomish	Total Whatcom	Total Western Washington
2024	1,872,500	3,078,000	6,979,000	210,000	12,139,500	160,000	220,000	48,000	136,000	0	240,000	2,476,000	496,000	15,915,500
2023	1,015,000	3,135,000	7,241,500	504,000	11,895,500	22,500	238,500	1,872,000	126,000	27,000	324,000	2,515,500	1,228,500	18,249,500
2022	1,095,500	2,766,500	6,436,500	661,500	10,960,000	9,000	382,500	2,182,500	112,500	0	495,000	1,831,500	522,000	16,495,000
2021	797,500	2,080,000	5,523,000	426,000	8,826,500	1,000,000	90,000	700,000	700,000	100,000	375,000	2,500,000	500,000	14,791,500
2020	900,000	1,000,000	4,500,000	120,000	6,520,000	1,050,000	90,000	750,000	750,000	100,000	450,000	3,250,000	800,000	13,760,000
2019	1,035,000	1,890,000	6,135,000	135,000	9,195,000	1,032,000	144,000	753,000	620,000	NA	464,000	3,215,000	700,000	16,123,000
2018	1,794,000	2,710,000	6,108,000	201,000	10,813,000	227,500	175,000	1,479,000	570,000	100,000	528,000	4,100,000	470,000	18,462,500
2017	1,458,000	2,598,000	5,868,000	51,000	9,975,000	NA	NA	NA	670,000	100,000	1,500,000	3,707,500	530,000	16,482,500
2016	2,324,000	2,362,000	3,780,000	135,000	8,601,000	NA	NA	NA	728,000	100,000	1,500,000	2,532,500	450,000	13,911,500
2015	1,827,000	1,250,000	3,681,000	75,000	6,833,000	NA	NA	NA	278,000	100,000	500,000	1,509,000	213,000	9,433,000
2014	2,202,000	2,016,000	4,866,000	60,000	9,144,000	NA	NA	NA	150,000	400,000	800,000	1,004,000	150,000	11,648,000
2013	1,512,500	1,932,000	5,347,500	62,500	8,854,500	NA	NA	NA	292,500	2,500	NA	2,395,000	250,000	11,794,500
2012	1,899,000	1,940,000	5,541,000	75,000	9,455,000	NA	NA	NA	217,500	1,500	NA	1,703,000	388,500	11,765,500
2011	2,004,000	1,693,500	4,847,000	102,000	8,646,500	NA	NA	NA	381,500	1,500	NA	705,000	NA	9,734,500
2010	1,536,000	2,473,500	4,857,000	132,000	8,998,500	NA	NA	NA	230,250	NA	NA	1,152,000	NA	10,380,750
2009	915,000	2,166,250	4,894,500	225,000	8,200,750	NA	NA	NA	347,500	NA	NA	1,017,000	NA	9,565,250
2008	1,143,300	1,905,500	4,366,599	100,000	7,515,399	NA	NA	NA	300,000	NA	NA	1,100,100	NA	8,915,499
2007	953,640	1,198,500	2,238,750	120,000	4,510,890	NA	NA	NA	219,000	NA	NA	527,700	78,000	5,335,590
2006	519,000	352,800	1,680,000	39,000	2,590,800	NA	NA	NA	180,450	NA	NA	458,000	120,300	3,349,550

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Crop Acreage/Yield

Table 1. Skagit County Crop Acreage Summary

Crop	2024	2020	2010	2000	1990
Apples	125	100	100	373	103
Blackberries	550	500	60	n/a	n/a
Blueberries	4,800	4,500	1,200	625	n/a
Brussels Sprouts	2,100	2000	10	n/a	n/a
Carrots (processing)	0	0	200	800	468
Cucumbers (processing)	400	500	1000	2396	1900
Beans	2,600	2000	1	n/a	n/a
Field Crops (2)	34,500	34,000	35,000	22650	33050
Grass Seed	2,600	2000	650	1081	n/a
Misc. Crops (3)	4,100	4,000	4,000	3623	665
Peas (processing)	0	0	0	7233	14880
Potatoes	11000	12000	10500	9500	7250
Rasp/Blueberries	See separate listing	See separate listing	See separate listing	See separate listing	420
Raspberries	225	300	1300	1441	n/a
Strawberries	425	500	475	390	615
Sweet Corn (processing)	0	0	0	0	616
Vegetable Seed	3040	2,040	2669.7	3800	3375

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Statistical Summary

Crop	2024	2020	2010	2000	1990
Apples(1)	200,000	150,000	200,000	865,200	592,250
Blackberries	2,000,000	1,500,000	30,000	n/a	n/a
Blueberries	27,500,000	22,500,000	6,000,000	3,011,646	xxx
Brussels Sprouts	12,000,000	10,000,000	50,000	n/a	n/a
Carrots processing)	0	0	600,000	985,600	493,794
Cucumbers (processing)	500,000	500,000	1,500,000	5,220,773	4,944,034
Dairy (milk sold)	9,851,124	39,626,975	40,854,426	43,895,519	53,122,168
Beans	4,000,000	3,000,000	1,500	n/a	n/a
Eggs and Fryers (2)	35,000,000	27,500,000	25,000,000	12,309,000	14,016,877
Field Crops (3)	50,000,000	35,000,000	30,000,000	9,423,600	12,844,718
Grass Seed	4,000,000	3,000,000	487,500	545,000	xxx
Livestock	20,000,000	12,500,000	7,500,000	8,123,000	4,400,000
Misc.Crops (4)	42,500,000	35,000,000	20,000,000	16,944,598	2,046,600
Nursery & Greenhouse, Floriculture & Sod	65,000,000	55,000,000	50,000,000	56,207,469	24,000,000
Peas (processing)	0	0	0	3,044,092	5,640,903
Potatoes	70,000,000	60,000,000	52,500,000	52,725,000	33,746,600
Raspberries/ Blueberries	See separate listings	See separate listings	See separate listings	See separate listings	1,179,450
Raspberries	1,000,000	900,000	8,400,000	4,143,347	xxx
Strawberries	2,000,000	1,750,000	2,500,000	2,725,643	2,496,280
Sweet Corn (processing)	0	0	0	0	187,828
Vegetable Seed (5)	11,700,000	6,520,000	10,380,750	7,566,503	3,144,352
TOTALS	357,251,124	314,446,975	256,004,176	227,735,900	162,855,854

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Crops Grown

Commercial Crops Grown in Skagit County

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Fruit

Aronia*	Currant*	Raspberry
Blackberry	Lingonberry*	Strawberry
Blueberry	Loganberry*	Tayberry*
Boysenberry*	Marionberry*	>Watermelon*
Cantaloupe*		Wine Grape

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Tree Fruit

Asian pear*	Hasselnut/Filbert	Quince*
Peach*	Pear*

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Vegetables

Artichoke	Cabbage	Onion*
Asparagus and asparagus root*	Carrot	Parsley*
Basil*	Cauliflower	Parsnip*
Bean Beet*	Chives*	Pepper
Bok Choy*	Cucumber	Potato
Broccoli	Garlic*	Pumpkin
Brussels sprout	Green pea*	Radish*
Burdock*	Hothouse Tomato*	Rhubarb*
Cabbage	Kale*	Salad Mix Spinach*
Carrot	Kohlrabi*	Summer squash
Cauliflower	Leek	Sweet corn
Chives*	Lettuce	Swiss chard*
Cucumber	Mizuna*	Tomatillo*
Tomato*	Turnip*	Winter squash

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Seed Crops

Arugula	Chinese mustard	Kale
Broccoli-raab	Coriander	Kohlrabi
Brussels sprouts	India mustard	Parsley
Cabbage	Kale	Parsnip
Cauliflower	Kohlrabi	Radish
Chinese cabbage	Parsley	Rutabaga
Chinese kale	Parsnip	Spinach
Swiss chard	Table Beet	Turnip

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Seed/Pulse Crops (Other)

Ryegrass

Tall fescue

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Small Grains

Oats

Triticale

Wheat

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Forage Crops

Alfalfa

Field corn

Silage grass

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Flowers and Bulbs

Lily

Tulip

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Miscellaneous Crops

Bamboo	Christmas trees	Dill*
Fennel*	Gourds*	Hybrid poplar
Marijuana	Sod	Tea*

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Involvement

Organizations, Businesses and Agencies Serving Skagit County Agriculture

Agrilink Foods	Natural Resources Conservation Service	Twin City Foods
Bank of the Pacific	Northwest Ag Business Center	Valley Pride Sales
Banner Bank	Northwest Agricultural Research Foundation	Vikima Seed USA
Skagit Dairy Women	Northwest Bulb Growers	Viva Farms
Skagit Farmers Supply	Northwest Farm Credit Services	WA Blueberry Commission
Skagit Seed Services	Northwest Food Processors Association	WA Lettuce & Vegetable Co.
Bio Huma Netics, Inc.	Pape Tractor	WA Red Raspberry Commission
Brim Tractor	Peoples Bank	WA Seed Potato Commission
Cascadian Farms	Puget Sound Seed Growers Association	WA State Dairy Federation
Conway Feed	Rabo Bank	WA State Potato Commission Western
Cucumber Industry Advisory Committee	Rijk Zwaan Seed	WA Agricultural Association
Farm Service Administration	Sakata Seed Company	Western WA Fruit Research Foundation
Farmers Equipment Company	Sakuma Bros.	Western WA Small Seed Advisory Committee
Gielow Pickles	Schafer Agriculture Services	Wilbur Ellis Company
Harmony Dairy	Skagit Conservation District	WSU Mount Vernon NW Research & Extension Center
Illinois Foundation Seed Company	Skagit County Cattlemen’s Association	WSU Clallam County Extension
Natural Resources Conservation Service	Skagit County Dairy Federation	WSU Clark County Extension
Northwest Ag Business Center	Skagit County Farm Bureau	WSU Jefferson County Extension
Northwest Agricultural Research Foundation	Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program	WSU Skagit County Extension

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Acknowlegements

We wish to express our appreciation to the following for their assistance in the gathering of data for this report:

Capital Press	Northwest Agriculture Business Center	US Department of Commerce
Day Creek Poultry Farms	North Fork Nursery	US Department of Labor
Draper Valley Farms, Inc.	Ralph’s Greenhouse	Valley Pride Sales
Economic Development Alliance of Skagit	Sakuma Brothers Farm	Vikima Seed, USA
Farm Service Agency	Sakata Seed Company	Viva Farms
Gielow Pickles Inc.	Schafer Ag Services, LLC	Washington Agricultural Statistics Service
Harmony Dairy	Seminis Vegetable Seed Co.	Washington Bulb Co., Inc.
Hedlin Farms	Skagit Farmers Supply	Washington Fryer Commission
Hughes Farms	Skagit Seed Services	Washington State Potato Commission
Knutzen Farms	Skagit Select	Washington Red Raspberry Commission
McMoran Farms	Skagit Valley Herald	Washington State Employment Security Department
Merritt’s Apples	Skagit Valley Farms	Washington Strawberry Commission
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration	Syngenta Seeds, Inc.	Western Washington Agriculture Association
Norm Nelson, Inc.	Universal Seed, Inc.	Wilbur Ellis Company
		WSU Mount Vernon NW Washington Research and Extension Center