Agricultural Commissioner Cathi Boze issued her annual ag report at Tuesday’s board of supervisors’ meeting and offered an explanation on the paltry 1.8 percent increase of the County’s total agricultural and forest products value.

“We’re still seeing dramatic drought impacts,” said Boze, stating the County was in its fourth year of water shortage despite a late, wet spring.

Livestock and poultry make up the bulk of the total combined values at 61.84 percent, more than double of any other category.

“Reduced feed and water resources are the cause for lighter cattle weights, which effect the values,” Boze explained. She said the overall California herd size is the lowest it has been in 50 years as ranchers sell off their stock rather than trying to feed and water a large herd. “Ranchers are keeping their breeding stock and selling the rest to limit their herd size and their expenses,” Boze said.

In all, Mariposa’s total value rose to $25,940,900, an increase of $457,500 above the $25,483,400 valuation established in 2008.

Of the seven categorical separations in the ag report, the only significant gain was seen in the cattle and calves division of the livestock and poultry category. That division rose from $13,250,000 to $13,883,000, an increase of $633,000.

In the field crops category, which includes irrigated pasture, rangeland, and miscellaneous field crops values fell from $6,286,800 in 2008 to $6,122,600 in 2009.

There was a significant decline in the value of fruit and nut crops. Included in that category are grapes, wine grapes, and miscellaneous fruits and nuts. The 2008 value was $397,000 compared to the $331,000 in 2009, a drop of $66,000, primarily due to the effect of the extended drought, according to Boze.

In the total livestock and poultry category, including cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, all poultry and miscellaneous livestock, values increased to $16,042,000 from a 2008 figure of $15,422,000.

In livestock and poultry products, which consists primarily of wool and miscellanrous products, values increased from $2,631,900 in 2008 to $2,658,000 in 2009.

Apiary production and value plunged from $101,600 in 2008 to just $69,700 in 2009. That category includes honey and miscellaneous apiary products.

Nursery stock also took a dive in the recent report. In 2008 nursery stock was valued at $80,100, but dropped to $63,600 in 2009.

In the last category, forest products, values increased from $564,000 in 2008 to $654,000 in 2009. Boze explained that rise was primarily due to a significant increase in retail prices.

The county’s highest agricultural and forest products value was posted in 2007 with at a total of $28,246,000. The lowest valuation ever reached was recorded in 1995 at $16,237,200.