Skip to ContentButte County farm production is a mix of tree nuts, rice, prunes and livestock. This page repeats the county ranking printed on our Farm and Orchard Country guide and explains how to read it. Values are gross production, not farm income.
Checked November 1, 2026
- $702.7Mcounty farm value, 2025
- #1walnuts, $177,972,300
- 51,363bearing acres of walnuts
- $34.7Mprunes
The 2025 Ranking
From the Butte County Agricultural Commissioner’s 2025 Agricultural Crop Report (86th annual report), as printed on our Farm and Orchard Country guide.
| Commodity | Gross Value, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Walnuts | $177,972,300 |
| Rice | $164,073,545 |
| Almonds | $144,686,500 |
| Prunes | $34,671,000 |
| Cattle and calves | $21,375,000 |
| Rice seed | $14,316,120 |
| Apiary, pollination | $13,711,200 |
| Kiwifruit | $11,980,500 |
| Peaches | $11,466,000 |
The county total of $702,732,779 is up $113.7 million from 2024, against a 10-year average of $650.6 million. Almonds came from 34,278 bearing acres and walnuts from 51,363.
How to Read It
- Gross value is what the crop sold for, not what the farmer kept after costs.
- Rank changes with price and weather as much as with acreage. A good price year for walnuts can move them above rice.
- Prunes and kiwifruit are on the list, which surprises many visitors. Paradise’s history also names prunes and pears (Paradise Apple Orchards).
- Apiary and pollination means hives rented to orchards, mostly for almond bloom (Almond Country).
Questions People Ask
What is Butte County’s top crop?
In the 2025 report as printed on our guide, walnuts, at $177,972,300, ahead of rice at $164,073,545 and almonds at $144,686,500.
Is gross value the farmer’s income?
No. It is the market value of what was produced, not profit.
Where do I find the report?
The Butte County Agricultural Commissioner publishes it each year. Search the county site for “Crop and Livestock Report.”
More in Agriculture
- Agriculture Home
- Rice Country
- Richvale
- Rice and Wildlife
- Almond Country
- Walnuts, Prunes and Other Crops
- Paradise Apple Orchards
- Rancho Chico Farming History
- Chico State University Farm
- Farmers Markets and Farm Stands
- Farm Year Calendar
Sources
- Butte County Agricultural Commissioner, 2025 Agricultural Crop Report (via our guide, not re-read): https://itschico.com/guides/farm-and-orchard-country/ (checked November 1, 2026)
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Walnuts, Prunes and Other Butte County Crops”, itschico.com/agriculture/walnuts-prunes-and-other-crops/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.