A land study shows California’s bearing almond acreage decreasing for the first time in more than three decades.

The Almond Board of California reported that the 1.385 million acres of almond acres measured in its Land IQ study means a net decrease of 15,227 acres from last year.

This means any acreage coming into production was not enough to outpace the 47,588 acres removed in the 2025-26 crop year, according to a news release from April 23.

In November, the almond board will release its findings on total almond acreage, giving a bigger picture of planting trends.

“While we’re seeing stabilization in bearing acreage, global demand remains strong and is the foundation of our industry,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the almond board. “Continued, strategic investment in market development is essential to supporting long-term growth and to position California almonds for the future.”

Almond Acreage Coming Out of White Areas: Sihto

The orchard removals come as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act has growers pulling up trees, especially in areas outside the scope of California water agencies — called white areas, said Amy Sihto, president of Madera-based El Dorado Almonds.

Sihto was speaking Thursday as part of a panel with the Central Valley Ag Economic Outlook hosted by the UCLA Anderson Forecast.

Sihto said SGMA is changing agriculture in western Fresno County.

“These guys are farming in a place in the world, one of the very few places in the world that has some of the most fertile soils and the correct microclimates to grow the crops that we grow,” Sihto said. “Because of water restraints and restrictions, we are having to really limit the things that we’re actually able to grow here.”

Grape grower Linda Pandol, head of operations for Pandol Brothers Inc., said at the economic outlook that because of SGMA, about 70% of the company’s land gets farmed.

In wet years, her family may plant grains on fallowed land.

Despite Paldon Brothers digging recharge basins, Pandol said the state is not yet giving out credits for water put back into the ground.

“They have no way to monitor it,” Pandol said. Even so, she said her company has moved forward on the recharge basins: “We’re just being good stewards to the land.”