Jason and I have been thinking about the possibility of growing grain in
Little Lake Valley, in Willits, CA. Grains are a key calorie crop that is
almost completely imported to the area. There is data related to historic grain
yields in Mendocino
County. I wonder what
sort of yields might be expected from today’s soils and climate conditions.

Historic Grain Production
Levels in Mendocino County

Yields per acre,
bushels

Crop
1899 1909 1919
1924 1929 1934 Avg.
Avg. Lbs Cal/Acre

Barley
30
23
27
22 28
27
26.2
1256.0 1,998,248

Corn
31
27
20
16 28
23
24.2
1353.3 2,136,913

Oats
31
27
26
31 34
28
29.5
944.0 1,669,936

Wheat
20
15
15
15 21
17
17.2
1030.0 1,541,910

Potatoes
105 128
88 104
115 93
105.5
6330.0 8,678,430

Source of data on production levels from:

“Statistical Information on Mendocino County
Agriculture 1899-1936.” J.M. Thompson, Extension Specialist in Agricultural
Economics. University of California College of
Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture. January, 1938. (Made
available via County of Mendocino Department of Agriculture, 2005).