2025 did not pull any punches for Central Valley farmers. Between trade policy shifts, labor uncertainty, disease outbreaks and tight financial conditions, growers once again had to adapt on the fly.
The year kicked off during President Donald Trump’s second term, marked by broad tariffs on imported goods. As expected, other countries pushed back, and those retaliatory tariffs quickly squeezed U.S. crop exports. Farmers and trade groups raised red flags early, worried about rising domestic supply costs and losing ground in overseas markets.
By spring, some of that pressure eased when the U.S. and China both rolled back their highest tariffs. Labor, however, stayed top of mind. Immigration enforcement policies created fear among some farmworkers about returning to the fields because of potential ICE activity. While the California Farm Bureau reported in January that there were no widespread labor disruptions, it warned that aggressive enforcement could quickly destabilize the workforce.
Consumers felt the impact at the grocery store, too. Higher food prices were driven in part by the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has lingered since 2022. In March, roughly 20 million infected chickens, ducks, and turkeys in the San Joaquin Valley were euthanized. The situation escalated again in August when the virus spread to most of California’s nearly 1,000 dairies, triggering quarantines and adding stress to an already pressured industry.
Financial headwinds continued to build. Higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve, lower commodity prices and rising labor costs all piled on. Farm employment dropped by about 1,800 jobs, a 3.4% decline, between March 2024 and April 2025, with fluctuations across livestock, dairy and poultry sectors.
There were efforts to support the workforce. In April, Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, and the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation hosted a Good Jobs Roundtable with U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The initiative is backed by a $23 million federal grant through the American Rescue Plan and offers paid job training in agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and logistics.
In early December, President Trump announced a $12 billion aid package aimed at helping farmers dealing with low crop prices, high input costs and trade-related challenges. Most of the funding is slated for the new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program focused on row crops, with $1 billion set aside for specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables and nuts.
One bright spot came from the sky. In early December, a two-week stretch of Tule fog that everyone not in farming complains about. Well, that fog settled over the Central Valley, blocking sunlight and allowing some crops to properly enter their chilling period. That gave growers a rare dose of optimism heading into 2026.
All told, 2025 was another reminder of just how resilient Central Valley agriculture has to be.
Farmland values ease as water and financing stay tight
Agricultural land across the Central Valley continued to recalibrate in 2025. Values and deal activity reflected a mix of weak commodity prices, higher interest rates and ongoing water challenges.
One of the year’s most notable ag-related real estate deals closed in April with the sale of the former Gerawan Farming Plant 2 in Reedley. The 360,000-square-foot cold storage facility, sitting on nearly 29 acres, was purchased by G2 Commercial Complex LLC, a locally owned, family-run company. The property had previously been owned by private equity firm Paine Schwartz and leased to Prima Wawona before the company filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Reedley officials say the sale could eventually support up to 100 jobs.
According to the 2025 Trends in Agricultural Land and Lease Values report from the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, land values continued to face downward pressure in Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Madera counties. The biggest softness showed up in properties without dependable surface water. In Fresno and Madera counties, listing prices declined for open land and permanent plantings outside irrigation districts.
Almond orchards located in Tier 1 irrigation districts, including Fresno, Alta and Consolidated, continued to hold stronger values, though overall activity slowed, especially on water-limited ground. Pistachio values were more mixed, depending heavily on orchard age and water access. Kings and Tulare counties followed similar patterns, with both almond and pistachio values generally trending lower.
The steepest price cuts were tied to white land and areas affected by groundwater pumping limits under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Financial stress among operators increased as well. Nationwide, court data showed 216 farm bankruptcies in 2024, a 55% jump from the year before, with California leading the nation. In Fresno County alone, business bankruptcies rose 65% in the 12 months ending March 31, 2025. Higher interest rates, rising production costs and weaker prices, particularly for almonds and wine grapes, were commonly cited factors.
Lenders tightened standards, too. Required down payments climbed from around 35% to closer to 50%, shrinking the buyer pool. As values adjusted, most land purchases involved local operators expanding existing operations rather than institutional investors.
One stabilizing development came in May when the U.S. Department of Agriculture reversed its plan to close the Farm Service Agency office in Madera. Keeping that office open preserved local access to loans and federal programs many producers rely on.
With land values adjusting, buyer pools narrowing, and sellers becoming more realistic, this window is quietly shaping up to be one of the most compelling buying environments we have seen in years for agricultural land. Well-located, well-watered properties are standing out again, and savvy operators know that these moments do not last forever. When markets feel uncertain, long-term assets with real production upside tend to reward those willing to move with clarity and conviction.
That is exactly what makes this 370-plus-acre property in San Joaquin so compelling. Situated in the heart of California’s Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, this land checks the boxes that matter most right now. Fertile soils, consistent sunshine, and reliable water access through the James Irrigation District create a strong foundation for both immediate production and long-term value. The property is versatile enough to support almonds, grapes, vegetables, or even emerging crops like agave, making it an excellent fit for forward-thinking farmers and investors alike.
Add in flat, workable terrain, soil that has already been tested and approved with clear recommendations in place, and a location just minutes from major highways and distribution routes, and this property is set up to perform. Whether the goal is to expand an existing operation or establish something new, this is the kind of land that allows buyers to act decisively today while positioning themselves well for the next upcycle in agriculture.
I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.
I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.
Fresno? I say FresYES
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