New crop data from Westlands Water District shows how farmers are using the land within the nation’s largest water district. And that report shows significant responses to market and environmental conditions — especially water.
While fallowed land within the district greatly increased, so did investments in drought alternatives, such as agave. In addition, while pistachios and almonds remain the district’s top crop, another major permanent crop, grapes, continue to suffer as the California wine market reels from lowered demand.
Fallowed land in Westlands increased nearly by 10% from 2024 to 2025, climbing to 218,724 acres.
Allison Febbo, general manager of Westlands, said in a news release Tuesday that water reliability helps farmers make decisions about their land, which in turn affects thousands of families, small businesses, and public services.
“Water reliability directly translates to food reliability,” Febbo said. “When Westlands growers have access to essential water supplies delivered through the (Central Valley Project) that power agriculture, they produce the fruits, vegetables, and nuts Americans depends on every day.”
By the Numbers: 2025 Crop Report (Westlands Water District)
Agave Crop Doubles Year-Over-Year
Agave crops in western Fresno County made national news when farmer Stuart Woolf announced years ago significant plantings in the succulent used to create tequila. Woolf previously told GV Wire he had visited growers and distillers in Mexico in hopes of creating his own craft agave spirits. Labeling rules require that “tequila” only come from Mexico.
It takes between five and 10 years for agave to mature, but Westlands farmers appear to see the potential in the drought-tolerant plant. Acreage nearly doubled from 2024 to 2025, going from 575 acres to 1,010 in one year.
Woolf, president of Woolf Farming, told GV Wire he’s begun harvesting a few of the plants from the 5-year-old test plot. However, he thinks his commercial acreage is still two to three years away from full maturity.
“Some varieties are better suited than others … some are doing great! We’re still planting,” Woolf told GV Wire in a text message.
Less positive is the amount of land farmers simply aren’t using. Fallowed land increased nearly by 10% from 2024 to 2025, climbing to 218,724 acres. Growers converted other acreage to solar.
California’s water outlook is less positive with the federal government giving Westlands a 15% allocation this spring. The California Department of Water Resources in February reported the statewide snowpack at 66% of average, with the northern Sierra Nevada at 46% and the southern Sierra Nevada at 90% of average.
Westlands Wine Grape Growers Feel Pinch
Like those in many other parts of the state, Westlands growers are retreating from wine grape investments. With demand from major wine labels drying up, many growers have found themselves with grapes rotting on the vine.
The Los Angeles Times last week reported about a Lodi winery owner leaving about 50 tons of grapes to rot on the vine as harvesting and processing would have cost more that the crop’s worth.
At Westlands, wine grape acreage decreased 34% year-over-year, dropping to 6,759 acres in 2025.
In 2024, GV Wire reported about declines in wine consumption, spurring some experts then predicting upwards of 50,000 acres in the Central Valley being pulled up to bring balance to the market.
The market also negatively reacted to Canadian tariffs by President Donald Trump as that country is a significant consumer of U.S. wine.