Oregon updated its list of the state’s 20 most valuable agricultural commodities June 18 and the top two spots remained unchanged, with the greenhouse and nursery industry No. 1, followed by cattle and calves.

After that, there was a bit of shuffling, even though the rankings consisted of the same commodities as the previous year.

Eggs had the largest gain and industrial hemp had the steepest decline.

Top 5 commodities

The greenhouse and nursery industry had a value of $1.22 billion in 2022 and retained first place, despite dropping 6.2% compared to 2021.

Jeff Stone, Oregon Association of Nurseries executive director, said his industry’s decrease in value could be linked to the relaxation of pandemic restrictions and a downturn in housing starts on the East Coast in 2022.

“The nursery industry really benefited from people being stuck at home during COVID,” he added.

Stone said Oregon’s nursery industry remains strong and should retain the top spot for years to come. “Oregon’s growing climate is really special,” he said.

In second place was cattle and calves, with production totaling $791.5 million in 2022, up 17%.

Hay rose one position to third with production of $785.5 million, up 36%.

Milk also moved up the charts one spot to fourth at $724.9 million, up nearly 32%.

Grass seed dropped two spots to fifth, with an estimated value of $639.1 million, which was unchanged from 2021.

Most of that acreage is in the Willamette Valley, which the industry has dubbed the “grass seed capital of the world.”

Rising and falling crops

Eggs had the largest movement up the charts, racing eight spots upward to 12th with a value of $140.1 million, up 146%.

Egg prices surged in 2022 due to avian influenza and strong demand.

Onions climbed four spots to ninth with a crop worth $226.5 million, up 97%. The industry saw higher yields and high quality.

Oregon’s top 20 agricultural commodities 2022

1. Greenhouse and nursery — $1.22 billion (down 6.2%, rank unchanged)

2. Cattle and calves — $791.5 million (up 17%, rank unchanged)

3. Hay — $785.5 million (up 36%, fourth in 2021)

4. Milk — $724.9 million (up 32%, fifth)

5. Grass seed — $639.1 (no change, third)

6. Wheat — $431.3 million (up 56%, rank unchanged)

7. Wine grapes — $330 million (up 22%, rank unchanged)

8. Potatoes — $265.7 million (up 12.1%, ninth)

9. Onions —  $226.5 million (up 97%, 13th)

10. Blueberries — $182.8 million (up 6.5%, rank unchanged)

11. Christmas trees — $167.3 million (up 52%, 14th)

12. Eggs — $140.1 million (up 146%, 20th)

13. Hazelnuts — $100.7 million (down 40%, 11th)

14. Pears — $90.8 million (down 32%, 12th)

15. Corn (grain) — $89.6 million (up 11%, rank unchanged)

16. Hops — $85.1 million (up 14.5%, rank unchanged)

17. Industrial hemp — $73.9 million (down 70%, eighth)

18. Sweet cherries — $62.3 million (down 5.9%, 17th)

19. Apples — $40.8 million (down 39%, rank unchanged)

20. Dungeness crab — $31.4 million (down 53%)

Christmas trees jumped three spots to 11th with a value of $167.3 million, an increase of 52%, as the holiday-based crop saw prices increase and strong demand.

Industrial hemp plummeted, dropping nine spots to 17th with a crop worth $73.9 million, down 70%.

Oregon hemp acreage boomed and then plummeted after 2019 due to an oversaturated market, according to USDA statistics.

No other commodity dropped more than two spots, though hazelnuts, pears, apples and Dungeness crab had steep decreases in value in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Fruit trees in the mid-Columbia Valley had pollination disrupted by an April snowstorm in 2022, leading to smaller crops.

Orchards in Southern Oregon suffered from drought and a July hailstorm.

Despite a record harvest in 2022, hazelnuts experienced low prices due to global problems including an influx of cheap foreign nuts, shipping complications and a drop in demand for exports due to the pandemic.

Though some Oregon industries had huge gains, Stone said there are lingering concerns for nurseries and other segments of agriculture, as the cost of labor and inputs continues to rise and make competition with other states more difficult.

Oregon’s top crops nationally

Nationally, Oregon ranked as the top producer of hazelnuts, Christmas trees, rhubarb, crimson clover seed, orchard grass seed, fescue seed, ryegrass seed, red clover seed, sugar beets for seed and white clover seed.

ODA stressed the state’s diversity and Oregon’s ability to produce more than 225 commodities.

The newly released statistics are primarily from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and Dave Losh, the agency’s state statistician.

ODA, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Wine Board and the Oregon grass seed industry also provided estimates.