How much is an acre of walnuts worth

Black walnut logs bring premium prices, and have since the 1700s, with single trees bringing up to $20,000. Bruce Thompson, author of “Black Walnut For Profit,” estimates a mature stand of black walnut trees

Is walnut farming profitable?

Commercial walnut farming can also be very profitable in California, and the environment is ideal for walnut cultivation. … Also, farmers can plant high-value crops like raspberries, blueberries and others, as the wide spacing between walnut trees allow for secondary crop cultivation.

What is a walnut tree worth?

The most valuable trees I’ve seen in my 35-year career have been over 30 inches in diameter and larger.” For example, a black walnut that is Grade A veneer at 19 inches diameter will be worth about $700 or $800. If you add another 6 inches of diameter, that price can nearly double.

How much do farmers sell walnuts for?

A mature stand of trees can produce 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per acre. Selling to a buying station may only earn 50 cents a pound, but selling retail at market can bring up to $12 a pound. At home, if you’re shelling small quantities, set the end of a nut on a hard surface and whack the top end with a hammer.

How many tons of walnuts will an acre produce?

At full production on good sites, 1,500 to 2,000 pounds are possible per acre each year. Selling cleaned dried nuts at $0.50 per pound yields a gross of $750 – $1,000 per acre. Direct marketing black walnuts are also a possibility, with retail prices per pound consistently exceeding $12.

Why is walnut so expensive?

Walnut is more expensive as it is a bit rarer due to natural limitations such as size. Ash, Maple, and Cherry are more abundant as they grow larger but have highly sought after aesthetics in the grain which make them less expensive than Walnut but more expensive than some hardwoods.

How much does it cost to start a walnut farm?

Bare crop land for walnut production is estimated to cost $14,000 per acre or $14,736 per producing acre. Values will vary according to soil type and water source. Values for land with established walnut orchards in the northern San Joaquin Valley ranges from $15,000 to $25,000 per acre (2012 Trends & Leases).

How many acres of walnuts are in California?

California’s 2019 walnut acreage is estimated at 440,000 acres, up 10 percent from 2017. Of the total acreage, 365,000 were bearing and 75,000 were non-bearing. Of the walnut acreage reported, Chandler continues as the leading variety with 133,609 bearing acres.

How long does a walnut tree take to grow?

Growing walnuts is a time-consuming process that takes a lot of care and patience, but it’s well worth it in the end. It all begins with planting a sapling. Then it’s time to wait. After a walnut tree sapling is planted, it can take five to seven years for it to become an adult.

How many walnuts does a tree produce?

Healthy and mature walnut trees produce from 66 to 350 lbs. (30 to 160 kg) of nuts, but this production cannot be achieved every year. The tree has an inherent tendency towards alternate bearing, and it usually yields a good production in every other year.

Article first time published on

How much are mature walnut trees worth?

How much does it cost to plant an acre of black walnut trees?

Unless family labor is used, it costs about a $22.00 per acre to plant the trees, assuming a cost of labor at $7 per hour. With the cultivated ground, equipment consists of only a shovel, making the actual planting cost per tree about 93 cents.

How much do black walnuts sell for 2020?

Black Walnuts are beginning to fall all over the area, and this year they’re worth more than ever. To open the season, harvesters will be paid $20 per hundred pounds (after hulling)! This is a 25% increase from last year and the highest buying price in the 75 years that we’ve been in business.

What tree is most profitable to grow?

Instant shade trees. …
Flowering dogwood. …
Thornless locust. …
Heritage fruit trees. …
Hybrid chestnut. …
Black walnut. …
Bonsai trees. …
Willow.

How do I sell my black walnut tree?

Call or email several professional loggers. Explain that you have a mature black walnut tree you wish to sell. Meet and interview each logger. Request local verifiable references and a blank copy of their contracts.

What is the fastest growing nut tree?

Butternut: The butternut is a variety of walnut. It can take anywhere from 3-5 years before they produce any nuts. …
Almonds: An almond tree needs 3-6 years before it bears any nuts. …
Chestnut & Heartnut: The chestnut tree can take 4-7 years before it produces any nuts and thrives in zones 4-8.

How do you farm walnuts?

Soil Requirement for Walnut Farming:- Walnuts grow well in well-drained deep silt loamy or clay loamy soils which are rich in humus and supplemented with lime. The optimum soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5 would result in good yield. Make sure to supplement the soil with good zinc and boron.

How much are black walnut seedlings?

Minimum BundleQtyMaximum BundleQtyPrice/bundle of 25 seedlings419$112.5020+$100.00

Where do they grow walnuts in California?

Most walnuts are now produced in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, with more than half of the acreage being located in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Butte, and Sutter Counties (Figure 2). California growers produce 99 percent of the commercial U.S. supply, with Oregon and Washington accounting for the …

Is walnut more expensive than oak?

Walnut typically costs more than Oak. Since Oak is more readily available and Walnut is more rare, Oak is generally cheaper.

How much is a board foot of Black Walnut worth?

Good question…it’s worth whatever someone is willing to pay you! HOWEVER, the going stumpage rate for quality black walnut right now is around $0.80 – $2.00/bd ft for sawlogs (used to make lumber) and $3.00 – 10.00/bd ft for veneer logs (used to make fine face veneer for furniture, architectural paneling, etc.).

Are black walnuts expensive?

Black walnuts are one of the most flavorful nuts for snacking, baking, and cooking. These hard-shelled fruits have a sweet, delicate walnut flavor and are one of the most expensive nuts on the market. If you have a chance at harvesting black walnut trees, take it!

Is tree farming profitable?

It’s earth-friendly and more profitable than you might imagine when you grow high-value trees. Traditional tree farms are much like a plantation with one primary crop, saw and pulp logs. … This means growing Christmas trees makes a tree farmer about ten times more profit per acre.

Are walnut trees fast growing?

Walnuts are fast growing trees that develop broad canopies reaching 18 m width and 30 m in height. It is a light-demanding species, requiring full sun to grow well. A walnut compound leaf. The buds awaken from winter dormancy in mid April – late May (depending on cultivar) and leaf fall occurs in early November.

How long does a walnut tree take to bear fruit?

Once you plant a 2-year-old grafted walnut, expect to wait another four to five years for its first crop of nuts. A non-grafted, seedling-grown walnut often takes up to two years longer to bear its first nuts.

Does walnut grow in USA?

Walnuts are cultivated mostly in China, Iran, US, Turkey and Mexico. Black and English walnuts can grow throughout the United States and Southern Canada. However, major walnut commercial orchards are found mainly in California, but also in Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Missouri and Iowa.

Which state produces 99% of America's walnuts?

As of 1998, walnuts from California account for 99% of all walnuts grown in the United States, and for 38% of the world’s production of walnuts.

Where are walnuts grown USA?

More than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States come from California’s Central Valley. More than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States come from California’s Central Valley.

What is the most valuable tree?

An African Black Ebony tree from Gabon could be worth a million dollars, if you can find one. Due to its high value many species of Black Ebony are now extinct or on the verge of extinction. The Paulownia may currently be the world’s most valuable sustainably harvested hardwood tree.

How much space does a walnut tree need?

Space your black walnut trees 40′ to 80′ apart, and English walnuts 20′ to 40′ apart. NOTE: Plant black walnut trees 50′ from fruit trees. The root of a black walnut trees are toxic to many plants.

How often do walnut trees bear fruit?

Walnut trees are capable of producing nuts every year, but you may experience patterns of high and low yields from year to year. Like many trees that produce nuts and fruits, walnut trees are prone to a reproductive pattern known as alternate bearing.