2025 was a challenging year for pacific northwest tree fruit producers.
According to insights from Washington State Tree Fruit Association, growers navigated:
• One of the smallest pear crops in years, followed by a much larger crop that strained retail relationships
• Drought and heat impacting apple harvest decisions and labor efficiency
• Strong cherry production met with weak pricing
• Increased consumer price sensitivity pushing retail pressure back to the farm
From a land market perspective, these dynamics matter.
When margins tighten and volatility increases, landowners and investors begin reassessing:
• Capital improvements and orchard redevelopment timing
• Long-term cash flow sustainability
• Liquidity needs in a high-interest-rate environment
Land values may remain historically high, but operational risk and market consistency increasingly influence how farmland is valued, transacted, and held, especially in permanent crop regions where flexibility is limited.
Cattle numbers in the PNW are moving differently than the national trend. 📈 USDA’s April Cattle on Feed report showed national feedlot inventory down year-over-year. But in the Northwest: • Idaho: 355,000 head, up from March and last year • Washington: 270,000 head, up from last year Why it matters: • Prices remain elevated •… PNW Cattle Trends
Meet the founders behind Root Ag Advisory: Skye and Becca Root They built Root Ag Advisory with a clear purpose: to help farmers, landowners, and investors make confident decisions about land, water, and agriculture. 🤝 Skye brings experience in farmland investment, water rights, ag finance, and farm real estate, backed by hands-on work in a… Meet the Founders: Skye & Becca Root
Root Agricultural Advisory
2670 S. Eagle Rd. Meridian ID 83642
(208) 753-2333 info@rootagadvisory.com
