Golden Mussels Have Already Cost Kern County $6 Million

Kern County water districts have already spent roughly $6 million this year fighting invasive golden mussels, with projections of $24 million in near-term control costs and $36 million more in ongoing remediation. Rachel Nettleton, Executive Director of the Kern County Farm Bureau, delivered those figures on the AgNet News Hour with host Nick Papagni, framing the shellfish as a direct threat to California's irrigation backbone.

What makes golden mussels an infrastructure threat?

The small freshwater shellfish attach to pipes, pumps and screens, forming dense clusters that restrict water movement and drive up maintenance bills. Kern County asked the state for a statewide emergency declaration to unlock funding and streamline permitting. The request was denied in late October, Nettleton said. That leaves local districts carrying the cost burden alone. For growers, clogged conveyance means delivery reliability risks on top of the repair bill.

The takeaway: an invasive species is now a line item in water district budgets, and the state has declined to help pay it.

How strong is Kern County's farm economy?

Strong on paper. The county's 2025 crop report valued agricultural production at approximately $8.9 billion, up roughly 12% from the previous year. Nettleton cautioned that gross production value does not equal farmer profitability. Regulatory compliance costs keep rising. Fuel and labor are expensive. Multigenerational operations struggle to stay financially sustainable even in a record-value year.

An $8.9 billion crop report can coexist with thin margins. Nettleton made that distinction explicit.

What did weather do to cherries and pistachios?

Unusually warm March temperatures hit Kern County cherry growers with crop losses exceeding 40%, Nettleton said. Pistachio producers also suffered significant damage during bloom and pollination. These are harvested-loss figures from growers, not condition forecasts, and they compound the cost pressures on two of the county's higher-value crops.

Is farmland disappearing around Bakersfield?

Yes, and steadily. The conversation addressed continuing conversion of agricultural land into residential development around Bakersfield. Nettleton acknowledged the economic benefits of growth but said she worries about losing productive farmland and the family histories tied to those properties. Once paved, that ground does not return to production.

Who replaces the current generation of farmers?

The Farm Bureau runs two programs aimed at the pipeline question. Its Young Farmers and Ranchers program develops future agricultural leaders, and the annual Farm Day in the City introduces students to farming. The educational event typically reaches more than 5,000 students over two days, Nettleton said.

What did Nettleton tell growers to do next?

Looking toward 2027, she urged producers to engage directly with consumers and policymakers rather than cede the narrative. "We have to share our story," Nettleton said. "We can't let other people share it for us."

Her argument is straightforward: with mussels multiplying, a denied emergency declaration, weather losses above 40% in cherries and development pressure on farmland, California growers cannot afford to let others define how farming works.

The full conversation with Rachel Nettleton is available on the AgNet News Hour and podcast platforms.