2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Nevada County
2025 Nevada County Cannabis Harvest Report
This is part 7/8 of the 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report by Budist. Scroll to the bottom of this page for links to the other sections.
Nevada County is the easternmost California county featured in this year’s Budist Harvest Report. Nevada County is not bordered by any other county in this report, and sits on the other side of the Central Valley, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Its mountainous terrain is of a different ilk than that of the Trinity Alps. Many in Nevada County often cite the call of the Yuba River. Legend has it, the right plants hear it, too.
The DCC reports that in 2025, ~62 licensed outdoor cultivators in Nevada County harvested 447,180 wet pounds across 168,000 plants [1]. In 2025, Nevada County grew ~56% less weight than the previous year, accounting for ~1.5% of the state’s total 2025 outdoor harvest compared to ~5.3% in 2024. The full term harvests featured via our participating Nevada County farms are but a small percentage of that total annual harvest, but they provide a clear snapshot of some active growing regions in Nevada County from the ridge .
According to NOAA [2], Nevada County saw a cooler harvest and growing season in 2025 than 2024 with the exception of the month of August. Along with cooler weather, the harvest months of September and October saw a reported ~4.20” of rain fall on average across Nevada County, more than quintuple 2024’s amounts.
During the Prop 215 days, and even well after into the Prop 64 era - medicinal plants containing CBD from Nevada County’s annual harvest would be distributed to catastrophically ill children via Wade Laughter and the Caladrius Network [3]. Nevada County, though it doesn’t share borders with the Emerald Triangle, has always shared a countercultural connection with that region through the back to the land movement. Continuous flows of cannabis genetics between all of these counties are part of what moved harvests into the date range that they needed to be in for prohibition, commercial, or weather reasons.
Cultivars like the Afgooey are famed in Nevada County for its hashmaking yield and the quality of the resultant resin. Nevada County is home to Floracy, one of the few California licensees that makes a traditional, dry-sifted hashish product out of select portions of Nevada County’s harvest [4].
Recent events that celebrate the Nevada County harvest include The Ridge Sesh, an annual competition that features both flower and concentrate categories and occurs in Nevada County on the eponymous San Juan Ridge.
Foodoo Farm
Farm Information
Instagram: @foodoofarm
Latitude: ~39.300 N
Elevation: ~1,980’
Farm Region/Watershed: Nevada County, Sweetland Creek, Yuba River
Certifications: Sun + Earth certified
Head Cultivator: Brian Jones
Cultivated: 14,680 sqft
Light Dep: No
Geographic features: Our farm is at 1,980 ft with a south by southwest exposure. The soil is mostly decomposed granite with a few generous layers of compost we have built up over the years. It's a bit of a banana belt in that we seem to have slightly higher temperatures.
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: 12
Genetics sources: Clones from others, Seeds from others
Top Cultivars: Grass Valley Girl, Golden Sands, Spears of Jah
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: Donkey manure, corn mash, seabird guano, bat guano, molasses.
Pest management: Lady bugs, marigolds, bat houses, native birds (Bushtits).
Planting tech: We are mostly no-till except to break up new beds, raised beds, amended native soil, compost.
Philosophy: We believe in foodoo (a word we made up), it means putting your best intentions into whatever you are doing and we find that includes our garden. This is felt by the end user or consumer.
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 6/16/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 10/1/2025 - 12/30/2025
Earliest Cultivars: Golden Sands
Latest Cultivar: Grass Valley Girl
Atypical conditions: It was a mild summer with below average temperatures which contributed to a smaller yield but really nice quality.
Notable highlights/challenges: We have exceptionably good, clean water and soil.
Year to Year takeaway: No local wildfires, that was nice :).
Green Hummingbird Farm (Sierra Sungrown/Grass Valley Golden Nuggets)
Farm Information
Website: https://www.greenhummingbirdfarm.com/
Instagram: @greenhummingbird.farm
Latitude: ~39.200 N
Elevation: ~2,200'
Farm Region/Watershed: Wolf Creek Watershed, Nevada County
Certifications: CCOF / OCal
Head Cultivator: Abraham Valensky
Cultivated: 15,000 sqft
Light dep: Yes
Geographic features: Elevation 2,200 feet above sea level. Mid-elevation foothill position creates cooler nights than the Sacramento Valley, strong diurnal temperature swings, reduced frost pressure, and better air drainage on slopes. Rolling ridgelines and steep creek-cut drainages. Mixed oak-pine woodland. South- and southwest-facing slopes with higher sun exposure.
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: 12
Genetics sources: Clones from nursery
Top Cultivars: Papaya Punch
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: All organic inputs / Pride Lands.
Pest management: Predators / Green Lacewing.
Planting tech: Smart pots, cover cropping, compost tea feeding, foliar feeding.
Philosophy: Soil first agriculture - avoid soil compaction, maximize soil sponge.
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 8/15/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 9/20/2025 - 11/10/2025
Earliest Cultivars: Cherry Runtz
Latest Cultivars: LCG - Permanent Marker
Atypical conditions: June, July, August, September was beautiful weather, then October was more rainy than usual.
Notable highlights/challenges: Farming on a 16% slope. End of 2025 brought more rain than usual. 2024 was a much hotter year over 45 days of over 100 degrees. 2025 was such an amazing year weather wise.
High Hill Cannabis Co
Farm Information
Instagram: @highhillcannabis
Latitude: ~39.200 N
Elevation: ~2,650'
Farm Region/Watershed: Sierra Nevada Foothills / Nevada County / Bear River Watershed
Certifications: None
Head Cultivator: Cole Chapman
Cultivated: 15,000 sqft
Light dep: Yes
Geographic features: Perched at about 2,650 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Grass Valley. Higher elevation delivers purer air and higher UV-B radiation, triggering plants to bolster trichome density. Pronounced diurnal temperature swings - summer days to mid-80s/low-90s°F, dropping sharply to the 50s-60s°F at night. Granitic-loam beds. Bear River Watershed.
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: 16
Genetics sources: Proprietary clones from own mothers, Proprietary seeds from own breeding (from a local breeder friend)
Top Cultivars: Anything with Kush Mints, Biscotti, Pink Panty; Guava was standout this season.
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: Dry amendments including glacial rock dust, bat guano, crustaceans, kelps, alfalfa; 12-part mineral foliar feeding.
Pest management: Lost Coast Plant Therapy, companion plants
Planting tech: Hybrid Hugelkultur, native soil, cover cropping
Philosophy: REGENERATIVE. Feed the soil, not the plant. Biology-first cultivation guided by regular soil tests targeting pH 6.0-6.5.
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 4/20/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 7/15/2025 - 11/15/2025
Earliest Cultivars: Guava
Latest Cultivar: Kut Throat Kandy
Atypical conditions: Mild summer, cooler than normal nights
Notable highlights/challenges: Early rain and higher humidity than normal in September/October. 2024 was much warmer and dry.
Down OM Farms
Farm Information
Website: https://downomfarms.com/
Instagram: @downomfarms
Latitude: ~39.300 N
Elevation: ~1,700–1,800'
Farm Region/Watershed: Yuba River Watershed, Nevada County
Certifications: Sun and Earth, OCal Certified, DEM Pure adjacent
Head Cultivator: Daniel Fink
Cultivated: 2,490 sqft
Light dep: Yes
Geographic features: Occupying a southwestern shoulder of a hill at between 17-1800ft elevation we are in a banana belt of the Sierra Foothills. Warmer and dryer than most growing regions we can finish long flowering sativas that many shy away from. Nestled directly between two forks of the Yuba River which brings a daily in and out breath of fresh air. Nearby high peaks all but guarantee cool breeze every evening. Advanced living soil techniques, composting and worm farming has turned compacted red clay into beds of rich soil teeming with life.
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: 8
Genetics sources: Clones from others, Proprietary clones from own mothers, Seeds from others (nurseries and breeder friends)
Top Cultivars: Chemdog and ZCubed
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: Homegrown compost and worm castings. Biochar. 100% organic inputs including fish, seabird guano and rock dusts.
Pest management: Diversity of predators and prey through the use of beneficial insectary hedgerows and pollinator gardens. Homemade sprays of infused oils and alcohol. Infused with thyme, lavender, sages, rosemary, hot peppers etc.
Planting tech: All the beds are hugelkultur mounds on contour with the slope of the hill. Homegrown wood chips, annual cover crop rotations, living mulch, diversity of species above and below ground. Comfrey ferments for nitrogen. Bokashi prep for phosphorus solutions.
Philosophy: Striving for regenerative while embracing modern science. True small batch. Keeping traditions alive.
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 6/1/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 10/9/2025 - 11/12/2025
Earliest Cultivars: ZCubed
Latest Cultivar: Chemdog (always)
Atypical conditions: A wave of early rains and fog brought unusual coolness to the area which didn’t affect me adversely… It was almost a boon to the early harvesting hash varietals as they were kept colder in harvest. The Chemdog which went until early November stood strong and bountiful in spite of the weather.
Notable highlights/challenges: Our water is high in iron and calcium bicarbonate which pushes our soil in the opposite direction that we want. Also can cause excessive mineralization than I would want.
Takeaway: It was a great year of some standards and some exploration. Early rains brought some challenges but we persevered!
Hill Craft Farms
Farm Information
Website: https://hillcraftfarms.com/
Instagram: @hill_craft_farmsnc
Latitude: ~39.300 N
Elevation: ~2,190'
Farm Region/Watershed: Yuba River Watershed, Nevada County / San Juan Ridge
Certifications: Sun + Earth Certified
Head Cultivators: David and Daniel Cooper
Cultivated: 10,000 sqft
Light dep: Yes
Geographic features: Our farm is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Our land is atop a knoll surrounded by foothill pine covered ridges. This is where our name was born, Hill Crafts Farms. Sitting atop a hill with peak growing conditions and the craft of growing cannabis with the utmost care and attention to every detail. We’re at an elevation of 2190 ft on the San Juan ridge and we’re part of the Yuba river watershed. It’s a relatively dry climate the majority of the year. We have long dry falls which allows our cannabis to ripen without the threat of extreme moisture damage, allowing our flower to maintain a pristine and terpy finish. There are many microclimates in our area, our micro climate stays warmer and sunnier than most that surround us. We have long hot days and crisp cool nights with a big open sky that displays the Milky Way and illuminates the land under a full moon. These conditions push the flowers potential in the most desirable way bringing out color, max constituents and terpenes. Our water is pure, clean and abundant. The native soil is a mix of dense rich red clay where Yerba Santa, manzanita, ceanothus and other bushy shrubs grow, while the soil in the areas that are forested with several oak varieties and pines is more fertile, dark and fungal. We mix the native clay and forest soils into our garden soil alongside with composts and amendments to help break down the clay and unlock its nutrient rich properties. Our soil has been building for over a decade through many seasons of winter cover crop, composts, mulches, native inputs, companion plants, and care. Our farm is part of the natural ecosystem including mountain lions, bears, coyotes, hawks, owls, deer and more wildlife.
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: 14
Genetics sources: Clones from Phinest, Haze Valley Nursery, Sanctuary Farms
Top Cultivars: Mile High, Pack Mule, Sour Guava
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: High quality compost, cover crops, oak, manures, fish, kelp, worm castings, straw mulch.
Pest management: Predatory bugs, companion planting, citric acid spray, pruning.
Planting tech: No till, raised beds, compost, hugel hybrid, cover crops, companion plants, heavy mulching.
Philosophy: Work our soil as nature intended. Accommodate the plants' rhythm and allow them to fully express their highest potential.
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 5/28/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 9/29/2025 - 11/12/2025
Earliest Cultivars: Pack Mule and Cadillac Rainbow (September)
Latest Cultivar: Blue Dream
Atypical conditions: We had a wetter fall earlier than usual here, which we lost more to mold than typically. We had rain and then an extended amount of warm days following. The early rain I’d say was the key difference that most of the state would agree on.
Notable highlights/challenges: Often challenges for us is being understaffed. It’s me and my brother for most of the year. The early rain was a little tricky because you want things to fully finish in their most poetic expression but need to be mindful of mold, it’s a dance. It was not too bad though. Capital to grow the brand and update farm needs has been a challenge since legalization. We are slowly increasing that.
Sierra Kind
Farm Information
Website: https://www.sierrakind.com/
Instagram: @sierrakind420
Latitude: ~39.200 N
Elevation: ~1,200'
Farm Region/Watershed: Southern Nevada County
Certifications: None yet
Head Cultivator: Cody Jackson
Cultivated: 14,950 sq ft
Light dep: Yes
Geographic features: Sierra Kind is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in southern Nevada County, at an elevation of just 1200ft. Lower than most farms in our area. The unique micro-climate in our valley provides warm summer days, and cool summer nights, allowing maximum terpene production. Our soil consists mostly of mineral rich decomposed granite, and composted oak, minimizing feeding needs.
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: 20+
Genetics sources: Clones from Top Hat, Purple City Genetics, Humboldt Seed Company, Symbiotic, Lit Farms
Top Cultivars: Super Boof, Pink Kitty, Gushmintz, Bath Saltz
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: Seasonal organic soil amendments, mulched oak from the property, and products by Vital Garden Supply
Pest management: Beneficial insects, predator mites, and clean growing practices
Planting tech: Container gardening currently transitioning to living soil, no-till raised beds with cover crops.
Philosophy: High quality inputs = high quality output. We don't grow anything that we won't smoke!
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 7/4/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 10/1/2025 - 10/27/2025
Earliest Cultivar: Pinnacle
Latest Cultivar: Peak 112
Atypical conditions: Early October rain forced early harvest to avoid mold problems.
Notable highlights/challenges: 2024 was an extremely hot summer, plant growth and quality suffered. We faced delayed construction due to wrong parts being delivered from greenhouse company on greenhouse expansion set our light dep season back by over a month. We lost our oldest son, who was a huge part of the family farm, in mid October, during harvest. The farm came to a screeching halt. We are just now getting back online, and around to processing our harvest.
Green Gift Gardens
Farm Information
Instagram: @greengiftgardens
Latitude: ~39.300 N
Elevation: ~1,500'
Farm Region/Watershed: Yuba River Watershed, Nevada County
Certifications: SUN + EARTH, OCal through CCOF
Head Cultivator: Nicholas Aiello
Cultivated: 10,000 sq ft outdoor; 2,500 sq ft ML tier 1
Light dep: Yes
Geographic features: Our farm sits in a small valley with cultivation happening on the west side of the valley. Next season we will expand to the east side. We are at 1500’ elevation. Microclimate is low desert, hot and dry from June through October. Soil composition varies - we bring in local organic soil for our beds and pots. Native soil varies from some areas having a bit of clay to other areas having rich, sandy, loamy soil.
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: 10
Genetics sources: Clones from Purple City Genetics, Highline Nursery, Haze Nursery; some proprietary strains
Top Cultivars: Hashburger, Blue Halo and Benzina (BZ Gas)
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: Organic materials based upon soil tests — inputs vary by location on premises.
Pest management: Only OCal accepted PM products. Occasional spider mites and aphids managed in hot weather.
Planting tech: Cover cropping, composting, raised beds, smart pots, native soil. Regenerative and organic methods.
Philosophy: We are committed to a relationship with the plant itself. We farm soil, plants, and each other. Only regenerative and organic systems to grow the healthiest and happiest plants possible.
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 7/4/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 6/20/2025 - 11/7/2025
Earliest Cultivars: Blue Halo
Latest Cultivar: Modified Sunset
Atypical conditions: Excessive heat, especially when there is any moisture in the air.
Notable highlights/challenges: Hilly terrain in small valley limits full-day sunlight across all plots. Impossible to find organic clones.
Takeaway: We have learned which cultivars do well in our area.
Perimeter 21 (Greenshock Farms)
Farm Information
Website: https://greenshockfarms.com/
Instagram: @greenshockfarms
Latitude: ~38.900 N
Elevation: ~1,850–2,050'
Farm Region/Watershed: South County Nevada County
Certifications: Self certified, 100% organic inputs, directly incorporating native soil in ground cultivation.
Head Cultivator: Mark Greyshock
Cultivated: 15,000 sqft
Light dep: No
Geographic features: Elevation 870 ft, low Sierra foothills oak woodland, south facing slopes, 12 hour plus of sunshine, vegetation - interior live oak, blue oak, valley oak, black oak, lower range of chapparal belts. Soil composition - ancient seabed with iron rich soils
Genetics Information
Total # of cultivars: Pheno patch - 800 plants of 40 different strains. Main cultivation area 1800 plants and 15 distinct phenos.
Genetics sources: Self sourced - Greenshock Farms
Top Cultivar: Double Lantern
Cultivation Practices
Plant inputs: Living compost, organic certified alfalfa, guano and manure blends.
Pest management: Predator bugs. Plants bred for pest and mildew resistance.
Planting tech: No-till, cover crops, annual composting and surface amendments.
Philosophy: Utilize nature the best we can to allow the full expression of strain specific characteristics and native terroir influence.
Harvest Information
2025 Final Planting Date: 6/1/2025
2025 Harvest Dates: 10/1/2025 - 11/10/2025
Earliest Cultivars: Double Lantern
Latest Cultivar: Green Lantern
Atypical conditions: Typical fall season with mostly warm to hot days and cool nights. The 2025 fall harvest season experienced 3 distinct precipitation events that matched with climatological averages of approx 3" of rain during the harvest period from late September through end of October. We enjoy and look forward to mild rain events during the harvest season to wash the plants, fully activate the soil and the cooler temps adds color and density to the finished flowers.
Notable highlights/challenges: Only real challenges for this farm are generally the occasional extreme summer heat waves of hot days and warm nights. The low Sierra Foothill region is classified as a "thermal belt."
Year to Year takeaway: 2023 and 2024 had both below average precipitation during the harvest period.
This is part 7/8 of the 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report by Budist. Navigate to all 8 parts of the Harvest Report:
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Introduction
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Trinity County
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Humboldt County
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Mendocino County
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Lake County
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Sonoma County
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Nevada County (You are here)
- 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report: Santa Cruz County