TULARE - In just two years, more than 18,800 acres of farmland in several San Joaquin Valley counties became subdivisions, shopping malls or other developments, setting a new state record for loss of farmland, according to newly released state data.

A healthy real estate and construction market spurred farmers in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare and Merced counties to sell 18,801 acres between June 2002 and June 2004, said Molly Penberth, manager of the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Department of Conservation.

Preliminary data from the program that tracks land development, found roughly 26 acres of farmland were removed from production each day in the two-year period, Penberth said.

A full report will be released in the next few months.

Fresno County, the nation's No.1 agriculture county in production value, lost the most farmland as parking lots at California State University, Fresno, new schools and 100 acres of new homes in Selma replaced crops, Penberth said Tuesday.

Farm groups are working with the Great Valley Center in Modesto on a plan for growth in the valley.