The Van Trump Report

The United States of Agriculture

There are more than 2 million farms in the United States, about 98% of which are operated by families, individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. About 87% of all agricultural products in America are produced on family ranches or farms. A single farm feeds an average of 166 people per year, both in the U.S. and abroad. Even so, farming is a mere sliver of the U.S. economy, representing just 1% of America’s GDP—farm and ranch families make up less than 2% of America’s population.  Stacker developed a list of each state’s top agricultural exports and ranked them against all states using 2019 agricultural export data from the USDA released Oct. 26, 2020. Below is some really interesting ag trivia about each state as well as their top 5 exports and how it ranks nationally in parentheses (Sources: Substack, USDA):
Alabama: Families or individuals operate 91% of all farms in Alabama, according to a 2019 Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries report. The state’s agricultural producers sold $6 billion worth of products that year, but those products cost $4.6 billion to produce. Top export categories:

#1. Broiler meat: $345.7 million (#4 among all states)
#2. Cotton: $308.5 million (#6)
#3. Other plant products: $234.3 million (#23)
#4. Other oilseeds and products: $95.5 million (#6)
#5. Other livestock products: $69.3 million (#15)

Alaska: With the number of farms in the state jumping by 30% from 2012 and 2017, Alaska is experiencing a boom in agriculture, according to Politico. Residents across the state have adopted a local-first attitude toward eating, and it shows in the number of young people taking up the trade. With 46% of Alaska’s farmers working on fewer than 10 years experience, no other state has a higher percentage of beginning farmers. Top export categories:

#1. Other plant products: $13.9 million (#50 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $1.8 million (#49)
#3. Feeds and other feed grains: $0.9 million (#45)
#4. Beef and veal: $0.4 million (#49)
#5. Grain products, processed: $0.4 million (#45)

Arizona: Nationally, Arizona ranks second in the production of lemons, third in tangerine production. Cotton was briefly the state’s largest resource, now ranking #11 in the nation. Cotton planting plummeted in the state from 695,000 acres in 1953 to around 125,000 in 2020.

#1. Vegetables, processed: $500.5 million (#2 among all states)
#2. Vegetables, fresh: $298.3 million (#2)
#3. Other plant products: $254.0 million (#21)
#4. Cotton: $162.6 million (#11)
#5. Dairy products: $124.5 million (#14)

Arkansas: Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry, adding around $16 billion to the state’s economy annually. The Natural State’s diverse landscape and climate produce a wide variety of Arkansas agricultural products. Arkansas is a major exporter of rice, soybeans, cotton, poultry and feed grains. There are 49,346 farms statewide and 97 percent of Arkansas’ farms are family-owned. A mere 16 percent of Arkansas’ farms account for a whopping 92 percent of production.

#1. Rice: $722.0 million (#1 among all states)
#2. Soybeans: $679.3 million (#11)
#3. Cotton: $427.3 million (#5)
#4. Broiler meat: $411.6 million (#2)
#5. Soybean meal: $159.8 million (#11)

California: The undisputed growing epicenter of the United States, California’s $50 billion agricultural sector includes more than 400 commodities. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the state provides one-third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. A full 13% of America’s total U.S. agriculture value is credited to the Golden State.

#1. Tree nuts: $8.5 billion (#1 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $3.4 billion (#1)
#3. Fruits, fresh: $2.8 billion (#1)
#4. Fruits, processed: $2.4 billion (#1)
#5. Vegetables, processed: $2.0 billion (#1)

Colorado: Colorado ranks first in the country for the production of proso millet and in the top ten in approximately 20 other commodities including cattle and calves, winter wheat, market sheep and lambs, wool production, alfalfa, potatoes, onions, apples, peaches, grapes and melons.

#1. Beef and veal: $443.1 million (#5 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $349.3 million (#15)
#3. Wheat: $253.0 million (#8)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $172.9 million (#13)
#5. Dairy products: $131.6 million (#13)

Connecticut: Connecticut’s #1 export is “other plant products,” but those products are much more colorful than that bland title implies. Greenhouse and nursery production products account for over 40% of the state’s total agricultural production, resulting in a higher market value than all other agricultural products in the state combined.

#1. Other plant products: $241.1 million (#22 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $19.0 million (#43)
#3. Dairy products: $11.9 million (#34)
#4. Other poultry products: $5.3 million (#40)
#5. Beef and veal: $1.4 million (#44)

Delaware: Nearly three out of four dollars of Delaware’s cash farm income comes from meat chickens—both Tyson and Perdue have operations there. Delaware-produced broiler chickens are big, 7.2 pounds compared to the national average of 6.2. Most of the grain grown in the state is used for chicken feed.

#1. Broiler meat: $107.2 million (#7 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $55.2 million (#46)
#3. Soybeans: $31.2 million (#26)
#4. Corn: $14.9 million (#30)
#5. Feeds and other feed grains: $14.2 million (#39)

Florida: Spanning an impressive 9.7 million acres, Florida’s farms and ranches produce more than 300 commodities. The state is home to 47,400 ag operations, and agriculture and agribusiness contribute more than $7.6 billion to the state’s economy. The state ranks second in the nation for vegetable production, only behind California, and is responsible for 45% of the nation’s total citrus production. In terms of value, Florida produces not only more oranges and grapefruits than any other state in America, but also more cucumbers, squash, fresh market tomatoes, fresh market snap beans, and sugarcane.

#1. Other plant products: $1.8 billion (#2 among all states)
#2. Fruits, fresh: $373.0 million (#3)
#3. Fruits, processed: $323.4 million (#3)
#4. Vegetables, processed: $295.5 million (#4)
#5. Vegetables, fresh: $176.1 million (#4)

Georgia: The oldest and largest industry in the state, agriculture—as well as forestry and related fields—employs one in seven Georgians, according to the Georgia Farm Bureau. Year after year, the state produces more spring onions, blueberries, pecans, broiler chickens, and peanuts than any other state. In all, more than 42,000 farms are spread across nearly 10 million acres of Georgia land.

#1. Cotton: $695.0 million (#2 among all states)
#2. Other oilseeds and products: $487.4 million (#2)
#3. Broiler meat: $459.7 million (#1)
#4. Other plant products: $280.7 million (#19)
#5. Tree nuts: $134.2 million (#3)

Hawaii: Sugar and pineapples were long the workhorses of Hawaii’s agricultural sector, but both industries are now in rapid decline. In fact, the last sugar grower in the state closed in 2016 after nearly 150 years in operation, according to the Washington Post. Tens of thousands of acres of land that once grew pineapples now sit fallow, too, as the Pacific island chain moves toward an economy that is overwhelmingly dominated by tourism.

#1. Other plant products: $213.3 million (#26 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $49.2 million (#23)
#3. Tree nuts: $47.8 million (#7)
#4. Beef and veal: $5.2 million (#42)
#5. Other poultry products: $1.6 million (#48)

Idaho: Although the state’s 25,000 farms and ranches produce more than 185 different commodities, Idaho is famous worldwide for its potatoes—and for good reason. One out of three potatoes grown in the United States comes from Idaho soil and thanks to local processing centers, most of the country’s French fries are not only grown from Idaho potatoes, but are also processed in the state.

#1. Other plant products: $501.4 million (#10 among all states)
#2. Dairy products: $417.5 million (#3)
#3. Wheat: $348.2 million (#5)
#4. Vegetables, processed: $288.7 million (#5)
#5. Beef and veal: $212.1 million (#11)

Illinois: Illinois farmland covers 27 million acres — about 75 percent of the state’s total land area. Most farm acreage is devoted to grain, mainly corn and soybeans. Illinois ranks third nationally in the export of agricultural commodities with $8.2 billion worth of goods shipped to other countries. Exports from Illinois account for 6 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports. Illinois is the nation’s second leading exporter of both soybeans and feed grains and related products. Approximately 44 percent of grain produced in Illinois is sold for export.

#1. Soybeans: $2.9 billion (#1 among all states)
#2. Corn: $1.2 billion (#2)
#3. Feeds and other feed grains: $1.1 billion (#2)
#4. Soybean meal: $691.9 million (#1)
#5. Grain products, processed: $445.7 million (#2)

Indiana: More than 80% of the land in Indiana is claimed by farms and forests, according to the state Department of Agriculture. The #10 largest farming state in America, Indiana is home to 4.2 million hogs, 20.5 million turkeys, and 56,649 farms, 96% of which are family-owned or operated.

#1. Soybeans: $1.5 billion (#4 among all states)
#2. Corn: $533.5 million (#5)
#3. Feeds and other feed grains: $498.6 million (#5)
#4. Pork: $391.2 million (#4)
#5. Soybean meal: $355.8 million (#4)

Iowa: Long known for its endless expanses of cornfields, Iowa exports more corn than any state in America—but its biggest export is pork. In fact, one-third of America’s hogs are raised there, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Six of Iowa’s 10 biggest exports rank #1 in the country, and although it produces more eggs than any other state, Iowa is such a farming powerhouse that eggs don’t even rank among its top 10 exports.

#1. Pork: $2.5 billion (#1 among all states)
#2. Soybeans: $2.4 billion (#2)
#3. Corn: $1.3 billion (#1)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $1.2 billion (#1)
#5. Soybean meal: $573.3 million (#2)

Kansas: Kansas produces one-fifth of all the wheat grown in the whole of America, making it the #1 wheat producer in the country, according to the Kansas Department of Agriculture. It also ranks first in terms of its flour milling capacity. The state’s dairy industry is emerging as one of the biggest in America, but that’s not reflected in its exports—75% of the dairy produced in Kansas remains in the state.

#1. Beef and veal: $1.0 billion (#3 among all states)
#2. Wheat: $955.0 million (#2)
#3. Soybeans: $853.6 million (#10)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $480.8 million (#6)
#5. Corn: $382.5 million (#6)

Kentucky: About half of Kentucky’s 25.4 million acres are dedicated to agriculture, and its farms are much more likely to be small farms than in the country as a whole. The average farm there is 171 acres compared to the national average of 444 acres, according to Kentucky Food and Farm. Kentucky ranks #1 in “other livestock products,” which might have to do with the fact that its equine industry—horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys—contributes $4 billion to the state economy.

#1. Other livestock products: $519.2 million (#1 among all states)
#2. Soybeans: $425.8 million (#13)
#3. Tobacco: $203.6 million (#2)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $144.3 million (#15)
#5. Corn: $122.0 million (#14)

Louisiana: The 27,400 farms operating in Louisiana consume 8 million acres across the state, according to the USDA. The state is home to 800,000 heads of cattle and Louisiana produces a combined 152 million pounds of milk a year. Sugar cane is the leading farm product in Louisiana. Other important crops are rice, soybeans, cotton, and corn.

#1. Other plant products: $446.2 million (#11 among all states)
#2. Rice: $224.3 million (#3)
#3. Soybeans: $210.2 million (#18)
#4. Cotton: $153.7 million (#12)
#5. Other livestock products: $141.3 million (#4)

Maine: Although the state is working to bring young farmers back to the land, Maine lost 573 farms between 2012–17, as well as 10% of its farmland during the same time period. It is the largest producer of brown eggs and wild blueberries in the world. It ranks eighth in the country in production of potatoes and second for maple syrup. It ranks second in New England in milk and livestock production. The small, diversified farms across Maine supply niche markets with organic produce and meat, value-added products as well as fiber products.

#1. Other plant products: $112.1 million (#36 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $43.9 million (#27)
#3. Vegetables, processed: $38.5 million (#18)
#4. Vegetables, fresh: $22.9 million (#18)
#5. Dairy products: $18.0 million (#32)

Maryland: Livestock products comprise the bulk of Maryland’s farm income. Most of Maryland’s crop income is from greenhouse and nursery products (flowers, ornamental shrubs, young fruit trees). Corn for grain and soybeans are also important sources of revenue in the state.

#1. Other plant products: $210.2 million (#27 among all states)
#2. Broiler meat: $101.5 million (#10)
#3. Soybeans: $99.8 million (#21)
#4. Other livestock products: $49.8 million (#22)
#5. Wheat: $41.7 million (#21)

Massachusetts: A state known for hyper-small farms, Massachusetts has nearly a half-million acres dedicated to agriculture, but the average farm consists of just 68 acres and produces only $65,624 worth of products a year. The greenhouse and nursery sector dominates the state’s agricultural economy.

#1. Other plant products: $155.1 million (#30 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $22.0 million (#39)
#3. Fruits, fresh: $13.1 million (#15)
#4. Fruits, processed: $11.3 million (#15)
#5. Dairy products: $5.4 million (#39)

Michigan: Michigan produces more than 300 commodities as part of its $104.7 billion agriculture economy, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. None of those commodities, however, are more significant than livestock and field crops, which add $5.13 billion and $5.12 billion, respectively to the economy. About 805,000 Michiganders—17% of the state’s workforce—work in agriculture.

#1. Other plant products: $704.6 million (#6 among all states)
#2. Soybeans: $421.3 million (#14)
#3. Dairy products: $287.2 million (#6)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $152.6 million (#14)
#5. Corn: $149.6 million (#13)

Minnesota: If you’re one of the millions of Americans who ate Turkey this Thanksgiving, there’s a high chance it was raised in Minnesota—no state produces more. About 48 million of the 240 million turkeys produced annually come from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Most turkeys produced in the United States do not, however, wind up on American dinner tables—more than 60% are exported to Mexico.

#1. Soybeans: $1.6 billion (#3 among all states)
#2. Pork: $859.7 million (#2)
#3. Corn: $675.5 million (#4)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $641.9 million (#4)
#5. Other plant products: $416.4 million (#13)

Mississippi: Although soybeans are now Mississippi’s biggest export, the state’s most significant product in terms of production is poultry and eggs, according to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing approximately 17.4% of the state’s workforce either directly or indirectly.

#1. Soybeans: $478.4 million (#12 among all states)
#2. Cotton: $469.6 million (#3)
#3. Broiler meat: $268.4 million (#5)
#4. Other livestock products: $127.5 million (#6)
#5. Soybean meal: $112.5 million (#12)

Missouri: Nearly 100,000 farms cover two-thirds of the Show Me State’s total land acreage, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Only Texas has more farms than the 95,320 that exists in Missouri, and the state ranks among the top 10 in the country in the production of cows, rice, goats, cotton, hay, turkeys, hogs, soybeans, horses and ponies, corn, and broiler chickens.

#1. Soybeans: $1.2 billion (#7 among all states)
#2. Pork: $292.5 million (#7)
#3. Cotton: $291.8 million (#7)
#4. Soybean meal: $272.6 million (#7)
#5. Feeds and other feed grains: $269.2 million (#9)

Montana: Year after year, agriculture is the leading industry in Montana by far, contributing more to the state economy than even the mighty energy, mining, and travel industries. The annual value of crop production in Montana is more than $1.8 billion, according to Montana.gov.

#1. Wheat: $689.9 million (#3 among all states)
#2. Beef and veal: $165.6 million (#13)
#3. Other plant products: $105.0 million (#39)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $98.5 million (#19)
#5. Grain products, processed: $94.8 million (#13)

Nebraska: Like Montana, Nebraska’s #1 industry is agriculture, and the industry is dominated by beef production, according to the Nebraska Beef Council. A state where there are literally more cows than people, Nebraska has a population of 1.8 million but finishes and markets 5 million head of cattle per year. America’s top three cow counties are all located in Nebraska.

#1. Soybeans: $1.4 billion (#5 among all states)
#2. Beef and veal: $1.3 billion (#1)
#3. Corn: $958.7 million (#3)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $919.1 million (#3)
#5. Grain products, processed: $379.1 million (#3)

Nevada: Nevada has comparatively few ranches, but they’re big—the average ranch is 3,500 acres, giving Nevada claim to the title as the state with the third-largest ranches in America. Cattle and calves drive the state’s agriculture industry, but alfalfa hay is its top cash crop, according to the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

#1. Beef and veal: $39.1 million (#32 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $38.5 million (#48)
#3. Feeds and other feed grains: $21.0 million (#38)
#4. Dairy products: $20.6 million (#31)
#5. Other livestock products: $11.3 million (#45)

New Hampshire: Agriculture is booming in New Hampshire, according to the USDA, with farming now serving as a major component of the state’s economy. Thanks to New Hampshire’s notorious winters, many of its growers rely on greenhouses and nurseries to produce the state’s #1 agricultural export.

#1. Other plant products: $56.8 million (#45 among all states)
#2. Dairy products: $6.6 million (#37)
#3. Other poultry products: $6.0 million (#38)
#4. Other livestock products: $3.8 million (#48)
#5. Beef and veal: $1.1 million (#47)

New Jersey: New Jersey is known as the Garden State, and agriculture is the #3 biggest industry in the state, behind only pharmaceuticals and tourism. New Jersey’s 9,000 farms generate 10-figure cash receipts. Although it’s famous for corn, tomatoes, and blueberries, New Jersey’s biggest ag industry is greenhouses, nurseries, and sod, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

#1. Other plant products: $438.0 million (#12 among all states)
#2. Fruits, fresh: $27.8 million (#12)
#3. Fruits, processed: $24.1 million (#12)
#4. Vegetables, processed: $21.9 million (#20)
#5. Other livestock products: $19.8 million (#41)

New Mexico: New Mexico’s legendary cattle drives date back to the age of the cattle barons and the Chisolm Trail. Today, the beef and dairy industries continue to thrive with 1.5 million head of cattle grazing in the state, according to the state Department of Agriculture. In total, New Mexico’s agriculture industry is approaching $3 billion in cash receipts.

#1. Dairy products: $201.9 million (#9 among all states)
#2. Tree nuts: $161.4 million (#2)
#3. Beef and veal: $121.4 million (#14)
#4. Other plant products: $114.7 million (#35)
#5. Vegetables, processed: $38.1 million (#19)

New York: About 20% of New York’s land is farmland—that’s about 7 million acres, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. Nearly 700 farmers markets dot New York, which is America’s #4 dairy state. The Empire State grows more than 40 varieties of apples, more than any other state in America.

#1. Other plant products: $522.7 million (#8 among all states)
#2. Dairy products: $416.5 million (#4)
#3. Feeds and other feed grains: $70.5 million (#23)
#4. Soybeans: $63.9 million (#23)
#5. Fruits, fresh: $61.4 million (#7)

North Carolina: North Carolina’s old and historic agriculture sector dominates the state’s economy, according to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. About 1,600 of the Tarheel State’s 52,000 farms are “century farms.” That means they’ve been in continuous family ownership for more than 100 years.

#1. Pork: $686.3 million (#3 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $502.0 million (#9)
#3. Broiler meat: $411.1 million (#3)
#4. Tobacco: $333.1 million (#1)
#5. Cotton: $269.1 million (#8)

North Dakota: Although soybeans have the highest market value and the #2 export value among agricultural products in North Dakota, the state boasts one of the most diverse farming economies in the country, according to the USDA. In 2017, it produced more edible dry beans than any other state, as well as more spring wheat, Durum wheat, honey, flaxseed, canola, dry edible peas, navy beans, and pinto beans. An astonishing 89% of North Dakota land is occupied by farms.

#1. Wheat: $1.1 billion (#1 among all states)
#2. Soybeans: $906.1 million (#8)
#3. Other oilseeds and products: $563.2 million (#1)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $225.0 million (#11)
#5. Soybean meal: $213.2 million (#8)

Ohio: Agriculture is the biggest contributor to the Ohio economy—one out of eight of the state’s residents work in farming. Half of the state’s 74,500 farms have livestock, according to the Ohio Livestock Coalition, and the state is home to 2,200 dairy farms.

#1. Soybeans: $1.2 billion (#6 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $399.4 million (#14)
#3. Corn: $300.7 million (#8)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $293.5 million (#8)
#5. Soybean meal: $280.1 million (#6)

Oklahoma: Oklahoma is home to 86,000 farms (4th in the nation,) covering 35,100,000 acres. With more than 2.07 million head of cattle, it’s the #2 beef cow state in the country behind only Nebraska. Its 5.5 million head of cattle and calves make it the #4 producer in that category. Oklahoma’s most valuable crop is wheat.

#1. Beef and veal: $400.1 million (#6 among all states)
#2. Wheat: $309.7 million (#6)
#3. Pork: $308.1 million (#6)
#4. Cotton: $216.8 million (#10)
#5. Other plant products: $136.1 million (#31)

Oregon: According to the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon is first in the nation in several unique categories, including Christmas trees, black raspberries, hazelnuts, sugar beets, crimson clover, azaleas, boysenberries, and peppermint. A state known for specialty crops, Oregon produces more than 220 recognized commodities.

#1. Other plant products: $1.2 billion (#3 among all states)
#2. Wheat: $193.0 million (#11)
#3. Vegetables, processed: $98.7 million (#10)
#4. Beef and veal: $90.1 million (#20)
#5. Tree nuts: $82.6 million (#4)

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania’s massive dairy industry is broken down into three segments: liquid milk, ice cream and frozen desserts, and butter and cheese. Its cattle also serve as breeding stock for herds around the world, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

#1. Other plant products: $783.2 million (#5 among all states)
#2. Dairy products: $283.2 million (#7)
#3. Soybeans: $130.3 million (#19)
#4. Pork: $103.8 million (#13)
#5. Feeds and other feed grains: $101.3 million (#18)

Rhode Island: Thanks to a burgeoning eat-local movement, tiny Rhode Island is witnessing a boom in young, beginning farmers, according to NPR. Real estate prices are rising quickly, however, making land unaffordable for many growers. In response, the state developed a program where the government offers farmers a special agriculture rate on purchased land.

#1. Other plant products: $25.1 million (#49 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $5.4 million (#46)
#3. Other poultry products: $1.1 million (#49)
#4. Dairy products: $0.3 million (#48)
#5. Beef and veal: $0.2 million (#50)

South Carolina: South Carolina boasts one of America’s oldest agriculture industries—rice was first brought there from Madagascar in 1685. Today, the state is home to 25,000 farms spread across nearly 5 million acres of land, according to the state Department of Agriculture. Its biggest commodities are broilers, turkey, greenhouses and nurseries, cotton, and corn.

#1. Other plant products: $225.4 million (#24 among all states)
#2. Cotton: $141.5 million (#13)
#3. Broiler meat: $101.8 million (#9)
#4. Soybeans: $44.9 million (#25)
#5. Other oilseeds and products: $44.6 million (#9)

South Dakota: At least 97% of the farms in South Dakota are family owned, according to the state Department of Agriculture, many of which are more than 100 years old. The state’s $35 billion agriculture industry is driven by 49,000 producers working more than 30,000 farms spread out across more than 19 million acres of cropland and about 22 million acres of pastureland.

#1. Soybeans: $891.3 million (#9 among all states)
#2. Feeds and other feed grains: $350.1 million (#7)
#3. Corn: $343.7 million (#7)
#4. Beef and veal: $333.4 million (#8)
#5. Pork: $230.5 million (#9)

Tennessee: Tennessee is home to 68,050 farms encompassing 10.8 million acres, with average farm size ringing in at 160 acres. Tennessee agriculture and forestry provide more than 363,500 jobs for Tennesseans, boosting the economy with an annual impact of $71.4 billion. That’s 10.3% of the state’s workforce. Along with crops and commodities, the state’s agribusiness sector is booming, with brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Bush’s Beans and MoonPies calling Tennessee home.

#1. Soybeans: $329.5 million (#16 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $272.8 million (#20)
#3. Cotton: $251.9 million (#9)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $91.4 million (#20)
#5. Soybean meal: $77.5 million (#16)

Texas: With 248,416 farms and ranches, no other state comes close to challenging Texas’ title of the state with the most farms in America. In all, a sprawling 127 million acres of land are dedicated to agriculture in the Lonestar State, according to the state Department of Agriculture. Texas’ famous and massive cattle industry is worth $12.3 billion and accounts for more than half the state’s agriculture economy.

#1. Cotton: $2.1 billion (#1 among all states)
#2. Beef and veal: $1.0 billion (#2)
#3. Other plant products: $855.2 million (#4)
#4. Dairy products: $386.2 million (#5)
#5. Feeds and other feed grains: $255.4 million (#10)

Utah: While Utah has a diverse agricultural sector, 69% of Utah’s farm receipts comes from livestock, according to FarmFlavor. There are more than 18,000 farms operating across 11 million acres of Utah land.

#1. Other plant products: $125.4 million (#34 among all states)
#2. Dairy products: $60.8 million (#21)
#3. Beef and veal: $60.2 million (#25)
#4. Pork: $52.5 million (#16)
#5. Other livestock products: $42.9 million (#28)

Vermont: The vast majority of Vermont’s 6,808 farms grow less than $50,000 worth of agricultural products a year, according to the USDA. Livestock accounts for the biggest piece of the pie by far, with cow’s milk, cattle and calves, and poultry and eggs serving as the state’s top moneymakers.

#1. Other plant products: $97.0 million (#40 among all states)
#2. Dairy products: $75.3 million (#19)
#3. Beef and veal: $8.3 million (#41)
#4. Other livestock products: $5.1 million (#47)
#5. Other poultry products: $2.8 million (#44)

Virginia: Virginia’s $70 billion agriculture industry is the state’s most significant private industry by far—it has no close second that even begins to pose a challenge. According to Virginia.gov, every agriculture job supports 1.7 non-ag jobs in Virginia. In total, the agriculture and forestry industries account for 334,000 jobs.

#1. Other plant products: $292.1 million (#18 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $121.2 million (#8)
#3. Soybeans: $100.1 million (#20)
#4. Broiler meat: $96.6 million (#11)
#5. Cotton: $64.7 million (#15)

Washington: Washington state boasts a diverse agricultural economy that produces more than 300 different commodities, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, but one stands out above all the others. The $2.19 billion apple industry is the king of Washington agriculture. It is responsible for 70% of all apple production in the whole United States.

#1. Other plant products: $673.5 million (#7 among all states)
#2. Fruits, fresh: $672.2 million (#2)
#3. Fruits, processed: $582.8 million (#2)
#4. Wheat: $551.6 million (#4)
#5. Vegetables, processed: $306.6 million (#3)

West Virginia: West Virginia ranks 15th for peach production, 14th for turkey production, 12th for trout production, and 10th for apple production. The #1 crop is hay, which is grown mostly to feed the state’s livestock.

#1. Other plant products: $61.1 million (#43 among all states)
#2. Other livestock products: $24.5 million (#38)
#3. Beef and veal: $19.6 million (#38)
#4. Other poultry products: $18.6 million (#25)
#5. Broiler meat: $15.9 million (#21)

Wisconsin: Famous worldwide for its dairy and cheese, Wisconsin’s $105 billion agriculture industry is surprisingly diverse, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. It ranks first in the nation in terms of corn for silage, milk goats, dry whey for humans, mink pelts, ginseng, cranberries, snap beans for processing, and, of course, cheese.

#1. Dairy products: $834.5 million (#2 among all states)
#2. Soybeans: $399.5 million (#15)
#3. Other plant products: $298.1 million (#17)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $218.0 million (#12)
#5. Corn: $214.9 million (#10)

Wyoming: The cattle industry dominates Wyoming’s agriculture economy, accounting for more than half of all cash receipts, according to the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation. Because of the need to feed all that cattle, hay is the biggest crop in Wyoming by far.

#1. Beef and veal: $108.5 million (#16 among all states)
#2. Other plant products: $49.6 million (#47)
#3. Other livestock products: $46.8 million (#24)
#4. Feeds and other feed grains: $44.0 million (#30)
#5. Pork: $20.6 million (#21)

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