Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing approximately 29% of the state’s workforce either directly or indirectly. Agriculture in Mississippi is a 7.51 billion-dollar industry. There are approximately 42,400 farms in the state covering 11.2 million acres. The average size farm is composed of 263 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 82 counties. In celebration of the efforts of those who work so hard to feed and clothe us, we present this overview of Mississippi’s top ten agricultural crops.
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POULTRY / EGGS - $2.53 BILLION |
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» Approximately 758 million broilers were produced in 2012.
» 1,478 Farms.
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2 |
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SOYBEANS - $1.16 BILLION |
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» 82,320,000 bushels in 2012.
» 2,695 Farms.
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FORESTRY - $1.03 BILLION |
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» 19,600,000 acres.
» 125,000 forest landowners. |
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» 121,680,000 bushels produced in 2012.
» 2,113 Farms.
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» 940,000 bales produced in 2012.
» 760 Farms. |
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6 |
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CATTLE/CALVES - $329 MILLION |
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» 950,000 head in 2012.
» 17,752 Farms.
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» 180 operations.
» 51,200 acres of production in 2012. |
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» 750,000 acres harvested.
» 1.95 million tons produced.
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» 345,000 acres harvested.
» 19.7 million bushels produced.
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» 8,733,000 hundredweight rice produced in 2012.
» 341 Farms. |
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» 355,000 hogs and pigs.
» 439 Farms. |
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12 |
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HORTICULTURE CROPS - $96 MILLION |
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Horticulture crops include vegetables, melons, potatoes,
fruits, tree nuts, berries, nursery, greenhouses, floriculture,
sod, and Christmas trees.
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13 |
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SWEET POTATOES - $79 MILLION |
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» 23,000 acres harvested.
» 4,163,000 hundredweight produced.
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» 48,000 acres harvested.
» 187.2 million pounds produced..
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» 109 Grade A Dairy Herds.
» 14,000 milk cows in 2012.
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Mississippi Value of Production Estimates,
December 2012 |
Source:
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Mississippi State University, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine;
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation |
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