Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing approximately 17% of the state’s workforce either directly or indirectly. Agriculture in Mississippi is a 6.88 billion-dollar industry. There are approximately 42,300 farms in the state covering 11 million acres. The average size farm is composed of 262 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 - $2.5 BILLION |
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» Approximately 817 million broilers were produced in 2010.
» 1,478 Farms.
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2 |
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FORESTRY - $1.1 BILLION |
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» 19,600,000 acres.
» 125,000 forest landowners.
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3 |
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SOYBEANS - $821 MILLION |
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» 76,050,000 bushels in 2010.
» 2,695 Farms. |
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» 97,820,000 bushels produced in 2010.
» 2,113 Farms.
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» 850,000 bales produced in 2010.
» 760 Farms.
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» 20,020,000 hundredweight rice produced in 2010.
» 341 Farms.
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» 230 operations
» 60,000 acres of production in 2010.
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CATTLE/CALVES - $169 MILLION |
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» 970,000 head in 2010.
» 14,535 Farms.
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» 700,000 acres harvested.
» 1.82 million tons produced.
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» 375,000 hogs and pigs.
» 439 Farms.
» 180 million pounds sold.
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11 |
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HORTICULTURE CROPS - $93 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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» 129 Grade A Dairy Herds.
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13 |
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SWEET POTATOES - $56 MILLION |
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» 19,200 acres harvested.
» 2,535,000 hundredweight produced
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» 105,000 acres harvested.
» 5.25 million bushels produced.
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» 18,000 acres harvested.
» 57.6 million pounds produced.
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Mississippi Value of Production Estimates
December 2010
Source: Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine - Mississippi State University
