Michigan Farm Bureau - Michigan's Voice of Agriculture

    • Michigan Ag Facts

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      County Ag Facts Map
      Take a look at the agriculture statistics from your county! See what kind of impact agriculture has locally.

       

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      Get accurate agriculture facts and meet Michigan farmers from around the state at Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT! 

       

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    • Facts about Michigan agriculture

      Boost your intelligence and impress your family, friends and colleagues with your knowledge of Michigan's often overlooked but truly impressive agriculture industry.

      MI Ag Facts  
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      Agricultural Diversity

      • Michigan produces more than 300 commodities, making us the state with the second most diverse agriculture industry in the nation just behind California.
      • Michigan has a diverse commodity mix that is made up of about 60 percent crops and 40 percent livestock.

       Farms & Farmland

      • In 2014, the number of farms in Michigan totaled 51,600.
      • Michigan has nearly 10 million acres of farmland. 
      • The average size farm in Michigan was 193 acres in 2014.

      Farm Structure

      • 95 percent of Michigan farms are single-family operated and/or family partnerships.
      • Of the few Michigan farms structured as corporations, 99 percent of those are family-owned and involve multiple generations and family members.
      • The average age of a Michigan farmer is 56 years old.
       

      Economics

      • The food and agriculture industry contributes $101.2 billion annually to the state’s economy. 
      • Michigan is home to 2,166 licensed food processors generating nearly $25 billion in economic activity, making Michigan 19th in the nation for food processing.

      Employment

      • Agriculture, food processors, and related businesses employ 923,000 Michiganders — 22 percent of the state’s workforce. 
      • 24,795 Michiganders operate farms as their primary occupation. An additional 52,719 work part-time on farms, while maintaining off-farm jobs.
      • Michigan is home to the nation's pioneer land-grant university, Michigan State University, where the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offers many agriculture-related majors.
       

      Specialty Sectors

      • Michigan ranks third in the nation for number of farmers markets.
      • The state is home to 129 wineries.
      • Michigan boasts more than 200 micro-breweries.

      Exports

      • Michigan exports about one-third of its agricultural commodities each year, generating nearly $2.8 billion.
      • Almost 40 percent of all Michigan’s agricultural exports go directly to Canada, our No. 1 export market.
      • Rounding out the top countries eager for Michigan-grown products are Mexico, Japan, China, and Thailand.

      Tops in National Agricultural Production 

       Our state ranks No. 1 nationally in the production of:
      • Dry Black and Cranberry Beans
      • Begonias
      • Blueberries
      • Tart Cherries
      • Pickling Cucumbers
      • Easter Lilies
      • Geraniums
      • Low Fat Ice Cream Mix
      • Impatiens
      • Petunias
      • Squash

      Major Commodity Sectors (based on cash receipts)

      • Milk
      • Floriculture
      • Corn
      • Soybeans
      • Vegetables
      • Fruit
      • Cattle
      • Hogs
      • Poultry
      • Sugar beets 
        

       Sources and additional resources