Minnesota is ranked fifth in the country for agricultural production, despite only having the 14th largest land mass.
In 2015, the 74,000 farms in Minnesota produced $18.9 billion in agricultural products that fed and supplied people around the world. More than 340,000 Minnesotans have jobs in agriculture.
Minnesota’s largest agricultural commodities are corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, and dairy. The state is also a top producer of sugar beets, oats, turkeys, and wild rice.
There is a growing diversity of farmers across the state, and farmers make a variety of choices about what and how to farm. Due to changing consumer demands, the number of organic farms has increased by 13% since 2011, while still making up only a small percentage of farms in the state.
Who is farming is also changing. For example, since 2002, 222 Hmong farmers have started small operations around the Twin Cities area. You can meet farmers at one of the 188 farmers markets across the state.
Learn more about Minnesota agriculture
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Extensive information and resources on state policies: livestock feed, chemical use, clean water initiatives, government subsidies, etc. - State Agriculture Overview
U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service
Crop data, rank among U.S. states in several categories, economic characteristics, operator characteristics - The Minnesota Farmer: Demographic Trends and Relevant Laws (PDF)
House Research Department and Minnesota State Demographic Center, 2015
Examines trends in those who operate Minnesota farms and identifies policies intended to reduce potential barriers for aspiring farmers who might replace the state’s current farm operators in the future, including those from groups deemed “socially disadvantaged” by the USDA. - Farm Flavor: Minnesota Agriculture
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
A robust industry from the beginning, Minnesota agriculture is showing no sign of slowing down, contributing $75 billion to the state’s economy annually.