Skip to main content
Michigan Agriculture Resources

Michigan Agriculture Resources

Publications

Michigan Agriculture Facts & Figures

Michigan Agriculture Facts & Figures

2022 Michigan Agriculture Magazine cover

Michigan Agriculture Magazine
A guide to Michigan's farms, forests, food and exports, featuring stories about the state's top crops, livestock, agribusiness, tourism, food safety and local products.

Cover of MI Farm Fun: Pink cherry blossoms in bloom

Discover Michigan Farm Fun - Michigan's Agricultural Tourism Directory
All across Michigan, there are agricultural experiences to discover.


 

Facts about Michigan Agriculture

Agricultural Diversity

  • Michigan produces more than 300 commodities on a commercial basis, including tart cherries, blueberries, dry beans, floriculture products, and cucumbers for pickles.

Economy

  • The food and agriculture industry contributes $104.7 billion annually to the state's economy.
  • Livestock (including dairy) has the greatest economic impact at $5.13 billion, followed by field crops with an economic impact of $5.12 billion.
  • The total impact of nursery and landscape production, including backward linked industries, is $1.26 billion. The direct value of the vegetable sector is $278.32 million with a total economic impact of approximately $428.2 million. The direct economic impact of fruit production in the state is $485.44 million. The total economic activity including backward linked industries related to fruit production is $753.01 million.

Employment

  • Michigan's food and agriculture system is a large portion of this state's workforce. Total employment resulting from this sector is approximately 805,000, which accounts for about 17 percent of the state's employment.

Exports

  • In 2018, Michigan exported $1.98 billion in food and agricultural products. Michigan's top export markets are Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and China.
  • Michigan's top agricultural exports are processed food products; wood and wood products; soybeans and soybean meal; vegetables and dry beans; and cereals, baked goods, and pasta.
  • Exports help boost farm prices and income, while also supporting more than 17,065 Michigan jobs both on and off the farm in food processing, storage, and transportation.
  • Every $1 in export activity generates another $2.87 in economic activity, meaning Michigan's total agriculture exports of $1.98 billion have a local impact of an additional $5.6 billion.

Farms & Farmland

  • There are just under 10 million acres of farmland in Michigan, and the state is home to roughly 47,600 farms.

Keep up with Michigan Agriculture

Want to stay in touch with Michigan food and farmers? Here are a few ways to get started:

  • Buy Local Products - Want to support producers in the state? Discover products made in Michigan by visiting the Michigan Ag Council website.
  • Keep Learning - Ag in the Classroom provides agricultural education to students across the state. For more information, visit the Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom website.
  • Share Infographics - Download shareable graphics featuring the state's top 10 agriculture products, seasonal produce calendars and more at the Michigan Farm Flavor website.
  • Shop at a Farmers Market - With more than 300 farmers markets across the state, it's easy to buy fresh, local produce, meats and other foods in Michigan. To find a farmers market near you, visit the Michigan Farmers Market Association website.
  • Stay in Touch - Keep up with the wide-ranging efforts of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at Michigan.gov/MDARD.
  • Visit a Farm - Picking berries, exploring a corn maze, selecting the perfect Christmas tree - these are just some of the fun things to do on farms. To learn more about Michigan agritourism, visit the Michigan Farm Fun website.

Michigan Agriculture Industry Links

Food Industry Links

Related Links