Learn more about the agricultural commodities grown and produced in ag states not typically associated with farming.

Agriculture is a major U.S. industry that has a strong global impact, with 2.1 million farms across rural America and $140.5 billion worth of American agricultural products exported around the globe in 2017. Despite the industry’s broad impact, many states aren’t commonly thought of as “ag states” – particularly those with extreme weather conditions and/or several large, densely populated metropolitan areas.

However, every state makes contributions to the nation’s ag industry, and you may be surprised to learn just how big those contributions are in certain places.

For example, Pennsylvania – known as the “Snack Food Capital of the World” due to its major producers of pretzels, potato chips, confectioneries, and chocolate – ranks No. 1 in the U.S. in the production of export grade hardwood. It also lays claim to a thriving dairy industry, ranking sixth in total milk production nationally. In addition, the state’s meat, poultry, and fish products generate more than $4.3 billion in sales each year, and Pennsylvania is one of the largest egg-producing states in the country.

Another state with a prominent ag sector is Arizona, which has several ecosystems that enable farmers to grow many different crops on the same land during a single year. This ag state’s fastest growing sectors are nuts, specifically pecans, and the wine industry. Additionally, it’s home to a variety of specialty crops such as iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, cantaloupe, spinach, and leaf lettuce.

Although it’s the smallest state, Rhode Island is also an ag state. Agriculture is one of the state’s top industries, with farmland covering more than 69,000 acres – that’s about 10 percent of its total land area – and it has over 1,200 farms that produce greenhouse and nursery products, dairy, sweet corn, apples, and potatoes. As an ag state Rhode Island also has approximately 60 aquaculture operations, and more than 8.2 million oysters harvested by the state’s farmers are sold for eating annually.

Whether you operate in a traditional or non-traditional ag state, AgAmerica Lending has the right financing to support the long-term health of your farm or ranch. Schedule a call with our team of land loan experts to learn more about our customizable loan solutions.