Oregon State Agriculture Continues to Prosper
Take a look at Oregon’s top agricultural commodities
Home to 34,200 farms and more than 16 million acres of farmland, Oregon has a diverse agricultural industry. With over 250 commodities grown across the state, second to California in the number of agricultural commodities produced, the agricultural industry is highly profitable and a major economic driver. The state’s annual agricultural production is valued at $3.5 billion, and nearly 10 percent of Oregon’s economy is related to agriculture. Additionally, approximately one in 12 Oregon jobs are tied to the agriculture industry (that’s a total of 140,000 jobs), and about 60,000 of those jobs are on farms.
If you were to look at an Oregon agriculture map, you’d see that the state has eight distinct agricultural regions. Along with feeding the state’s residents, Oregon growers are feeding the rest of the nation and people around the world. For example, Oregon exported nearly $1.9 billion in agricultural products to foreign countries in 2016, and each year, Oregon sends about 80 percent of its agricultural bounty across state lines.
Looking for more Oregon state facts that pertain to agriculture? Just keep reading.
Top Oregon State Crops and Agricultural Commodities
According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the state’s number one agricultural commodity are greenhouse and nursery crops, resulting in a production value of more than $947.7 million in 2017. The state lays claim to over 61,000 acres devoted to nursery crop production, and Oregon consistently ranks as one of the top three nursery crop production states in the United States.
Oregon’s second ranking commodity are cattle and calves with over 1.2 million head of cattle and calves. Other top commodities include hay, milk, grass seed, wheat, potatoes, pears, wine grapes and blueberries.
Moreover, Oregon leads the nation in the production of blackberries, boysenberries and hazelnuts, and it’s a top producer of orchard grass seed, rye-grass seed, crimson clover and red clover seed. The state’s commercial fish sector is thriving, too – in 2017, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife reported that the state produced more than 302 million pounds of Dungeness crab, whiting, pink shrimp, albacore tuna, sole, and salmon.
AgAmerica Lending’s spectrum of financial solutions can provide the right financing for operations of all kinds in Oregon – and across the United States. Contact us today to learn more about how our team of land loan experts can help you prepare your operation for a strong, healthy financial future.
