Agriculture in Minnesota and the Metro Area
January 30, 2020
According to newly released data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Minnesota ranks 6th in the United States in agricultural production, with $18.4 billion in the total value of agricultural products sold. In total, the state had over 68,800 farms covering more than 25.5 million acres of land. Clearly, agriculture is a major pillar of Minnesota’s economy.
Typically, when we think of agricultural areas across the state, we may overlook the seven-county Metro Area. Because the Metro Area accounts for 61.2 % of Minnesota’s total employment, but only 14.5 % of its employment in Crop Production, Animal Production, and Aquaculture, this does make some sense. While agriculture does make up a much smaller share of the Metro Area’s economy, it is still a significant part of the regional economy.