Michigan ag leaders celebrate Food and Ag Month

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Michigan ag leaders celebrate Food and Ag Month

Many Michigan food and agricultural groups are spotlighting how the sector drives the state’s economy as part of Michigan Food and Agriculture Month this March.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring says agriculture production is essential to the state’s cultural and social identity.

“We grow food in an important way and in a different way than a lot of other agricultural systems,” he says. “Certainly, commodity production is a big piece of what we do, corn, soybeans, wheat, dairy products. Michigan is a state that has a really diverse production system of fruits and vegetables.”

Michigan Farm Bureau economist Loren Koeman tells Brownfield Michigan State University’s latest impact report from 2023 finds the industry contributes more than $125.8 billion annually to the economy.

“Since we’ve raised so many things here, we also process a lot of them here and really adds to Michigan’s economy in that,” he explains. “If you think about even companies that have been here for years and years, like a Gerber or somebody like that, that’s because Michigan raises so many of those crops that they started here and continue here.”

This week’s Feeding the Economy Report sponsored by dozens of national ag organizations says the sector could be worth up to $244.2 billion.

Michigan Agri-Business Association’s Chuck Lippsteu says the declaration is an opportunity to recognize those who support the entire value chain.

“The agricultural industry, once you account from the farm to fork value chain, is the second largest job creator and economic engine in the state of Michigan,” he shares.

About 26 percent of Michigan’s population is employed in food and ag and the sector helps generate nearly a third of the state’s tax base.

Michigan’s top agricultural commodities in terms of value are dairy, corn, and soybeans. USDA says the state is the nation’s leading producer of 35 different commodities, 30 of which are in floriculture.

The state ranks first in the production of asparagus, black beans, small red beans, tart cherries, and squash; second in apples, cucumbers, all dry beans, and cranberry, light red kidney, and navy beans; third for alfalfa haylage and green chop, fourth for blueberries, snap beans, and sugarbeets; fifth in bell peppers and maple syrup; sixth for cabbage, milk, peaches, potatoes, and pumpkins; seventh for eggs; eighth for honey; ninth in corn silage; and tenth for oats and winter wheat.