Aug 302013
Mucking around recently released USDA data, I came up with the table below for a presentation to the CFA Society Spokane yesterday.
I doubt the average Washington citizen appreciates what an agricultural powerhouse the Evergreen State is. Everyone knows we are the leading producer of apples. But we’re also No. 1 in cherries and pears, No. 2 in potatoes, grapes and onions, and No. 4 in cattle/calves and in greenhouse and nursery products.
Beyond those listed in the table, four other commodities produced more than $100 million at the farm gate last year, including two kinds of corn, hops and eggs. Overall value of farm production in Washington last year, including crops, fruits and livestock, exceeded $10 billion for the first time.
Leadership down on the farm |
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Washington value of production* and rank |
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Rank |
2012 value |
% state |
% US |
US rank |
|
1 |
Apples |
$2,147 |
23% |
71% |
1 |
2 |
Wheat |
1,060 |
11% |
7% |
4 |
3 |
Cattle/calves |
745 |
8% |
1% |
19 |
4 |
Potatoes |
695 |
7% |
18% |
2 |
5 |
Cherries |
499 |
5% |
56% |
1 |
6 |
Hay |
359 |
4% |
5% |
4 |
7 |
Greenhouse/nursery |
347 |
4% |
2% |
12 |
8 |
Grapes |
236 |
3% |
5% |
2 |
9 |
Pears |
197 |
2% |
49% |
1 |
10 |
Onions |
171 |
2% |
18% |
2 |
*Production value in millions. Data: USDA |
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