This week was the all anticipated Ag Expo on the campus of Michigan State University, Tuesday through Thursday. Thousands of visitors faired the weather to learn about Michigan’s second largest industry as well as check out the latest in agricultural equipment and technology. The week kicked off with an exhibitors breakfast and remarks from leaders in the state. As far as top ten things you didn’t know about Michigan ag, the top three include –
1) It’s a multi-billion-dollar business: The food and agriculture industry in Michigan contributes $91.4 billion annually to the state’s economy, an increase of more than 50 percent from 2004 to 2010.
2) Agriculture helps employ hundreds of thousands of Michiganders: Michigan’s food and agriculture system is a big part of the state’s workforce. In fact, total employment resulting from agriculture (including direct, indirect, and induced) is 923,000 — that impact accounts for about 22 percent of the state’s employment.
3) Michigan’s menu of home-grown products is huge: Our state produces more than 200 commodities on a commercial basis. Michigan farms and the commodities they produce account for $13 billion of the industry’s overall total, making agriculture necessary for Michigan’s economic recovery and reinvention.
Behind the Mic 