Farms and Food are the Backbone of MN’s Economy
MN Agriculture and Food are:
ESSENTIAL
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the fact that agriculture and food are essential and cannot be taken for granted.
ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT
When one considers all of the economic aspects of farming and ag in Greater MN combined with the hundreds of thousands of jobs related to the food sector in the Twin Cities, it becomes easier to understand how farming/food is one of the largest sectors in Minnesota, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
A STATEWIDE ISSUE
The food sector touches every legislative district in Minnesota, from farming and ag inputs/services to food processing, financing, transportation, distribution, grocery/retail and exports.
68,822
There are 68,822 farms in Minnesota, 97% are family farms.

$6.9 billion
The value of Minnesota’s agricultural exports were $6.9 billion in 2018, about one third of the state’s total exports.

400k
Minnesota farms and food producers account for nearly 400,000 jobs, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.