Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing approximately 11.4% of the state’s workforce either directly or indirectly. Agriculture in Mississippi is a 9.04 billion-dollar industry. There are approximately 31,290 farms in the state covering 10.3 million acres. The average size farm is composed of 300 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 82 counties. In celebration of the efforts of those who work so hard to feed and clothe us, we present this overview of Mississippi’s top 15 agricultural crops.
Mississippi's Top 15 Commodities - Agriculture Snapshot
Poultry / Eggs - $3.82 Billion
- Approximately 732 million broilers were produced in 2024
- 3003 broiler farms
- 1454 million eggs produced in 2024
- 234 farms with 100+ layers
Forestry – $1.48 Billion
- 19,008,846 acres in 2024
- 130,000 forest landowners
Soybeans – $1.28 Billion
- 2,270,000 acres harvested in 2024
- 127,120,000 bushels produced in 2024
- 2926 farms
Corn – $496 Million
- 515,000 acres harvested in 2024
- 1,250,000 bales produced in 2024
- 788 farms
Cattle/Calves – $482 Million
- 810,000 head in 2024
- 13,631 farms
Cotton – $372 Million
- 475,000 acres harvested in 2024
- 88,825,000 bushels produced in 2024
- 1495 farms
Catfish – $214 Million
- 29,900 acres of production in 2024
- 142 operations
Hay – $171 Million
- 1.2 million tons produced in 2024
- 580,000 acres harvested
- 9945 farms
Rice – $168 Million
- 11,700,000 hundredweight rice produced in 2024
- 188 farms
Horticultural Crops – $115 Million
Horticulture crops include vegetables, melons, potatoes, fruits, tree nuts, berries, nursery, greenhouses, floriculture, sod and Christmas trees.
Sweet Potatoes – $82 Million
- 3.8 million hundredweight produced in 2024
- 30,000 acres harvested
- 156 farms
Hogs – $80 Million
- 177,541 hogs and pigs
- 709 farms
Peanuts – $25 Million
- 95 million pounds produced in 2024
- 25,000 acres harvested
- 36 farms
Wheat – $19 Million
- 1,750,000 bushels produced in 2024
- 35,000 acres harvested
- 355 farms
Milk – $16 Million
- 6,000 milk cows in 2024
- 32 Grade A dairy herds
Mississippi Value of Production Estimates, December 2024.
Source: Mississippi State University, Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine;
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation