According to the 1998 Census of Horticultural Specialties, producers
of horticultural products accounted for $10.6 billion in sales, nationally.
The 1998 Census of Horticulture Specialties, conducted by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), provides
a wide variety of data relating to methods of production, production expenses,
sales, number of operations by size, and area in production. Montana total
sales of horticultural products were placed at $15.7 million.
The primary objective of the horticultural specialties census is to obtain
a comprehensive and detailed picture of the horticultural sector of the
economy. It is the only source of detailed production and sales data at
the national level. The census of horticultural specialties provides detailed
statistics to government agencies, academia, nursery and floriculture
industries, and others on the size and structure of the horticulture industry
for planning, policymaking, research, and market analysis.
Some of the highlights from this special census were:
- California topped the sales charts, capturing slightly over 21 percent
of the $10.6 billion of horticultural specialties sold in 1998.
- Florida, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas came in second through
fifth, respectively, in sales.
- Floriculture (bedding and garden plants, potted flowering plants,
foliage plants, cut flowers, and cut cultivated greens) accounted
for 42 percent of the horticultural specialty sales.
- The value of horticultural specialty crops increased dramatically
from the previous horticultural census, from $4.8 billion in 1988
to $10.6 billion in 1998. This nearly $6 billion growth represents
a 221 percent increase. (Christmas trees were not included in the
1988 census.)
The census of horticultural specialties contains information on floriculture,
nursery, and other specialty crops such as sod, mushrooms, food crops
produced under glass or other protection, transplants of commercial production,
Christmas trees, and seeds. To discover the wealth of horticultural and
other agricultural statistics available from NASS, including hundreds
of commodity production and price reports, or to review a full catalog
of NASS products and services, visit the NASS Home Page at http://www.nass.usda.gov.
The 1998 Census of Horticultural Specialties, 1997 Census of Agriculture
reports, State and County Profiles, Highlights, and a slide show presenting
Quick Facts are accessible by clicking "Census of Agriculture."
For other information, e-mail nass-mt@nass.usda.gov or call 1-800-835-2612.
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