Table 1.1_Rank in U.S. agriculture by selected commodities, 1998
Rank Item and unit Production in
thousands 		Percent of U.S. production Leading
state
1 Beans, dry, black, cwt.
 2,100 58.8 Michigan
Beans, dry, cranberry, cwt. 285 73.6 Michigan
Blueberries, pounds 49,000 32.0 Michigan
Cherries, tart, pounds 263,000 75.8 Michigan
Cucumbers (processing), tons 143 23.2 Michigan
Geraniums (seed and cuttings), pots 21,952 20.6 Michigan
Grapes, Niagara, tons 13 .7 38.0 Michigan
Flowering bedding plants, flats 13,299 14.1 Michigan
Flowering hanging baskets, number 3,112 9.2 Michigan
2 Beans, dry, all, cwt. 4,425 14.4 North Dakota
Beans, dry, navy, cwt. 1,180 30.3 North Dakota
Beans, dry, small red, cwt.
 200 30.3 Idaho
Carrots (fresh market), cwt. 1,650 4.4 California
Celery, cwt.
 968 5.3 California
Gladioli, spikes
 33,882 26.3 Florida
Lilies, Easter, pots
 1,529 12.8 New York
3 Apples, pounds
 970,000 8.9 Washington
Asparagus, cwt.
 280 13.7 Washington
Beans, dry, light red kidney, cwt.
 170 14.7 Nebraska
Beans, dry, dark red kidney, cwt.
 90 10.5 Minnesota
Beans, snap (processing), tons
 89 12.6 Wisconsin
Cherries, sweet, tons
 35 16.7 Washington
Grapes, Concord, tons
 53 .8 15.9 Washington

4 		Carrots (processing), tons
 31 5.5 Washington
Cauliflower, cwt.
 75 1.0 California
Cucumbers (fresh market), cwt.
 1,430 12.4 Florida
Grapes, all, tons
 70 .4 1.2 California
Tomatoes (processing), tons
 82 .8 0.9 California
5 Mushrooms, pounds
 14,731 1.8 Pennsylvania
Peppers, bell, cwt.
 399 2.8 California
Plums, tons
 3 .6 2.7 California
Poinsettias, pots
 3,695 6.3 California
Sugarbeets, tons
 2,768 8.5 Minnesota
8 Maple syrup, gallons
 55 4.7 Vermont
Milk, pounds
 5,391,000 3.4 Wisconsin
9 Potatoes, cwt.
 14,725 3.1 Idaho
11 Corn, for grain, bushels
 227,500 2.3 Iowa
Soybeans, bushels
 73,710 2.7 Iowa
12 Hogs, as of Dec. 1, head
 1,120 1.8 Iowa
16 Eggs, number
 1,395,000 1.7 Ohio
Wheat, winter, bushels
 30,780 1.6 Kansas
18 Hay, all, tons
 3,565 2.4 South Dakota
22 Cash receipts, dollars
 3,480,343 1.7 California
32 Cattle, as of Jan. 1, head
 1,050 1.1 Texas

Table 1.2_Farm numbers: Acreage, and value of farm real estate
[USDA estimates of farm numbers and land in farms were based on the definition "a farm is any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or would normally be sold during the year." In 1995, places with 5 or more horses were added to the definition. Prior to 1979, the farm definition was a "place of 10 or more acres that had annual sales of $50 or more or places that had annual sales of $250 or more"]
Year Farms Average size
per farm 		Total land
in farms 		Average value per acre
of land and buildings 		Total value
of land and buildings 		Cropland
rented
for cash
per acre
Number Acres 1,000 acres Dollars Million dollars Dollars
1900
 203,261 86 17,562 33 583 --
1910
 206,960 92 18,941 48 901 --
1920
 196,447 97 19,033 75 1,437 --
1930
 179,000 101 18,000 68 1,161 --
1940
 190,000 97 18,400 51 913 --
1950
 161,000 111 17,900 99 1,764 --
1960
 118,000 131 15,400 194 2,989 --
1970
 84,000 151 12,700 326 4,140 17.50
1980
 65,000 175 11,400 1,111 12,665 49.40
1990
 54,000 200 10,800 1,005 10,854 41.40
1991
 54,000 200 10,800 1,086 11,718 45.50
1992
 54,000 200 10,800 1,106 11,937 47.40
1993
 55,000 195 10,700 1,131 12,102 45.60
1994
 55,000 195 10,700 1,214 12,985 48.00
1995
 55,000 195 10,700 1,330 14,231 49.70
1996
 54,000 196 10,600 1,420 15,052 52.20
1997
 53,000 196 10,400 1,530 15,912 57.30
1998
 52,000 200 10,400 1,670 17,368 60.00
1999
 1,730

Table 1.3_Number of farms and land in farms by economic sales class
Year Economic sales class Total
$1,000-$9,999 $10,000-$99,999 $100,000 and over
Number of farms Number of farms
1990
 28,000 18,000 8,000 54,000
1991
 28,000 18,000 8,000 54,000
1992
 28,000 18,000 8,000 54,000
1993
 29,500 18,000 7,500 55,000
1994
 30,500 17,000 7,500 55,000
1995 1
 31,000 17,000 7,000 55,000
1996
 29,800 17,000 7,200 54,000
1997
 28,500 17,000 7,500 53,000
1998
 27,000 17,000 8,000 52,000
1,000 acres 1,000 acres
1990
 1,500 3,300 6,000 10,800
1991
 1,500 3,300 6,000 10,800
1992
 1,500 3,300 6,000 10,800
1993
 2,100 3,400 5,200 10,700
1994
 2,200 3,300 5,200 10,700
1995 1
 2,200 3,200 5,300 10,700
1996
 2,200 3,100 5,300 10,600
1997
 2,000 2,900 5,500 10,400
1998
 1,900 2,800 5,700 10,400
1 Places with 5 or more horses were added to farm definition.
Table 1.4_Field crops: Record highs and lows
Field crops Record high Record low Year
estimates started
Quantity Year Quantity Year
Barley:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 303 1932 16 1974 1866
    Yield per acre, bushels
 68 1985 13.5 1933
    Production,1,000 bushels
 8,400 1918 546 1866
Beans, dry:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 690 1930 170 1988 1909
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 18.5 1991 3.2 1917
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 8,585 1963 1,656 1916
Corn for grain:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 2,800 1981 480 1866 1866
    Yield per acre, bushels
 117 1994, 1997 21.5 1917
    Production,1,000 bushels
 293,180 1982 15,120 1869
Corn for silage:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 498 1971 211 1942 1924
    Yield per acre, tons
 15 1995 4.7 1930
    Production,1,000 tons
 5,565 1977 1,542 1930
Hay, alfalfa:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 1,444 1950 74 1919 1919
    Yield per acre, tons
 4.2 1993 1.1 1934
    Production,1,000 tons
 5,040 1985, 1986 118 1919
Hay, all:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 2,907 1924 780 1866 1866
    Yield per acre, tons
 3.8 1993 0.6 1895
    Production,1,000 tons
 5,743 1986 1,014 1866
Oats:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 1,658 1918 60 1996 1866
    Yield per acre, bushels
 67 1985, 1989 18.5 1921
    Production,1,000 bushels
 69,388 1946 3,600 1996
Potatoes:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 374 1895 36.4 1975 1866
    Yield per acre, cwt
 310 1998 26 1887, 1916
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 23,256 1904 3,557 1876
Rye:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 913 1919 7 1866 1866
    Yield per acre, bushels
 34 1995 8.8 1934
    Production,1,000 bushels
 12,143 1919 105 1866
Soybeans:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 1,890 1998 1 1930 1924
    Yield per acre, bushels
 40 1995 8 1927
    Production,1,000 bushels
 73,710 1998 10 1930
Spearmint:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 8.7 1954 0.7 1935 1935
    Yield per acre, pounds
 47 1935 20 1965
    Production,1,000 pounds
 280 1948 27 1996
Sugarbeets:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 188 1995 48 1943 1909
    Yield per acre, tons
 21.3 1970 5.5 1916
    Production,1,000 tons
 3,266 1990 298 1943
Wheat, winter:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 1,515 1953 400 1987 1909
    Yield per acre, bushels
 62 1997 10.5 1912
    Production,1,000 bushels
 45,600 1984 7,350 1912

Table 1.5_Vegetables: Record highs and lows
Vegetables Record high Record low Year
estimates started
Quantity Year Quantity Year
Asparagus:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 23 1989 1 1928 1928
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 31 1947 9 1981
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 306 1995 17 1928
Beans, snap (processing):
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 24 1990 0.8 1921 1918
    Yield per acre, tons
 3.88 1998 0.6 1947
    Production,1,000 tons
 89,240 1998 0.6 1921
Carrots:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 7.7 1994 0.5 1929 1929
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 398 1995 155 1957
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 2,610 1995 132 1936
Cauliflower:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 1.9 1958 0.4 1997 1939
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 141 1949 41 1973
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 212 1949 38 1973
Celery:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 7.2 1941 1.8 1966,1968 1928
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 520 1996 174 1935
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 1,915 1941 576 1966
Corn, sweet (fresh market):
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 15.2 1961 9 1988 1949
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 85 1994,1995
and 1996 		42 1949
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 1,020 1994 525 1949
Cucumbers (processing):
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 46.3 1949 9.3 1932 1918
    Yield per acre, tons
 6.7 1987 0.6 1924
    Production,1,000 tons
 160.8 1987 8.9 1932
Onions:
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 12.7 1935 4.5 1998 1928
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 350 1960 120 1935
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 2,833 1948 852 1928
Tomatoes (fresh market):
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 9.4 1943 2.4 1995, 1996 1928
    Yield per acre, cwt.
 200 1998 60 1959
    Production,1,000 cwt.
 797 1943 204 1988
Tomatoes (processing):
    Harvested acres, 1,000
 9.7 1982 1 1921 1918
    Yield per acre, tons.
 36 1998 2.7 1943
    Production,1,000 tons
 205 1982 5 1921

Table 1.6_Fruit: Record highs and lows
Fruit Record high Record low Year
estimates
started
Quantity Year Quantity Year
Apples, million pounds
 1,220 1995 53 1945 1889
Blueberries, million pounds
 87 1993 34 1992 1992
Cherries, sweet, tons
 37,500 1978 500 1945 1925
Cherries, tart, million pounds
 380 1964 18 1927 1925
Grapes, tons
 77,900 1932 4,200 1889 1889
Peaches, million pounds
 245 1946 7 1918 1889
Pears, tons
 48,600 1964 2,425 1890 1889
Prunes and plums, tons
 25,000 1971 1,700 1945 1919
Strawberries, 1,000 cwt.
 451 1940 56 1996 1928

Table 1.7_Livestock: Record highs and lows
Livestock Record high Record low Year
estimates
started
Quantity Year Quantity Year
Cattle and calves, 1,000 head
 2,036 1944 538 1867 1867
Cattle on feed, 1,000 head
 250 1991 57 1931 1930
Chickens, all, 1,000 head 1
 15,512 1944 6,300 1992 1924
Cows, beef, 1,000 head
 239 1977 24 (2) 1920
Cows, milk, 1,000 head
 1,080 1945 225 1867 1867
Eggs, million eggs 3
 1,697 1944 1,104 1929 1924
Hogs and pigs, 1,000 head 1
 1,397 1943 512 1935 1867
Honey, 1,000 pounds
 11,780 1939 4,386 1980 1921
Milk, million pounds
 5,758 1964 3,941 1927 1924
Sheep, 1,000 head.
 3,100 1867 62 1999 1867
Wool, 1,000 pounds
 8,424 1934 430 1999 1934
1 December 1.     2 1925,1933.    3 December 1 previous year to November 30.

Table 1.8_Crop acreage, production, and value by crop
Year Field crops Fruit Vegetables Total
Acres harvested 1,000 acres
    1994
 6,761 129 121 7,011
    1995
 6,649 128 118 6,895
    1996
 6,695 127 114 6,936
    1997
 6,741 126 113 6,980
    1998
 6,663 125 112 6,900
Value of production 1,000 dollars
    1994
 1,697,825 188,721 174,423 2,060,969
    1995
 2,050,990 220,893 185,982 2,457,865
    1996
 1,723,530 201,979 173,465 2,098,974
    1997
 1,892,458 242,239 170,356 2,305,053
    1998
 1,536,204 207,176 198,143 1,941,523
Value per acre Dollars
    1994
 251 1,463 1,442 294
    1995
 308 1,726 1,576 356
    1996
 257 1,603 1,535 303
    1997
 281 1,892 1,508 330
    1998
 231 1,657 1,769 281

Weather Summary, 1998 Mild weather prevailed during January. Above normal precipitation provided some snow cover over most of the State. Farmers worked in fields as weather permitted, spread fertilizer and manure, fixed machinery, and bought seed for the coming crop year. Livestock were in good condition, and hay supplies were adequate.

Mild weather continued into February. Temperatures across the state had averaged 5 to 8 degrees above normal since the beginning of December. Farming activities included preparing machinery, hauling corn and grain to market, spreading manure, and pruning trees. Some farmers harvested corn and plowed during February. Calves and lambing faired well.

Frozen ground in early March allowed farmers to top dress wheat fields, which came through the winter in good condition. Mild temperatures in late March accelerated wheat growth and fruit development. Feed was in good supply. The month ended with a cold rain.

April rains, scattered over the first three weeks, reduced days available for planting over much of the State. The third week brought snow to the Upper Peninsula. Damage from an early March frost was evident. When fields had dried, barley, oats, sugarbeets, potatoes, and carrots were planted. Fruit development was 10-14 days ahead of normal. The month ended with a freeze, mostly affecting blooming fruit trees in isolated areas. Soil temperatures averaged three weeks ahead of normal.

May began with soil moisture already short in the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula. In contrast, locally heavy rains during the first week in the lower third of the Lower Peninsula kept farmers out of their fields. Temperatures over the second and third weeks were at least 10 degrees above normal across the State. Growing degree day accumulations were 2 to 3 weeks ahead of normal. Planting moved quickly in the warm, dry weather. By the end of the month the dry weather significantly affected hay production and pastures in the Upper Peninsula. On May 31 a line of thunderstorms cut a 50 mile wide swath of damage from high winds across the central part of the State. An estimated 120,000 fruit trees were toppled.

June started with frost and freezes and temperatures 10 degrees below normal. Some newly germinated field crops and some fruit were damaged, especially in the north and in low lying areas. Low soil moisture caused uneven germination of field crops. When rain arrived it was light, scattered, and just enough to sustain the crops. Temperatures warmed by the end of the month to 8 degrees above normal. Fruit crops were still 10-14 days ahead of normal. During June most areas in the central and northern parts of the State received less than 2 inches of rain. Many areas had less than 1 inch of rain for the month. Only the southern tier of counties received significant rainfall.

Wheat harvest began during the first week of July, earlier than normal. Spring-planted crop growth varied widely due to low moisture during germination and uneven subsequent rains. This was most evident in corn, where height in the first week of July sometimes ranged from knee high to waist high in the same field.

Even with widespread rains during the first week of August, most of the State remained drier than normal. The lower third of the Lower Peninsula generally received timely rains. Crops did not fare as well in the central and Thumb areas. Corn was the most vulnerable, although sugarbeets shrank in their holes. The dry weather discouraged plant diseases but encouraged spider mites. Temperatures were above normal throughout the month.

The warmer and drier than normal weather continued through the month of September. Crops in the drier areas of the north and central parts of the State matured 2 to 3 weeks earlier than normal. Dryness increased splitting and shattering during dry bean harvest. While some hay fields in the north were too dry to produce a third cutting, hay fields in the south produced an exceptional crop. Widespread rain during the third week mostly benefitted sugarbeets. Other field crops neared or passed maturity.

Harvest of field crops began early. Except for rains during the second week, the entire month of October was ideal for harvest. Much of the corn did not require additional drying before storage. By the end of the month corn harvest was 2 1/2; weeks ahead of the 5-year average. The last week brought the first frost to the central and southern parts of the State.

Ideal harvest weather continued into November. Ninety-four percent of the corn harvest was finished by the middle of the month. The second week brought a storm with rain and damaging winds. The Thumb had a late first frost.

Dry, mild fall weather continued to the middle of December, allowing most field work to be completed. In areas where the summer and fall were dry, pasture growth was reduced and winter feeding of livestock began early. By mid-month, colder weather arrived and light snow covered some areas of the State. Cold weather continued through the end of the month.

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