Minnesota ranks #4 in the nation in agricultural production, with $17 billion in agricultural sales per year. Minnesota farmers produce high quality agricultural products that meet consumer demand domestically and around the world. We rank in the Top 10 nationally in turkeys raised, hogs, soybeans, corn, sugarbeets, and several other commodities. Agriculture added over 4,250 net new jobs from 2007 to 2017, a 25.5 percent growth rate, compared to a 6.2 percent growth rate across all industries state-wide. Southern Minnesota was home to 42 percent of the state’s farms. More impressively, Southern Minnesota accounted for 55 percent of the state’s market value of agricultural products sold, reaching almost $12 billion. Four of the top 6, 6 of the top 10, and 13 of the top 20 agriculture counties in the state are located in Southern Minnesota.
Women held 23% of jobs in the agriculture, fishing, forestry industry in 2017. For farms, women were the primary operator for 8.5% of the farms in Minnesota.
Agriculture comprised more than 20 percent of total jobs added in the region over the past decade. Nearly half of the agriculture vacancies are at employers in Southern Minnesota. Well over one-third of this agriculture employment is located in Southern Minnesota. According to the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data, Southern Minnesota provides about 15 percent of total jobs in the state, but over 39 percent of the state’s jobs in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.
Agriculture Careers Comparison
In addition, there is also a large number of vacancies and a higher level of demand were also emerging for agriculture-related occupations such as truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists; heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers; and agricultural, biological, chemical, and environmental technicians and engineers.
