11 Florida Agriculture Facts That All Aspiring Farmers Should Know

Jacksonville is Florida's most populous city, and Florida's capital is Tallahassee.

Florida's third-largest industry is phosphate mining, which is concentrated in the Bone Valley. The state produces around 75% of the phosphate that United States' farmers need, supplying the remaining 25% to the world.

Florida is famous for its warm climate, amusement parks, beach resorts, and other attractions like Miami beach, Kennedy Space Center, and Walt Disney World. Florida is a southeastern state in the United States.

Florida borders Alabama in the northwest, the Gulf of Mexico in the west, the Atlantic ocean and Bahamas in the east, Georgia in the north, and Cuba and the Straits of Florida in the south. It is the only state to share borders with the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Among 50 states in the United States, Florida stands 22nd in land area. It is the third most populous state with a population of more than 21 million people.

The second largest industry in Florida is agriculture. The climate in Florida makes it ideal for growing various crops.

Florida's top produce include cane, cattle, calves, greenhouse and nursery products, nuts, strawberries, and oranges. Other important sectors are transportation, real estate, floriculture, tourism, and hospitality.

If you enjoy reading these Florida Agriculture facts, then make sure to read some more interesting facts about Florida beaches and Florida economy facts here at Kidadl.

What is Florida's main agriculture?

Florida's main agricultural products are oranges, bell peppers, sugarcane, watermelons, and fresh market tomatoes.

Although severe weather is common in Florida, this state is called the Sunshine State. Central Florida receives more lightning strikes compared to any other state in the United States. Florida is one of the bulk producers of citrus fruits, especially oranges.

It is also the second-highest vegetable production state after California. Most of Florida's farmland and ranches include citrus fruits.

Citrus fruit farmlands or orchards (groves) make up to 57% of the nation's total citrus farmlands, as per the 2017 census. This also showed that the orange farms in Florida made up 70% of the nation's total orange farms. Florida's grapefruit farms made up 59% of the grapefruit farms in the nation.

Agriculture in Florida includes other main commodities, such as vegetables. Most of the products on these farms are grown at the start of fall in subtropical conditions. In the same year, Florida led in sugarcane production in the country with 51% of the nation's total sugarcane production.

Florida also has a livestock industry with cattle, calves and beef cows. Weaned calves from the cattle industry are shipped to the north to feed many people.

The total livestock population, including cattle and calves on ranches and farms, is 1.68 million animals as of 2020, which is the same as 2019.

Beef cows, however, were reduced by at least 10,000 heads, and there were 10,000 fewer calves born in 2019 than in 2018. Florida is at the 18th spot for cattle population and 13th in beef cows among all of the states in 2020.

Some vegetables produced in Florida are cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, snap beans, sweet corn, lettuce, green peppers, celery, and cabbage.

Why is Florida agriculture important?

Agriculture in Florida is important for the state's economy, making this industry the second-largest in the state.

The climate in Florida is usually mild, with moderate temperature and humidity. The growing season can go on for over 200 days.

Of all of the states in the US, Florida state has the highest average precipitation. Throughout history, agricultural products, like sugarcane, cattle, nuts, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and vegetables have been boosting Florida's economy.

Agriculture in Florida is a major source of economic revenue. Citrus fruit (orange) producers are a major part of the state's economy. As per 2006 data, 67% of citrus fruits (74% of oranges, 54% of grapefruit, and 58% of tangerines) were grown in Florida.

Almost 95% of commercially produced oranges are sent for processing for orange juice. Florida provides about 80% of the nation's fresh vegetables from January to March.

An issue of concern regarding this production is citrus cankers. Due to this, almost 25% of healthy citrus trees declined from 1997-2013. Also, a citrus disease called citrus greening is incurable.

The largest farms by the measure of sales are in the ornamental industry, including sod, flowers, greenhouses, and nursery products. The state stands second in the country for the production of greenhouse and nursery products. Florida is also the highest producer of crops like green beans and sweet corn.

The major center for agriculture in the state is the Evergreen Agricultural Area. Currently, agriculture in Florida faces the major environmental issue of water pollution. The fishing industry also provides around 60,000 jobs for commercial purposes and sports.

Florida's other commodities include nursery products, bedding and floriculture, mushroom crops, and field crops like cotton, corn, cottonseed, peanuts, and hay. The production of these field crops increased by 5% in 2019 from the previous year, with peanut production value increasing by 14%.

Cotton production value increased by 50%, and cottonseed increased by 114%. Hay production value increased by 12%.

Why Florida Is Hailed As A Tropical Paradise

Florida is hailed as a tropical paradise due to its climate, which supports agriculture, floriculture, and horticulture.

The climate of Florida varies from tropical in the south to subtropical in the north. Besides Hawai, this is the only state with a tropical climate and also the only continental state with a coral reef as well as a tropical climate.

The only living coral reef located in the continental United States is the Florida Reef, which is the third-largest in the world.

Florida has one of the top horticulture industries, just behind California. This includes magnolias, palms, crotons, azaleas, and tropical bromeliads.

Although this is a small industry, horticulture makes a great impact on the state's economy. Many plants thrive in the tropical climate of Florida.

Native plants of this state include coral honeysuckle, beautyberry, and carnivorous plants like butterwort and sundew. These tropical plants are not only found in houses, hotels, restaurants, and offices but are also a part of many landscape designs.

These plants are pollinators for butterflies and birds, reduce soil erosion, relieve emotional stress, and contribute to wildlife habitats. All these shrubs, palms, flowers, trees, and other tropical plants add beautiful color to parks, homes, and resorts all around the states.

Around 50% of the land area of Florida consists of forestland. Florida has many planted and natural hardwood and pine forests, which are utilized for the production of various commercial products like biomass fuels, consumer paper, packaging products, and wood building materials.

Around two-thirds of forestlands are private properties of corporations, families, individuals, or industries. As per employability, landscaping is the largest industry in its sector, with both part-time and full-time jobs available. It is followed by floriculture and nursery production, garden and lawn shops, and wholesale florists.

How To Get A Job In Agriculture

To get a job in agriculture, an internship in farming is a good way to start. Some people choose traditional degrees like mechanical, computer, electrical, or civil engineering and then take up specialized internships and projects in agriculture.

You can find many career opportunities beyond the job of a farmer in the agriculture field. Having many skill sets like plant science, sales, veterinary science, or engineering will create a path to building a career in agriculture.

To solve problems and support various processes in agriculture, you will need the skill set of an agricultural engineer.

An agricultural engineer will design equipment, machines, and systems to enhance farming operations. To work in this field, you must either complete a bachelor's or an advanced degree in a related field like biological engineering.

A food and agriculture scientist studies techniques to enhance the safety, quality, and productivity of farm animals and crops. They either modify any existing products or create new ones. To get into this field, you will need a bachelor's degree in either agricultural or food science.

An important agricultural operation is studying the structure of the water supply. Hydrologists monitor the water quality and come up with ways to reduce pollution and erosion. Professionals usually complete a master's degree in engineering, geoscience, or earth science, with a specialization in hydrology.

Farm managers look after agricultural operations. Their responsibilities depend on the specific establishment. These professionals hire, train, and supervise laborers, schedule and implement harvesting and planting processes, and record data on output and production. These managers can have various backgrounds.

Soil and plant scientists study crop production. This professional comes up with different methods to treat soil, breeds plants, and controls pests and diseases. This scientist also tests the mineral, biological, and chemical composition of the soil. You must have a bachelor's degree in soil science, botany, or plant science.

A veterinarian examines ranch animals to make sure that they are suitable and healthy to slaughter, breed, or milk. This professional also performs operations, examines animals, vaccinates animals, treats injuries, and diagnoses illnesses.

You must get a degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. A veterinarian also has an assistant in the role of a veterinarian technician.

A vet tech helps perform tests, nurse animals, and administer medication. Professionals can take part in a two-year program that is post-secondary in veterinary technology or get a four-year degree in this discipline.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestion for 'Florida agriculture facts', then why not take a look at 'Florida animals' or 'Birds of Florida'?