The industry's impact on Florida's economy and environment is staggering: Florida farmers, produce nearly 280 commodities, employ 500,000 people, generate $54 billion in annual economic impact, provide tax surpluses, recharge water supplies and contribute open, green space.

When the state's tourism industry took a nosedive after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks, agriculture kept the state's economic engine running.

Florida is known nationally as having the largest herd of beef cattle with 40,000 head, and Hillsborough County is the winter strawberry capital of the world.

Environmental impact: South Florida's sweeping 450,000 acres of sugar cane fields, along with nearby vegetable fields, deliver a net 700,000 acre-feet of precious water, sustaining the Everglades and recharging well fields that supply drinking water to millions of residents. The Gulf citrus-producing region in southwest Florida blankets more than 30 percent of the area with beautiful green groves.  Florida's dairy farms recycle, feeding cows about 170,000 tons of citrus pulp and cotton seed by-products that otherwise would wind up in landfills. 

Economic impact: Florida's vegetable farmers are the nation's chief supplier of snap beans, bell peppers, squash, sweet corn and tomatoes in the winter months. Citrus continues to be Florida's top crop, generating $9.1 billion in annual economic impact and providing nearly 90,000 jobs.

Likewise, forestry production statewide contributes $9 billion in economic impact and provides 60,000 jobs.  Florida ornamental nurseries are the nation's chief providers of tropical foliage plants, valued at $1.28 billion.

The poultry and egg industries are ranked 10th and 13th nationally, with a combined annual economic impact of more than $800 million. In turn, farmers share the wealth.  According to economic studies in Collier, Hillsborough, Lake and Polk counties, farmers use 37 cents, 16 cents, 7 cents and 8 cents in services respectively for every $1 they pay in taxes.

At a glance

Florida ranks second only to California in the United States in terms of overall value in the nursery and landscape industry, providing nearly 246,000 full-time equivalent jobs. Nursery crops are one of the largest agricultural commodity groups in Florida. Its economic impact is significant, with $15.2 billion in sales for 2005.

Florida is the nation's overwhelming leader in citrus production. Florida produced more than 1.5 billion gallons of orange juice annually.

Forestry has a significant environmental impact on Florida. More than half of the state's land area is covered by forests.  Approximately 5.8 million tons of carbon are sequestered by Florida's forests annually. The industry provides more than $16.6 billion in total sales impacts to the state annually, and the industry employs over 133,000 Floridians. 

Florida livestock production is a major contributor to the nation's supply of beef, poultry, eggs, and milk. Florida ranks third in states east of the Mississippi River and 12th nationally in the production of beef calves.

Florida is the leading dairy state in the Southeast, producing more than 2 billion pounds of milk annually with an estimated value exceeding $400 million. Florida has 135,000 cows on its 160 dairy farms. These cows produce 85 percent of the milk that consumed in the state.

The state's poultry industry ranks eighth in U.S. egg production, with 12 million laying birds and an economic impact of $400 million.

Florida aquaculture producers reported sales of $95.5 million in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available.

Florida fruits and vegetables find their way into nearly every household in the United States. Additionally, Florida has agricultural trade with 100 nations around the world, generating around $1.3 billion in cash receipts annually.

The strawberry industry is the second leading producer of strawberries in the nation. More than 16 million flats of strawberries are picked each year...

Florida leads the nation in sod production, with over 90,000 acres devoted to growing quality turf grasses in an environmentally responsible manner for home, commercial, recreation and sports applications.  Florida's sod industry also leads the nation in terms of total economic impact, contributing more than $319 million and thousands of jobs.

Florida boasts the most golf courses of all 50 states. Water use on golf courses has decreased 42 percent in the past five years, with nearly one-third of all courses using reclaimed water for irrigation. Total county tax revenue on property with golf courses based on an average millage rate was $214 million.

Farm Credit has been a stable, reliable source of credit for rural America since 1917. Today, Florida's five Farm Credit associations hold approximately $2 billion in outstanding loans to more than 6,000 member/borrowers in the state. As a cooperative, Farm Credit shares its profits with its members.

Since 1988, Florida Farm Credit associations have declared patronage refunds, or profit sharing exceeding $384 million, significantly lowering members' effective rate of funds.