Agriculture

Irrigation Website & Information

Southwest Michigan Field Crop Updates:

GAAMPS and the Right to Farm Act

2018 Field Crops Breakfast Meeting Series

St. Joseph County Agriculture: Past, Present and Future

Michigan’s agricultural economy is extremely diverse, ranking second in the nation in terms of agricultural product diversity and proving Michigan’s capacity for agricultural production. So too is the variety of agricultural products raised and produced in St. Joseph County. The uniqueness of our location along with our very important access to abundant ground and surface water, unique soil types and moderate summer temperatures, makes agricultural production especially important in this region. Nearly 70 percent of the county's land area is dedicated to agricultural use with 907 farms producing over $94 million worth of agricultural products yearly. Part of the strength of the agricultural economy in St. Joseph County is due to our capacity for irrigation. In fact, St. Joseph County has more irrigated land than any other county east of the Mississippi River. Specialty crops such as seed corn, snap beans, potatoes and pickles would not be part of this agricultural community if not for our location and access to abundant groundwater. For instance, the seed corn industry, one of St. Joseph County’s strongest, produces two million bags of seed corn a year, valued at more than $192 million and used to plant more than six million acres of commercial corn. These are interesting and impressive figures about the agricultural community in your very own St. Joseph County. You can learn more about St. Joseph County agriculture by reading the entire document:

St. Joseph County Agriculture: Past, Present and Future

Agriculture Programs and Information

Online MSU Extension and Agriculture Resources

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Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

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