Indiana Agriculture Tour
For most consumers, the agricultural system is invisible. We buy our food and clothes with little knowledge or concern about where they comes from or how it they were produced. In reality, the industry of agriculture touches almost every aspect of our lives. The output of our farms can be found in the food we eat, the clothes we buy, the technology we use, the fuel we put in our cars, the houses we live in, and the medicine we use.
The state of Indiana is a major agricultural state with a very diverse farming industry. Our climate, soil, river system, and central location make the state a vital part of the American food and fiber system. Indiana has one of the highest percentages of its land area in agricultural production among key farming states. The agricultural industry is a major part of the state's economy, and Indiana farmers support local government with sizeable property tax payments. For more information about Indiana agriculture, visit www.in.gov/oca/02AgBook.pdf
Soybeans
Indiana is best known for its soybean, corn, and
pork production. Indiana is the 3rd largest soybean producing
state in the US, producing 9.5% of the entire US soybean crop.
Indiana soybean yields have been among the highest in the nation
in recent years. Almost a third of the Hoosier soybean crop is
exported onto the world market. Indiana has one of the most active
soybean grower associations. The Indiana Soybean Board has been
responsible for developing soycandles and soycrayons.
Corn
Indiana ranks 4th in the production of corn for grain.
On average, Indiana farmers harvest 884 million acres of corn a
year. Most Indiana corn is used for animal feed, although an
increasing amount is going into the ethanol industry that makes
clean-burning fuels for our cars. A significant portion of the
corn crop also goes into the sweetener industry. Every time you
open a soft drink you are consuming part of the corn crop.
Hogs
There are about 3.1 million hogs in the state,
accounting for 5.4% of the nation's pork supply. Hoosier hog farms
come in a variety of sizes. Some farmers produce 300 hogs per year
while other operations turn out 120,000 head annually. Most of the
operations listed on this site are smaller farmers who can control
quality and customize your order. They can provide you with a
higher quality and better value than warehouse grocery stores.
Cattle
Indiana is not a major cattle state, but we have
about 13,000 beef cow operations that produce high quality beef.
Most Indiana operations are small, family run farms that can
provide you with some of the best tasting beef products you have
ever had. Many specialize in producing products free of growth
hormones.
Dairy
Not all the cows in Indiana are beef cows; there are
over 154,000 milk cows in the state. Indiana is one of the
fastest growing dairy states in the nation with 2,900 dairy farms
and 33 dairy plants in the state. Indiana is also a major producer
of ice cream, cranking out 1 million gallons a year. There are
also some outstanding independent cheese makers in the state. You
will find some on this site with a bewildering variety of
outstanding cheeses.
Duck
Have you ever eaten duck? If so, it most likely came
from Indiana. Indiana produces more duck than any other state.
Indiana ducks are shipped around the world. Indiana is also a top
egg producing state. In 2001, Indiana's 23 million hens laid 6.02
billion eggs. Indiana also has a thriving poultry industry, the
5th largest in the nation. The Hoosier state also produces over
14 million turkeys a year.
Floriculture
The growing and marketing of flowers and
ornamental plants is growing in the state. Production takes place
both in greenhouses and outdoors. Some operations only market to
the wholesale market but many, including the listings on this
site, sell fresh healthy plants directly to consumers.
Apples
Indiana has a reputation of growing some of the
best tasting apples in the Midwest. Most orchards produce Golden
and Red Delicious, Jonathan, and Gala, but many producers feature
specialty and heirloom varieties. Indiana also produces sizeable
peach, blueberry, and blackberry crops.
Watermelons
Over 6% of all the watermelons grown in the US
every year are grown in Indiana. For the freshest, juiciest, and
sweetest watermelons in the world, check this site for the
growers in your area. Over 2,900 acres of cantaloupes were
planted in Indiana in 2001 which ranked Indiana 5th in production.
If you like cantaloupe from the grocery store, then just wait
until you taste one direct from the farm.
Sweet Corn
Nothing tastes better on a hot summer day than
fresh sweet corn. Over 6,000 acres are grown each year in all
areas of the state. Instead of sweet corn trucked in from
thousands of miles away, get it fresh from just down the road
via your computer. Some of the best tasting sweet corn is just
a click away.
Other Crops
Other crops that are produced for retail and
wholesale sectors include tomatoes and snap beans. Indiana ranks
in the top ten states in the production of these two crops.
Indiana also boasts a sizeable peppermint and spearmint crop. The
oils from these plants are used to flavor a wide variety of our
food products.
Wine
The first commercial winery in the US was established
in the early 1800s in Indiana, yet the Hoosier wine industry is
not well known. Indiana has 31 wineries in operation. For a list
of local wineries and locations, visit
www.indianawines.org.
Christmas Trees
Nothing brings the holidays home like a
real Christmas tree in the house. Dozens of tree farms around the
state work hard all year long to have a large variety of trees
ready for sale in December. Many of these operations also have
gift shops and other family activities. Check this site for
growers in your area.
Honey
Honey is the most natural sweetener in the world,
and Indiana bees produce over 609,000 pounds of honey per year.
Many of Indiana's beekeepers have a variety of specialty honeys
for sale along with beeswax products. These are products you
simply cannot find in a store. See what the buzz is all abut by
checking out beekeepers on this site.