Agricultural Economic Development
- 266,392 jobs in the state
- 15.3 percent of the state’s wages and salaries
- 18.6 percent of all industry sales
- 17.5 percent of value-added
- $3.73 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue contributions
- 10.9 million total acres are in production
- 133,306 acres is the average county number of acres in production
- 345 acres is the average farm size of operation
- 497 farms offer agritourism and recreational activity
- $3.10 million in gross revenue from agritourism and recreational activity
- $77,600 is the average county gross revenue from agritourism and recreational activity
- 349 farms sell direct-to-retail or direct-to-institution
- 1,206 farms sell direct-to-consumer
- $4.02 million in total direct-to-consumer sales
- 94 farmers markets exist across the state (Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, 2017)
- Total farm acreage: Bolivar, Sunflower, Yazoo, Washington, Tallahatchie, Leflore, Panola, Coahoma, Hinds, and Holmes (Figure 1)
- Average farm size: Tunica, Issaquena, Sharkey, Washington, Sunflower, Leflore, Coahoma, Bolivar, Humphreys, and Tallahatchie (Figure 2)
- Agritourism and recreational activity: Tunica, Sharkey, Leflore, Coahoma, Quitman, Kemper, Calhoun, De Soto, Franklin, and Benton (Figure 3)
- Direct-to-consumer sales: Chickasaw, Greene, Scott, Simpson, George, Tate, Panola, Harrison, Hinds, and Covington (Figure 4)
- Number of farmers markets: Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Forrest, Calhoun, Madison, Neshoba, Alcorn, Washington, and Chickasaw (Figure 5)
The Top 10 Figures
![Total farm acreage description in text.](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/clone-applied-research/totalfarmacreage.png)
![](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/agricultural-economic-development/totalfarmacreage.png)
![Average farm size description in text.](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/clone-applied-research/averagefarmsize.png)
![](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/agricultural-economic-development/averagefarmsize.png)
![Agritourism and recreational activity description in text.](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/clone-applied-research/agritourismandrec.png)
![](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/agricultural-economic-development/agritourismandrec.png)
![Top 10 counties with direct-to-consumers sales description in text.](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/agricultural-economic-development/directtoconsumersalesREV.png)
![](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/agricultural-economic-development/directtoconsumersales.png)
![Top 10 MS Farmers' Markets by County description in text.](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/agricultural-economic-development/farmersmarketsREV.png)
![](/http/extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/local-food-system-economies/agricultural-economic-development/farmersmarkets.png)
Publications
News
Some canning mistakes can be deadly if your products are contaminated by the botulinum toxin, which causes botulism poisoning. You cannot see, smell, or taste this toxin, but the tiniest taste of contaminated food can kill you. You want to avoid these 10 major canninng mistakes.
Have you considered becoming a vendor at your local farmers market? It’s important to do some research, check regulations, and make a plan before you begin a business or begin selling your products at one.
These tips can help you create a plan for selling at farmers markets and other similar venues.
POPLARVILLE, Miss. -- Current and prospective market vendors can learn valuable marketing skills in a Feb. 9 workshop in Poplarville. Farmers Market Vendor Workshop: Boosting Your Revenue will teach participants valuable skills to help them increase sales. The workshop is open to vendors who sell at festivals, farmers markets and other similar venues.