Maryland Agriculture

Agriculture is Maryland’s largest commercial industry, contributing more than $8 billion to the state economy annually. More than 12,000 farms produce a variety of commodities on approximately 2 million acres. As the state’s largest industry, agriculture puts many Marylanders to work – about 350,000 of them.

A testament to the state’s nickname, Little America, Maryland agricultural commodity production is as diverse as the nation itself, and includes poultry, nursery and turf, seafood, dairy, corn, soybeans, and racing and pleasure horses. Maryland farmers work to protect one of their most vital resources – the land. With research, they have implemented best management practices to protect land while at the same time providing food and fiber.