Agriculture is a major industry in theU.S. commonwealth ofPennsylvania.[1] As of the most recentUnited States Census of Agriculture conducted in 2017, there were 53,157farms in Pennsylvania, covering an area of 7,278,668 acres (2,945,572 hectares) with an average size of 137 acres (55 hectares) per farm.[2] In 2016, Pennsylvania ranked first in the United States inAgaricus mushroom production (63.8% of U.S. sales volume during 2015–16),[3] fourth inapple production,[4] fourth inChristmas tree production,[5] fifth indairy sales,[6] fifth ingrape production, and seventh inwinemaking.[7]
Historically, different geographic locations in Pennsylvania were centers for different forms of agricultural production, withfruit production occurring in theAdams County region, fruit andvegetables in theLake Erie region, andpotatoes in theLehigh County region.[8] Modern agricultural production in Pennsylvania includescorn,wheat,oats,barley,sorghum,soybeans,tobacco,sunflowers, potatoes,sweet potatoes, among others.[2]
Since Pennsylvania's founding in 1682, agriculture has been a major part of the economy, beginning with theLenape andMonongahelaNative American peoples. The Lenape, who were in theDelaware Valley, primarily grew corn, while the Monongahela grew beans, corn, andsquash in theUpper Ohio Valley.German immigrants, upon settling inLancaster County andYork County inSouth Central Pennsylvania, continued the development of agriculture in the commonwealth.[1]
As the settlement period inPennsylvania's history continued from the commonwealth's founding until about 1840, agriculture became part ofrural living in the region as utilizing one's land as an income source became common practice among settlers after large-scale acquisition of land from Native Americans from 1682 until the addition of the remainder of modern-dayErie County in Northwestern Pennsylvania in 1792. Although settlement of the region continued throughout this period, it became slower during theFrench and Indian War and theAmerican Revolutionary War, both in the second half of the 18th century, owing to political uncertainty during the period.[9]
Settlers fromEngland largely controlled the Delaware Valley by 1674, although some settlers from theNetherlands andSweden settled in the region. Several areas in present-day South Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania, including present-dayBucks County,Chester County, Lancaster County,Delaware County, andPhiladelphia County, were home toEuropean settlers by 1730. As the 18th century continued, settlers spread both northward and westward. Although formal marketplaces for agricultural goods were scarce during this period, settlers often exchanged goods, crops, labor, and other products to provide for themselves and their families. In addition to exchange with other farms, goods were traded in the global market, especially during theNapoleonic Wars in Europe, when demand for these goods increased significantly. With many roads suitable for shipping of goods only on a seasonal basis, theSusquehanna River andAllegheny River were often used to transport goods to more suitable routes for transport to the coast for trans-Atlantic shipping.[9]
The period of 1830–1850 saw the increased prominence ofsheep-raising andwool production as a part of southwestern Pennsylvania agriculture withWashington County leading the nation's counties in sheep production by 1860, and an assortment of other diverse crops across the state. The onset of theAmerican Civil War in 1861 saw a spike in demand for wool-based products to supply theUnion Army. Although sheep-raising was on the rise,livestock and mixedgrain were still the base of the regional agricultural economy. Despite the surge of sheep-raising in southwestern Pennsylvania, its increasing prominence had halted and began to decrease by the beginning of the 20th century.[10]
In Pennsylvania, the second half of the 19th century saw the passage of agricultural legislation and the creation of governmental agencies pertaining to agriculture. The Pennsylvania Board of Agriculture was established in 1876 to provide oversight for scientific advances in the agriculture industry. Subsequently, in 1895, thePennsylvania Department of Agriculture was created. The Department of Agriculture, as the Board of Agriculture's successor, assumed the roles of agricultural education, law enforcement, and disease control. Legislation passed by thePennsylvania General Assembly during the period included the Commercial Fertilizer Law of 1879, the Butter and Cheese Act of 1883, and the Animal Disease Control Law of 1887.[1]
Industrialization during the late 19th century and early 20th century had a lasting effect on agriculture in Pennsylvania. Food production and packaging by companies including theH. J. Heinz Company based inPittsburgh improved. Technological developments—includingtractor-drawn implements, truck refrigeration, and the increasing availability ofelectricity—contributed to the evolution of techniques employed by Pennsylvania farmers. During theGreat Depression, many Pennsylvania farmers were afflicted with financial hardship akin to much of the United States. Various aspects of PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt's agricultural programs passed as part of theNew Deal (with the exception of theAgriculture Adjustment Act of 1933) were met primarily with support from farmers in Pennsylvania. Urbanization followingWorld War II precipitated a decreased prominence of agriculture in Pennsylvania as many moved from farms and into cities in search of employment. In response, many farms employedmigrant workers to compensate. The construction of theInterstate Highway System and development of once-rural areas during the mid-20th century contributed to a decreasing availability of land suitable for farming. Despite this, however, Pennsylvania's rural population remains one of the largest in the United States.[1]
Dairy farming is the largest agricultural industry in Pennsylvania. Farming is prominent in the rural areas of the commonwealth, the southeast in particular (including Berks County, Lancaster County, and York County). Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks fourth in both milk production andice cream production.Edible mushrooms, fruits, vegetables, tobacco,maple sugar, andChristmas trees are all produced in Pennsylvania.Livestock raising, which comprises approximately 68% of commonwealth farm income, continues to be a major part of the Pennsylvania agriculture industry as well. Food production and packaging (including the H. J. Heinz Company) are also parts of the industry.[1]
Each January, thePennsylvania Farm Show takes place at thePennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center inHarrisburg. Theagricultural exposition draws roughly 500,000 visitors annually and hosts approximately 300 exhibits and 13,000 competitions. First held in 1917, many of the Pennsylvania Farm Show's events are now broadcast on thePennsylvania Cable Network throughout the Commonwealth.[11]
| Crop | Farms Producing | Acres (km2) | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn for grain | 13,693 | 949,375 (3,841.98) |  144,684,352bushels |
| Corn forsilage or greenchop | 7,059 | 353,212 (1,429.40) |  6,849,437tons |
| Wheat for grain | 3,370 | 151,920 (614.8) | 10,100,176 bushels |
| Oats for grain | 2,711 | 49,693 (201.10) | 2,878,421 bushels |
| Barley for grain | 1,546 | 42,626 (172.50) | 3,105,185 bushels |
| Sorghum for grain | 133 | 4,969 (20.11) | 373,176 bushels |
| Sorghum for silage or greenchop | 224 | 6,033 (24.41) | 81,334 tons |
| Soybeans for beans | 8,048 | 650,111 (2,630.91) | 31,653,360 bushels |
| Dry, edible beans (excludingchickpeas andlima beans) | 7 | — | — |
| Tobacco | 812 | 7,476 (30.25) | 17,431,368lbs |
| Sunflower seed | 39 | 841 (3.40) | 929,160 lbs |
| Vegetables (total, harvested for sale) | 4,218 | 48,063 (194.50) | – |
| Potatoes | 1,107 | 7,643 (30.93) | – |
| Sweet potatoes | 259 | 151 (0.61) | – |
| Orchards | 2,412 | 43,509 (176.07) | – |
