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TAMPA — From dairy goats to angus cattle, Florida's agriculture industry is on display at the 2013 Florida State Fair, which kicks off today at the fairgrounds in Tampa.
A new Florida Cattlemen's Ranching Museum debuts with this year's fair, and visitors will find a historical exhibit at the Ag Hall of Fame. There are also several competitions, from youth beef showmanship to swine and poultry judging, as well as an angus show.
Florida agriculture contributes more than $100 billion to the state's economy annually, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The state's 47,500 farms produce nearly 300 different commodities on more than 9.2 million acres of land. Agriculture employs approximately 750,000 people in the state.
The state's leading crop is oranges, which represent about 16% of all commodity cash receipts, according to the department. But ranching is big business, as well. In January 2012, there were 1.7 million head of cattle on farms and ranches in Florida. According to a 2012 state report, livestock produced cash receipts of $1.3 billion in 2010, while poultry farms generated $306 million in sales.
The Florida State Fairgrounds are located at 4800 US Highway 301 North, Tampa 33610.
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