2026 Senate Resolution 101

Whereas, Every March, states nationwide come together to celebrate the vital role of food and agriculture in driving the national economy; and

Whereas, The Michigan food and agriculture industry contributes more than $125.8 billion annually to the state’s economy and is a major source of employment for our workforce, supporting approximately 805,000 jobs, which is roughly 17.2 percent of the state’s workforce; and

Whereas, Michigan’s food and agriculture sector is the second- most diverse in the country with 47,600 farms, 99 percent of which are family-owned, farming nearly 10 million acres of farmland and commercially producing more than 300 food and agricultural commodities; and

Whereas, Michigan ranks first in the nation for asparagus production, producing up to 30 million pounds annually; and

Whereas, Our state is also one of the top blueberry-producing states, with 87 million pounds produced by over 500 farms, contributing nearly $130 million to the state’s economy; and

Whereas, Michigan has about 12,000 farms with 1.1 million cattle and calves, contributing $140 million in beef exports annually; and

Whereas, Our state produced over 500 million pounds of dry edible beans, valued at over $200 million; and

Whereas, Michigan ranks seventh in egg production, with more than 16.6 million laying hens on average producing over 5 billion eggs per year, economically impacting the state by $1.4 billion; and

Whereas, We lead the nation in floriculture crops, including impatiens, begonias, marigolds, geraniums, hearty chrysanthemums, and petunias, with a value of $695 million; and

Whereas, Michigan has 10,900 acres of vines, making it the eighth-largest grape-producing state in the nation and home to more than 200 commercial wineries; and

Whereas, Our state is now the fourth-largest hop-growing state in the United States; and

Whereas, In 2022, Michigan had 2,066,138 acres of farms under irrigation; and

Whereas, Michigan grows 59 percent of the United States’ tart cherries, ranking first in production with 182 million pounds; and

Whereas, Our state grows over 1.2 billion pounds of apples on 38,000 aces, with an economic impact of over $350 million; and

Whereas, Michigan grows many varieties of kale, with market growth exceeding 60 percent in recent years; and

Whereas, Our state produces multiple varieties of lettuce, both indoors and outdoors, benefiting from climate, muck soils, and hydroponic opportunities; and

Whereas, Michigan ranks fifth in the nation for maple syrup production, producing approximately 200,000 gallons per year, with an economic impact of $8.7 million in 2023; and

Whereas, Our state’s nursery, landscape, and lawn care industries contribute $4.5 billion to the economy; and

Whereas, Michigan produced more than 11 million pounds of peaches on roughly 23,000 acres; and

Whereas, Soybeans are Michigan’s top agricultural export, with over 105 million bushels produced, valued at over $1.55 billion; and

Whereas, Michigan grows tomatoes for both fresh and processed uses, producing 120,100 tons of processing tomatoes and 74 million pounds for the fresh market; and

Whereas, Our state is home to over 1,000 dairy farms, caring for over 440,000, producing an industry-

leading 27,680 pounds of milk per cow annually, ranking sixth in the nation for milk production; and

Whereas, Michigan grows over 500 types of vegetables, with 3,047 farms harvesting over 165,000 acres; and

Whereas, Our state has over 460,000 acres of wheat across 75 counties, producing over 36 million bushels annually; and

Whereas, Michigan is the leading producer of potatoes for potato chip processing, making potatoes the second-leading produce commodity in the state, with over 1.9 billion pounds of potatoes produced annually, contributing over $2.5 billion of Michigan’s economy; and

Whereas, Our state’s pumpkin and squash production generates over $55 million from approximately 257 million pounds of produce; and

Whereas, Michigan ranks first nationally in cucumber production, with over 800 farms harvesting over 29,000 acres and 53.6 million pounds; and

Whereas, It is evident that our state’s food and agriculture sector continues to be a thriving industry, offering new opportunities for Michiganders, making food and agriculture a cornerstone of Michigan’s continued prosperity; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body designate March 2026 as Agriculture Appreciation Month. We encourage all citizens to celebrate this momentous occasion.