Michigan

Capital: Lansing
Population: 10,112,620
Founded: January 26, 1837 (26th state)
State Bird: Robin
State Tree: White pine
State Flower: Apple Blossom
Number of Counties: 83
Largest City: Detroit Population: 951,270

Soil
The Kalkaska Series of soils, which cover 750,000 acres of Michigan, were named the state soil on December 4,1990.The Kalkaska Series can be found in both the upper and lower peninsulas of the state and in 29 of the 83 counties. The soil series supports the growth of hardwood timber trees like sugar maple, yellow birch and Christmas trees.

General
About one-million Michigan residents are employed in production agriculture and food Processing. Over 53,000 farms in Michigan produce over $60 billion in commodities each year in annual gross farm sales. The export value of Michigan products in 2005 was $960 million. Top exports included: soybeans and products, feed and grain products, vegetables, fruits and preparations, wheat and products and dairy products.

Animals
About 312,000 dairy cows produced 6,735 million pounds of milk in 2005. These ranks Michigan 8th nationally in annual milk production. Michigan’s hog production totaled 470.5 million pounds in 2005. Michigan ranks thirteenth in the nation in terms of inventory. There were over 1 - million head of cattle in the state as of Michigan January 1, 2006 with an estimated value of $1.27 billion.

Climate
Michigan has many microclimates which support the growth of more than 200 foods And fiber products. This makes Michigan the 2nd most agriculturally diverse state in the Nation.

Crop Production and Horticulture
Michigan is the national leader in the production of tart cherries, having grown 208 Million pounds or 76.9% of the U.S. total in 2005. In 2005, 2.25 million acres of Michigan were used for the production of corn. Soybeans are the state’s 2nd leading crop at 2 million acres. Michigan ranks 3rd in the nation in apple production with over 780 million bushels produced in 2005. The estimated farm-level value was $97.1 million. Michigan is the top producer of cucumbers grown for pickles, 2nd for celery, squash and carrots and 3rd in asparagus production. Over 887,560 tons of fresh market and processing vegetables were grown in Michigan in 2005. The state ranks 8th in fresh market and 5th in processed vegetable production nationally. Michigan ranks 3rd nationally in value of wholesale sales of floriculture products. In 2005, Michigan led the nation in the value of sales for 13 crops, including: Potted Easter Lilies, Potted Spring Flowering Bulbs, Potted Geraniums (seed), Potted Petunias, Potted New Guinea Impatiens, New Guinea Impatiens Hanging Baskets, Geraniums, Impatiens, Begonia and Petunia Hanging Baskets, Impatiens and New Guinea Impatiens (flats) and Potted Geraniums (cuttings).