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Minnesota
Capital : St. Paul
Population : 5 million
Founded : May 11, 1858 (32nd State)
State Bird : Common Loon, State Fish: Walleye
State Tree : Norway Pine, State Grain: Wild Rice
State Flower : Pink and White Lady Slipper
State Drink : Milk, State Muffin: Blueberry
State Mushroom : Morel
State Fruit : Honey crisp Apple
State Name : The name “Minnesota” comes from Dakota Indian
Words meaning “sky-tinted waters” or sky-blue waters”
Number of Lakes : 11,842 (more than 10 acres)
Number of Counties : 87
Largest City : Minneapolis Population: 387,711
Nickname : North Star State, Land of 10,000 Lakes
St. Paul Twin Cities Area: 3 million (15th largest area in the U.S.)

Soil
The Minnesota state soil is “Lester”. In Minnesota, 1.32 million acres of farmland is Devoted to conservation and wetland reserve programs. Minnesota farmers reduce soil erosion by practicing conservation tillage, terracing, contour farming and planting trees as windbreaks. Each of the world’s soils is classified to one of the 12 soil orders. This classification is based primarily on soil properties. Minnesota has soils that are classified in 7 of the 12 soil orders.

General
Minnesota has 79,600 farms totaling nearly 28 million acres (55% of land use) of the state’s 54 million acres. Minnesota has 86,943 square miles of land. The Agriculture and Food Industry is the 2nd largest employer in Minnesota. Two-thirds of all agricultural jobs are off-farm, in processing, distribution, supply and service sectors. Minnesota ranks 5th in farm exports, with Canada, Mexico and Japan as leading markets. Mississippi River: Starts in Minnesota. 680 miles of its 2,552 total miles flow through Minnesota. The Mississippi transports 66% of all grain exported from the United States.

Animals
Minnesota leads the nation in turkey production. The state is also a major producer of hogs, milk cows and mink pelts. Hogs are Minnesota’s top-producing livestock commodity. Other livestock raised in Minnesota include bison, elk and ostriches. Minnesota is second nationally for number of bison producers, raising 12,000 head.

Climate
In Minnesota, the average temperature ranges from 0°F – 74°F, with extremes reaching -20°F and the lower 100’soF. Minnesota’s growing season varies depending on where you are in the state: 100 days in the north to 150 days in the south. The average annual precipitation in Minnesota ranges from about 30" in the southeast to less than 20" in the northwest. In Minnesota, the numbers of annual frost free days range from 96 in the north to 163 in the south. Minnesota is home to three of North America’s ecological region’s; Laurentian Mixed Forest, Eastern Broadleaf Forest and Prairie Parkland.

Crops
Corn and Soybeans are Minnesota’s top producing crops. One bushel of corn produces 2.5 gallons of ethanol. Minnesota has 16 ethanol plants and 3 bio diesel plants. Total ethanol production capacity is 620 million gallons annually. The state has a 10% mandate for ethanol and a 2% mandate for bio diesel. Minnesota leads the nation in producing sugar beets, and sweet corn and green peas for processing. The state is also a major producer of spring wheat, oats, cultivated wild rice, flax and canola. Minnesota is unique in the production of wild rice, with both cultivated paddy wild rice and traditional Native American hand harvested wild rice.