JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Amid industry and environmental obstacles, Mississippi’s agriculture industry remains vibrant in 2024.
Poultry is again the largest part of Mississippi’s agricultural industry with a value of $3.8 billion, up 10.5% from 2023. Forestry holds second place with a $1.5 billion value, roughly the same as last year. Soybeans and Livestock ranked third and fourth, worth $1.3 billion and $578 million, respectively. These commodities make up about 80% of the value of Mississippi’s $9 billion agriculture industry.
Josh Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, credits a rebound in broiler chicken production in 2024 with a stronger showing than last year.
“It is not out of the question that the industry could hit a $4 billion value of production total sometime in the next five years,” Maples said.
Other areas of agricultural promise exist. Hay is valued at $171 million, up 13%. Rice production value is $168 million, a gain of 20%. That increase was due to a rise in acreage. The state’s specialty crops are worth $115 million, an increase of 2%. Peanut producers harvested 25,500 acres, 30% more than last year. The crop has a value of $24.5 million, up 11% from 2023.