Colorado

Despite being the highest state in the country, Colorado’s 30,000 farms and ranches encompass 30.7 million acres – nearly half the state’s total land. There are more than 105,000 jobs in Colorado related to agribusiness, contributing $16 billion annually to the economy. Cattle and calves are the number one agricultural commodity with close to 2.6 million head of cattle. The state is also a leader in the production of sheep meat and wool. It is in the eastern plains regions and valley where the most fertile soils in the nation can be found. Therefore it’s not surprising that a majority of cropland is located throughout the eastern region. Apples are Colorado’s largest fruit crop in terms of production. In fact, the high-altitude at which they are grown supposedly enhances the quality of taste.