Virginia

Agriculture is Virginia’s largest and oldest industry. It’s been the backbone of the state economy for nearly four centuries. About 90% of the farms are owned and operated by families and close to 14% of farmers in Virginia are female. Broilers rank as Virginia’s top product in the livestock products category. Cattle, calves and dairy products are also important to the state. Greenhouse and nursery products lead the field in the "crops" category. Virginia is the 5th largest tobacco producing state in the country and many of the people who live there earn their living from the tobacco industry. Virginia claims to have been the first state in the country to grow peanuts.