Many vegetables are grown in Mississippi on small acreages for sale in local markets. Irish potatoes are grown on 250 to 500 acres each year, okra is grown on 300 to 600 acres, and squashes and pumpkins are grown on 300 to 1,000 acres. Turnip and rutabaga roots are grown on less then 100 acres each year. Green and bulb onions are normally grown on less than 50 acres each. Several other crops are grown on 20 acres, or less, each year. In Mississippi, 43 different vegetables are grown commercially each year.
Greens are grown on over 2,000 acres in Mississippi. The use of the term "greens" for salad ingredients has led to the more frequent and more correct term "potherb" for these crops. Turnip, mustard, and collard greens are the major crops, but small amounts of kale and Swiss chard are also produced. Greens are almost exclusively a cool season crop commercially, but warm season greens such as malabar spinach and New Zealand spinach are produced in many home gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Green Industry includes three components: greenhouse production, nursery production, and landscape service. Ornamental plant production is one of the fastest growing agricultural industries in Mississippi. It is a highly specialized and intensive form of agriculture. Unlike field or row crop agriculture, which bases production costs on acres, nursery and greenhouse costs are calculated on a per square foot of growing area or per plant basis.
Pecans
The cole crops are cool season vegetables derived from the Brassica oleraceae L. plant. They include kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, and Chinese kale. Kale and collards are discussed under the greens heading. The other plants were developed for different parts to be eaten. Mississippi produces approximately 400 acres of cabbage and less than 50 acres each of the rest of the cole crops. At one time, Mississippi was a major player in the spring cabbage market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gathering around a Christmas tree with family to celebrate Christmas together is a tradition dating back to the 1500s. Since 1977, Mississippi Christmas tree growers have provided a large number of the trees used locally each year. In 1997, approximately 245,000 trees were sold with a retail value of $7.5 million. About 95 percent of production is on choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms. These farms are oriented to their local markets. The species of trees grown in Mississippi do not allow growers to market trees in retail lots nor to market trees to other states and countries.
Across the globe, a growing interest in renewable energy has led scientists to investigate a variety of energy crops and materials to convert into biofuels. A biofuel can be made from plants or from agricultural, commercial, domestic, or industrial waste. Ideally, crops grown for biofuels are low-cost, low-maintenance products used expressly for energy.
Mississippi’s diverse soils, abundant rainfall, and moderate climate allow producers to plant a wide variety of agricultural crops. From iconic cotton to cutting-edge energy crops for biofuels, MSU scientists support the state’s agricultural commodities in a variety of ways.
Extension agents and specialists address growers’ immediate needs and challenges and help producers use university-based research to determine the most efficient production methods, best management practices, and most effective seed varieties for their unique needs.
Catfish is the leading aquaculture species in the United States. Commercial catfish production generates 19 percent of the value of aquaculture production in the United States. From the first commercial production in ponds in the 1960s, catfish production has grown to reach annual sales of roughly 322 million pounds in 2023. Mississippi leads the U.S. in production with 29,900 acres in July 2024.