Minnesota

Minnesota has rolling hills and lots of trees. The crops look good here too; rivers in the southern part of the state are full. We visited family and celebrated our granddaughter’s 8th birthday, and spent some time at a lake. I’ve done a separate post for that. Our daughter, two granddaughters and I toured the Cathedral of St. Paul; I have a separate post for that too.

Some Minnesota state economy facts below the pictures.

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Some Minnesota economy facts from netstate.com:

1. Agriculture: Minnesota is a leading state in annual farm income. It ranks at #5 among the states, generating about 4% of the nation's total agricultural receipts. In terms of revenue generated Minnesota's top five agricultural products are corn for grain, hogs, soybeans, dairy products, and and cattle and calves.

Livestock and livestock products account for about half of the state's farm income. Minnesota's most valuable livestock products are hogs, accounting for 18% of the state's total agricultural revenues. Minnesota is a leading (#3) hog-producing state. Dairy products and cattle and calves are also very important sources of revenue in the state. Minnesota is a leading milk-producing state, most of which is converted into butter and cheese. Turkeys and chicken eggs complete the list of the top five livestock products of Minnesota. Minnesota is also a leading producer of eggs and turkeys.
Corn is the state's most valuable crop followed by soybeans and again, Minnesota is a leading producer. Farmers also grow hay, sugar beets, wheat, barley, flaxseed and oats. The leading vegetable crops are peas, potatoes and sweet corn. Minnesota's leading fruit crops are apples.

2. Manufacturing: Computer and electronic products (medical devices, computer components, communications equipment) are the primary manufactured products of Minnesota.

Food products rank second. Minnesota is a leading meatpacking state and a leading producer of flour, processed into cake mixes and breakfast cereals. Among the leading milk, butter and cheese production states, Minnesota is also a top producer of frozen and canned vegetables.

The manufacture of machinery (agricultural machinery, metalworking, heating and cooling, machines for making microchips) ranks third in the manufacturing sector.
Other manufactured products in the state include weapons and ammunition, cans, stampings, paper products (adhesive tape), printed materials (commercial print shops, newspaper and book publishers), transportation equipment (automobiles, trucks, buses), aircraft parts and wood products (plywood).

3. Mining: Most of Minnesota's mining income comes from iron ore. Minnesota leads the other states in the production of iron ore. Quarries in Minnesota provide high quality granite. Other mined products are limestone, sand and gravel and peat.

4. Fishing: Commercial and recreational fishing contributes to the economy and the Mississippi river provides buffalo fish, carp, catfish, whitefish and yellow perch while Lake superior provides lake herring, smelt, walleye and yellow pike.