Arizona

Arizona has close to 7,500 farms and ranches, averaging about 3,680 acres – the highest such average of any U.S. state. Although rapid population growth and urban sprawl have resulted in significant loss of farmland in recent decades, especially in the Phoenix area.The state’s most valuable agricultural commodities are cattle and calves, dairy products, lettuce, and cotton. Beef is the leading agricultural product. Enough beef is produced annually to feed over 4.6 million Americans. Arizona also produces enough cotton each year to make more than one pair of jeans for every man, woman and child in the country. It is in Yuma where one will find the winter lettuce capitol of the world. Due to the dry weather Arizona’s crop farming depends almost entirely on irrigation.