li




DADE RANKS HIGH AS AN

AGRICULTURAL CO UNTY


Dade County agriculture is an important segment of the economy of the
county, State and Nation. The county leads the State in the production of
limes, avocados, mangos, tomatoes and pole beans for fresh market.

In 1959 Dade County ranked nationally as follows: fourth in tomatoes
and snap bean acreage, sixth in value of all vegetables, tenth in value of
ornamentals, 37th in highest potato acreage and 72nd in value of all farm
products sold.

About $55,000,000 is received annually by farmers from the sale of
their products; however, this is only a portion of the overall value of
agriculture to Dade County's total economy. In addition, farmers purchase
goods and services from agribusiness firms in excess of $40,000,000 annually.
Also more than 23,000 residents of Dade County work in agriculture and
approximately 9,000 migrant workers are engaged in seasonal production and
marketing operations. There are other economic benefits that are created
by agriculture and agribusiness firms butthese cannot be fully brought out
in this report.

Many problems confront Dade County agriculture. In addition to
hurricanes, freezes and floods, agriculture is faced with problems dealing
with high land values, zoning regulations, taxation and many others. These
natural and man-made problems often discourage agricultural growth in the
county. However,.the uniqueness of this production area, combined with a
large variety of appealing exotic fruits and production of vegetables in the
winter months, continues to induce agricultural growth here. These same
attributes also justify a realistic appraisal of Dade County's agriculture by
the people of Dade County. Enclosed is certain information which should be
of value in acquainting the reader with more specific information on agricul-
ture in Dade County.









UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES


COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURpE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS AGRICULTURAL EITENSION SERVICE SC-OOL OF FORESTRy


Dade County FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE
Agricultural Agent's Office
February 18, 1965 1









1944 1964 PRODUCTION VALUES

DADE COUNTY AGRICULTURE


Vegetables

Fruit

Dairy

Ornamenta
Horticulture

Poultry

Other
Livestock

Other Farm
Enterprises


1944-49

($1000)

12,756

I/ 955

6,955


1,470

530


500


Five Year Averages
1949-54

($1000)

20,254

1/ 1,791

9,828


2,558

841


842


Total 23,166 36,114 53,776 52,349

J/ Includes avocados, limes, and mangos; not "other fruit."

2/ No figures available.

3/ Includes hatcheries, starting in season of 1956-57.


1954-59

($1000)

35,117

1/ 3,276

4,717


1959-64

($1000)

30,171

3,190

2,341


4,835

3_/ 3,111


10,922

3 4,107


1,055


1,665


1,314



















25



DAIRY


........ .. 4 *
FRUIT-R




44-49 49-54 54-59 1960 1961 1962 1963 196
FIVE YEAR AVERAGES ONE YEAR TOTAL
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DADE COUNTY VEGETABLE CROPSz ACREAGE, PRODUCTION AND
ESTIMATED VALUE 1963-64 CROP YEAR


Crop


Acreage
Planted
(Acres)


Unit


Total
Yield
(1000)


Total
Value
($1000)


Tomatoes 21,500 60 lb. 5,764 22,701

Potatoes 5,100 cwt. 840 4,368

Pole Beans 7,000 bu. 1,403 4,307

Squash 3,200 bu. 342 1,197

Strawberries 350 lb. 3,201 1,104

Cucumbers 3,370 bu. 459 1,381

Sweet Corn 2,960 42 lb. 318 853

Bush Beans 1,700 bu. 181 556

Other
Vegetables j/ 3,990 597 887

TOTAL VEGETABLES 37.354
y1 Includes lima beans, cantaloupes, eggplant, escarole, chicory, lettuce, green
peppers, Cuban vegetables, peas, okra and cabbage.


1963-64 SEASON


Acreage Total Total
Fruit Planted Unit Yield Value
(1000) (ooo$1000)

Avocados 6,500 bu. 550 1,950

Limes 4,200 bu. 675 1,850

Mangos 1,100 bu. 83 470

Specialty
Fruit / 560 lb. 9,789 524

Other Fruit 3/ 660 box 104 402

Fruit Sub Total 5,196
j/ Includes lychee, barbados cherries, guavas, papayas and sapodillas.

3/ Includes oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, tangelos, and lemons.








DADE COUNTY VEGETABLE CRCPS: ACREAGE, PRODUCTION AND
ESTIMATED VALUE 1963-64 CROP YEAR
(DERAILED CHART-VBGETABLE CROP)

Acreage Production
Planted Harvested Unit Total Harvested Value
(Acres) (Acres) (1000) (1000) ($1000)

Snap Beans, Bush 1,700 1,500 Bushel 203 181 556

Pole 7,000 6,500 Bushel 1,497 1,403 4,307

Potatoes 5,100 5,100 Cwt. 843 840 4,368

Squash 3,200 2,800 Bushel 342 342 1,197

Strawberries 350 330 Pounds 3,201 3,201 1,104

Tomatoes, Fresh 21,500 19,600 60 lb. crt. 3,869 3,869 21,280

Processing 60 lb. crt. 1,895 1,895 1,421

Cabbage 1,100 1,000 50 lb. crt. 275 275 344

Sweet Corn 2,960 2,270 42 lb. crt. 318 318 853

Cucumbers 3,370 2,110 Bushel 483 459 1,381

Ckra 600 600 Bushel 45 45 180

Peas 600 600 Bushel 51 51 138

Other
Vegetables 1/ 1,690 1,670 Cwt. 193 193 225


j/ Includes lima beans, cantaloupes, eggplant, escarole, chicory, lettuce, green peppers, and Cuban vegetables.













Ornamental Horticulture 1964

572 Nurseries and Flower Growers

Poultry 1964

32 Farms -- 275,000 layers

3,700,000 dozen eggs $1,600

275,000 birds sold for meat $ 60

6 Hatcheries 9,500,000 $2,051

TOTAL POULTRY

Dairy 1964

5 farms 4,900 cows and calves

3,969,821 gallons of milk sold $2,072

Dairy animals sold for beef $ 141,

TOTAL DAIRY

Other Livestock 1964

140 Farms -- Horses, hogs, sheep and goats

12,600 animals

All Other Crops and Farm Enterprises 1964

TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE


/ $ 9,525,000


,000

,000

,000


/ $ 3,711,000


,899

,840


/ $ 2.214,739





/ $ 865,700

/ $ 500,000 /

$ 59,367t000


Source: U.S.D.A. Florida Crop and Livestock Reporting Service,
Orlando, Florida.
Dade County Agricultural Agent's Office.
Milk Marketing Orders Division, Federal Order No. 13.








FRUITS


ACREAGE
PLANTED


1944-49

1949-54

1954-59

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964


VALUE
($1000)


955

1,791

3,276

1,952

1,817

2,955

4,032

5,196


16,600

16,000

13,595

13,500

13,020


1/ Average




VEGETABLES


ACREAGE VALUE
PLANTED ($1000)

1944-49 / 12,756

1949-54 1/ 20,254

1954-59 I/ 35,117

1960 40,565 22,921

1961 40,158 28,156

1962 37,540 30,643

1963 41,625 31,782

1964 49,170 37,354


1/ Average


__ _







DAIRY


VALUE
($1000ooo)

1944-49 / 6,955
1949-54 9,828
1954-59 4,717
1960 2,684
1961 2,166
1962 2,211
1963 2,431
1964 2,215


J/ Average



POULTRY

NUMBER VALUE
CF FARMS ($1000)

1944-49 J/ 530
1949-54 / 841
1954-59 1/3,111
1960 63 4,610
1961 62 5,005
1962 39 3,760
1963 33 3,450
1964 32 3,711


i/ Average



ORNAMENTAL HCRT CULTURE


VALUE
OPERATIONS ($1000)

1944-49 1/ 1,470
1949-54 2 2,558
1954-59 / 4,835
1960 526 13,100
1961 645 11,800
1962 522 10,886
1963 535 9,300
1964 572 9,525


1j/ Average






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44-49 49-54 54-59 59-64
FIVE YEAR AVERAGES 1944-64 PRODUCTION VALUES
KEY-- (D VEGETABLES () FRUIT a DAIRY -) ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE
()POULTRY LIVESTOCK -< OTHER FARM ENTERPRISES