Agriculture is the number one industry in Alabama, employing over 467,000 people, and constituting 21 percent of the state's workforce. With over 45,000 farms covering 8,700,000 acres, wherever you look in Alabama, you see agriculture. Some of the best agricultural products in the world are grown in Alabama, from poultry and cotton to watermelons and catfish. At least fifty different commercial crops and livestock are produced in Alabama.

Alabama is the third largest producer of broilers and the 13th largest producer of eggs in the nation. Poultry and eggs are grown all over Alabama with the heaviest activity in north Alabama. Cullman County produces the most poultry and eggs in Alabama and is the second highest producing county in the nation.

Most of Alabama's peanuts are grown on sandy soil in southeast Alabama in a nine-county area known as the wiregrass region. Most of the state's cotton is grown in the Wiregrass region and the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama.

Alabama's landscape is dotted with ponds used for raising catfish, shrimp, and other kinds of freshwater fish. The largest concentration of catfish and shrimp ponds is in west Alabama. Alabama ranks second in the Nation in catfish sales at $101.2 million. Alabama also ranks second in the Nation in commercial forest land with 22.9 million acres.

The Alabama State FSA Office is located in Montgomery, Alabama. Forty-nine FSA County Service Center offices are located throughout Alabama to serve the needs of local farmers and ranchers.

The Alabama FSA State Committee oversees agency activities. The State Executive Director and State Committee members are:

United States Department of Agriculture

Farm Service Agency

4121 Carmichael RD, Suite 600

Montgomery, Alabama 36106

Ph: (334) 279-3500