The National Mall in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
| | Voice of the Farmer Garden at the U.S. Department of Agriculture | |
The U.S. has a significant livestock industry, and some ofthe crops grown in this garden support the sector by forming the basis of animal feed. U.S. livestock farms range from large-scale operations with thousands of animals, to smaller farms that may grow multiple crops in addition to raising animals. The U.S. is a global powerhouse in meat and dairy production, as well as trade, ranking as one of the world's top producers of beef, poultry, pork, and dairy.
Did You Know?
Beef: Cattle production is one of the most important sectors of the agricultural economy, generating over $100 billion in revenue for farmers, the largest share of any single commodity. Texas is the top beef cattle producing state, followed by Kansas and Nebraska. The U.S. is also the world's biggest consumer of beef - on average, each American eats over 50 pounds of beef per year.
Pork: The U.S. is home to more than 60,000 pork producers who market more than 115 million hogs annually. Iowa is the top pork-producing state, followed by Minnesota and North Carolina. About a quarter of U.S. pork production is exported - Japan and Mexico arethe biggest buyers.
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Poultry: American consumption of chicken has been rising rapidly in recent decades - today, the average person eats more than 65 pounds a year, more than double the amount in 1980. The top chicken producing states are Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas. Iowa is the biggest U.S. producer of eggs, and Minnesota and North Carolina rank first for turkey.
Dairy: Milk is produced in all 50 states, but output is highest in the western and northern U.S. - California and Wisconsin are the top producers. Dairy farmers have become increasingly efficient in recent decades, leading to an increase in output even as the number of U.S. farms decreased. U.S. consumption of dairy products including butter and cheese has increased significantly in recent decades. Mozzarella and cheddar are the most popular cheese varieties in the U.S.
Visit www.voiceofthefarmergarden.org to learn more about agriculture in the U.S. and crops growing in the garden. Voice of the Farmer Garden educational content is produced and managed by Farm Journal Foundation.
Erected by Farm Journal Foundation; U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Topics.
Location. 38° 53.305′ N, 77° 1.702′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. It can be reached from the intersection of Jefferson Drive Southwest and 12th Street Southwest, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1203 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington DC 20004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Federal Grain Inspection Service (a few steps from this marker); Farmers on the Front Lines (a few steps from this marker); USDA Holocaust Memorial Tree (a few steps from this marker); Bald Cypress (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Bradford Pear Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); USDA Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Steven Thomas Stefani IV (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
Other markers no longer nearby. Welcome to the People's Garden (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Growing in the Garden (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Sunflowers (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Virginia Peanuts (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Stewardship of Natural Resources (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Growing in the Garden (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
