Farmland retention preserves heritage
Southern Minnesota’s economy is certainly more diverse than it was when Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) was founded nearly 30 years ago. However, agriculture still plays a major role. Agriculture and forestry account for over 20 percent of our 20-country region’s economic output. 6.2 million acres - 82 percent of our region’s land - is cultivated farmland. The most impressive statistic: the estimated current value of farmland in south central and southeastern Minnesota is $50 billion.