The country celebrates National Agriculture Week from March 21-27. Agriculture has played a major part in the Pinal County economy since the pre-contact Native Americans, known as the Hohokam.
As of 2017, approximately 90% of the farms in Pinal County are family-owned. The top crops currently produced here, by number of acres planted, are cotton, forage (hay), wheat for grain, and corn for animal feed. On the livestock side, cattle make up the vast majority of the livestock inventory.
Looking to the future, water is shaping up to be one of the biggest challenges for Pinal County farmers. In the past, most of the water used for irrigation came from Central Arizona Project (CAP) canals or rivers, such as the Gila. Due to the severe drought in the west, the water available from these sources is being significantly reduced.
Celebrate Agriculture Week with us by visiting our outdoor exhibits and check out the historical agricultural equipment on display!
