Vermont | America's Heartland (2024)

Vermont’s farming sector is comparatively small, devoting 21.6% of the land to agriculture, although it is an important part of the state’s economy. The most valuable agricultural commodity by far is milk, representing about 76% of Vermont’s total agricultural economy. Just about half the milk consumed in New England comes from Vermont. In ratio to cows to people, the state has the greatest number of dairy cows in the country. Milk, cheese, ice cream, butter, yogurt and other popular dairy goods are produced from Vermont’s rich milk. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream company gives their ice cream waste to the local Vermont farmers who use it to feed their hogs. Vermont is America’s largest producer of maple syrup and also produces substantial crops of macintosh apples, honey, Christmas trees, and lumber.