SECTION 1


 The Importance of Florida's Agricultural Sector


 Agriculture is an exceedingly important industry in Florida. The
 retail value of agricultural output is probably around $12.5 billion, or
 nearly $4 billion ex. farm gate, and the contribution to Gross State Pro-
 duct is approximately 17%.3 Agriculture generates 2.8% of the labor and
 proprietors' income in the state, which while seemingly small, is higher
 than either Texas or Illinois, both major agricultural states and only
 slightly less than California, (3.1%) the leading agricultural state in
 3
the nation. This 2.8% is equivalent to $950 million, which is a greater
sum than that generated by general building construction ($700 million),
foodstore sales ($770 million) and more than hotels, motels, and amusement
centers and recreation parks put together.3 As Florida is generally known
for tourism and construction, these statistics underline the relative im-
portance of agriculture to the state.
 According to 1977 USDA statistics Florida ranked 12th in the nation
in total farm cash receipts, 23rd in livestock receipts and 7th in crop
receipts. However, the livestock ranking is somewhat misleading, for
aggregating cattle and calves, masks the fact that the state probably ex-
ports more calves for the fattening enterprise than any other state.5
Florida stands first in the nation in citrus and sugarcane, second in green-
house and nursery products, tomatoes and egg hatcheries, third in lettuce,
seventh in peanuts, eighth in tobacco and ninth in eggs and potatoes. Yet


 Florida Statistical Abstract 1978, Bureau of Economic and Business
Research, Coll. of Business Admin., Univ. of FL, The Univ. Presses of FL,
Gainesville, 1978 pp. 218-220, pp. 584, pp, 108-9, pp. 110-111.

 4U.S.D.A., E.S.C.S., "State Farm Income Statistics", Supplement to
Statistical Bull. No. 609, Washington, D.C., Sept. 1978 p. 9.

 5W. Kary Mathis, Director, Marketing Center, Food and Resource Econ.
Dept., Univ. of FL, personal communication.