Spring is here

Though weather across the U.S. has been unfavorably wintry as of late, today is the first day of spring. The coming of the vernal equinox signals the arrival of all sorts of seasonal goodies. You’re guaranteed to see more open windows, strappy sandals, and all sorts of creatures from hatchling baby birds to marshmallow Peeps®.

The additional sunlight we’ll enjoy also marks the start of 2013’s growing season, which is big news for those of us working in agriculture and related sectors. While we at PolicyMap spend most of our time cultivating data indoors, many Americans rely on the coming of spring for their livelihoods. This is especially true in the West and Midwest. The 2006-2010 American Community Survey estimates that 1,937,900 people nationwide work in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sectors. South Dakota is state with the highest percentage of workers in this sector – 6.91% – but California boasts the greatest number – 331,383 workers, accounting for 1.99% of the state’s population.

Use the map below to explore how employment in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting varies by county.