Agriculture in Pennsylvania
ZIP codes in our Pennsylvania data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture is one of Pennsylvania's largest and most diverse industries, spanning dairy barns in the north, grain fields in the central valleys, and specialty operations near the southeast cities. The state's mix of family farms, strong Cooperative Extension support, and proximity to major East Coast markets makes it an important place for both commercial growers and home gardeners.
Farming in Pennsylvania
Dairy is the backbone of Pennsylvania agriculture, and the state is consistently among the nation's leading milk producers, supported by large herds of dairy cattle and a strong network of processors. Pennsylvania is the country's top producer of cultivated mushrooms, with production concentrated in the southeastern part of the state around Chester County. Poultry and eggs, along with cattle and hogs, round out a substantial livestock sector. On the crop side, farmers grow corn, soybeans, hay, and wheat, and the state is well known for apples, grapes, potatoes, sweet corn, nursery and greenhouse plants, and Christmas trees.
Climate and growing conditions
Pennsylvania has a humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and cold winters, and rainfall that is generally well distributed through the year. The frost-free growing season ranges from roughly 100 days in the higher northern mountains to more than 180 to 190 days in the milder southeast near Philadelphia. Gardeners across the state typically fall within USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7, with the coldest zones in the north-central highlands and the warmest in the southeastern corner.
Major agricultural products
- Dairy and milk
- Mushrooms
- Poultry and eggs
- Cattle and calves
- Corn
- Soybeans and hay
- Apples and grapes
- Nursery, greenhouse, and Christmas trees
Hardiness zones in Pennsylvania
Growers in Pennsylvania fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Pennsylvania
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Pennsylvania
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (67 counties):
Market prices & data for Pennsylvania
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.