www.fl-ag.com
Florida Farm Commodities
 Phosphate
Florida Agricultural Facts, 1998 Edition

Phosphate Rock Mined (Metric Tons*)

Year

Acres

Rock Mined

Employment

Payroll
1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

 5,893

6,273

6,355

5,348

4,616

 32,800,000

35,300,000

33,800,000

29,000,000

25,200,000

 7,850

8,000

8,256

8,043

7,759

 $441,000,000

$423,000,000

$404,000,000

$379,000,000

$347,000,000
1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

 6,094

6,105

5,901

5,791

5,867

 36,200,000

36,200,000

35,400,000

38,200,000

34,600,000

 9,759

9,759

9,894

9,783

9,797

 $420,000,000

$419,000,000

$389,000,000

$375,000,000

$348,000,000

*Metric Ton = 2,204.622 pounds

Major Finished Products (Short Tons**)

Year

Diammonium Phosphate

Super/Triple Phosphate

Phosphoric Acid

Monoammonim Phosphate
1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

 10,728,304

10,727,719

10,836,237

10,151,012

8,722,108

 1,397,674

1,589,069

1,858,799

1,926,814

1,701,918

 1,403,313

1,256,513

1,175,023

1,203,283

1,298,657

 2,189,275

1,781,706

1,548,810

1,651,301

1,329,105
1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

 10,036,039

10,461,087

9,485,406

8,810,157

8,240,348

 2,181,844

2,335,853

2,597,454

1,620,789

1,770,641

 1,749,816

1,421,329

1,675,884

1,273,558

1,503,695

 1,121,256

1,043,128

998,917

992,445

967,934

**Short Ton = 2,000 pounds
Phosphate Facts
  • Florida is the world leader in phosphate rock production, producing approximately 75 percent of the U.S. phosphate supply and about 25 percent of the world supply annually.
  • Of the Florida rock mined, 90 percent is used to make fertilizer for the production of food and fiber on Floridas and U. S. farms.
  • Phosphate was formed millions of years ago, and was first discovered in 1881 in Central Florida along the Peace River.
  • Studies have shown that Florida has enough phosphate reserves to continue the current rate of mining for more than 250 years.

Source: Florida Phosphate Council

Return to Other Agricultural and Natural Resources
 Return to Florida Agricultural Facts Book
Return to Florida Agricultural Statistics Service
Return to www.fl-ag.com