Though small by national standards, Delaware's agriculture is efficient and productive. In 2001, Delaware's total farm marketings were $848 million, and its income from crops was $186 million.
Tobacco was a leading crop in the early colonial era but was soon succeeded by corn and wheat. Peaches were a mainstay during the mid-19th century, until the orchards were devastated by "the yellows," a tree disease. Today, the major field crops are corn, soybeans, barley, wheat, melons, potatoes, mushrooms, lima beans, and green peas. Production in 2002 included corn for grain, 13,900,000 bushels, valued at $39,500,000; soybeans, 4,625,000 bushels, $26,360,000; wheat, 4,060,000 bushels, $4,060,000; and barley, 1,932,000 bushels, $2,705,000.