Agriculture is one of the main branches of the material production in the Republic. There are approximately 503 collective farms, joint stock companies, agricultural co-operative societies and 881 rural farms. The agricultural area makes 1 346 000 hectares, including arable land – 1 007 000 hectares. The plough area makes 80% of all agricultural area.
The Republic has 3 natural economic areas. Soils in the Republic are diverse. Combination of leached and podzoled black fertile soils with complex of grey forest soils is typical. The total area of arable lands is made up of black fertile soils (44.2%), grey forest soils (44.9%), soddy-podzolic soils (5.4%).
The main crops prevailing in plant growing (in 2007) are barley (166.5 thousand hectares), winter rye (42 thousand hectares) spring and winter wheat (185.1 thousand hectares), oat (10.6 thousand hectares), potatoes (27 thousand hectares), sugar-beet (10.6 thousand hectares) and others (25.3 thousand hectares). The average food grain yield capacity makes 21.8 centner per hectare (in 2007).
Live-stock breeding gives 55.4% of the gross agricultural product (in 2007). Poultry keeping is well-developed.

Public sector livestock (January 2008) is made up of cattle 209.8 thousand heads (including 71.7 thousand cows), pigs – 123.2 thousand, sheep – 1.5 thousand, 4790.3 thousand heads of all types of poultry. The main breeds of cows are Simmental, Red-and- Parti-colored, Black-and-Parti-colored; of pigs – Large White, Landrace.
Cattle and poultry productivity in 2007 is as follows: the average milk-yield from one cow is 3308 kg., the average egg production of laying hens is 309 pcs.
Major funds in agricultural companies include mechanical tractor workshops and garages, storehouses, farms, 4.4 thousand tractors with total capacity of 490.9 thousand horsepower, 1.3 thousand grain harvesters, and 2.3 thousand trucks.
There are 34.5 thousand people engaged in agriculture.
In 2007 the average production volume of main agricultural products in all types of undertakings has made 981.1 thousand tons of grain (1230 thousand tons in 2008), 386.7 thousand tons of sugar beet, 327.4 thousand tons of potatoes, 756.9 million eggs.
Meat balance of the Republic is formed by beef (31.5%), pork (23.8%), mutton (0.1%), and poultry (44.6%) The food industry production volume in 2007 has made 15 billion rubles. The branch structure of food industry in the Republic is as follows: meat – 20%, dairy – 21%, confectionery – 9%, brewing – 22%, alcohol and distilling – 15%, sugar industry – 5%, other branches – 8%.
Food industry includes 5 meat-processing plants, 17 dairy units, confectionery factory (OJSC «Lamzur»), 7 alcohol and distillery plants, sugar plant, cannery plant, flour milling plants, starch plants, etc.

Agrarian science of the Republic is presented with Mordovian agriculture research institute. Agrarian institute of MorSU named after N.P.Ogarev, Institute of mechanics and energetics of MorSU named after N.P.Ogarev, Institute of refresher courses for agrarian business, 6 specialized secondary educational institutions are also available in the Republic.