Kendall Knight, Age 13, Of Franklinton, La., for his question:    

Which state produces the most salt?     

Louisiana is one of our biggest salt producing states, but it does not head the list. Michigan produces more than five million tons of salt each year, which makes it the largest salt producing state of America. Second is New York state, producing three and a half million tons of salt each year. And third is Louisiana, producing more than, three and a quarter million tons of salt a year. In an average year, the United States produces some 22 million tons of salt, most of which is used for various processes in industry. Some of this mountain of sale comes from brine wells and springs, some is taken from the sea and some is mined from the earth.