Infographics/County Ag Profiles

Agriculture as Economic Development

(Discussion Points for the County & Regional Agricultural Profiles )

North Carolina’s agricultural industry, including food, fiber and forestry, contributes $91.9 billion to the state’s economy, accounts for more than 17 percent of the state’s income, and employs 17 percent of the workforce. *

North Carolina is one of the most diversified agriculture states in the nation. The state’s 46,418 farmers grow over 80 different commodities, utilizing 8.4 million of the state’s 31 million acres to furnish consumers a dependable and affordable supply of food and fiber. The state ranks eighth nationally in Total Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold. Net income per farm in the state is over $86,645.

This Local Food and Farms infographic is designed for economic developers, planners, local food advocates, and community members to understand the impact of their county and region to the overall NC agricultural economic impact. The economic indicators provided here can help local governments as they design ways to support agricultural businesses as key components of vibrant and resilient, local and rural economies. Each region in North Carolina presents a unique set of opportunities for sustainable economic growth and entrepreneurship.

Consider one example: When school systems purchase food from local farmers, students benefit from access to healthy fresh produce, farmers benefit from sales into local schools, and the community benefits because these local sales are spent at other local businesses. This type of local business opportunity keeps farms in production, maintaining North Carolina’s agricultural asset base both in terms of land and farming know-how. And it keeps dollars spent on food circulating among other local businesses.

20122017
North Carolina (statewide data)2017
Alamance County20122017
Alexander County20122017
Alleghany County20122017
Anson County20122017
Ashe County20122017
Avery County20122017
Beaufort County20122017
Bertie County20122017
Bladen County20122017
Brunswick County20122017
Buncombe County20122017
Burke County20122017
Cabarrus County20122017
Caldwell County20122017
Camden County20122017
Carteret County20122017
Caswell County20122017
Catawba County20122017
Chatham County20122017
Cherokee County20122017
Chowan County20122017
Clay County20122017
Cleveland County20122017
Columbus County20122017
Craven County20122017
Cumberland County20122017
Currituck County20122017
Dare County20122017
Davidson County20122017
Davie County20122017
Duplin County20122017
Durham County20122017
Edgecombe County20122017
Forsyth County20122017
Franklin County20122017
Gaston County20122017
Gates County20122017
Graham County20122017
Granville County20122017
Greene County20122017
Guilford County20122017
Halifax County20122017
Harnett County20122017
Haywood County20122017
Henderson County20122017
Hertford County20122017
Hoke County20122017
Hyde County20122017
Iredell County20122017
Jackson County20122017
Johnston County20122017
Jones County20122017
Lee County20122017
Lenoir County20122017
Lincoln County20122017
Macon County20122017
Madison County20122017
Martin County20122017
McDowell County20122017
Mecklenburg County20122017
Mitchell County20122017
Montgomery County20122017
Moore County20122017
Nash County20122017
New Hanover County20122017
Northampton County20122017
Onslow County20122017
Orange County20122017
Pamlico County20122017
Pasquotank County20122017
Pender County20122017
Perquimans County20122017
Person County20122017
Pitt County20122017
Polk County20122017
Randolph County20122017
Richmond County20122017
Robeson County20122017
Rockingham County20122017
Rowan County20122017
Rutherford County20122017
Sampson County20122017
Scotland County20122017
Stanly County20122017
Stokes County20122017
Surry County20122017
Swain County20122017
Transylvania County20122017
Tyrrell County20122017
Union County20122017
Vance County20122017
Wake County20122017
Warren County20122017
Washington County20122017
Watauga County20122017
Wayne County20122017
Wilkes County20122017
Wilson County20122017
Yadkin County20122017
Yancey County20122017

Click here to view the 2012 infographics.

Click here to view the 2017 infographics.

As decision makers consider policies, programs and practices to support the agriculture sector there are numerous examples and supporting reports providing guidance:

NCSU / Center for Environmental Farming Systems / NC State Extension Local Food
Local Government Guide to Developing Local Food Economies

https://cefs.ncsu.edu/food-system-initiatives/local-food-economies/local-government-guide-to-food-economies/

The NC 10% Campaign Initiative

https://www.nc10percent.com/

NC Local Food

https://localfood.ces.ncsu.edu/

https://localfood.ces.ncsu.edu/food-system-supply-chain/

USDA

The Economics of Local Food Systems: A Toolkit to Guide Community Discussions, Assessments, and Choices

For up to date information on this project go to

go.ncsu.edu/agcensus

This material is based upon work supported by NC State Extension Local Foods Program, NC State Extension FarmLink, and the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Project of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.

Source:

* Net Cash Farm Income of the Operations and Producers: 2017 and 2012

N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation and veteran status.NC State and N.C. A&T State universities, U.S. Department of Agriculture and local governments cooperating. This material was produced with funding from the NC Cooperative Extension Local Food Program.