NC Local Farms and Food Profiles
Agriculture as Economic Development
**A webinar was held on October 3, 2025 to share more and answer questions. You can access the webinar recording here using passcode: j*f?ATw1
(Discussion Points for the County & Regional Agricultural Profiles)
North Carolina’s agricultural industry, including food, fiber and forestry, contributes $111.1 billion to the state’s economy, accounts for more than 16 percent of the state’s income, and employs 16 percent of the workforce.1
North Carolina is one of the most diversified agriculture states in the nation. The state’s 42,817 farmers grow over 80 different commodities, utilizing 8.1 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.2 Net income per farm in the state is over $147,411.3
The Local Farms and Food Profiles are 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. To help start the conversation, we created discussion points for the Farms and Food Profiles.
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.
2022 North Carolina State Agriculture Profile (2017 profile)
Click here to view the 2012 profiles.
Click here to view the 2017 profiles.
Council of Government Regional Profiles
There are 16 regional Council of Governments (CoGs) across North Carolina. The map below shows their distribution. You can find more information about each Cog through the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments.
| Council of Government | Year |
|---|---|
| Albemarle | 2022 |
| Cape Fear | 2022 |
| Central Pines (formally Triangle J) | 2022 |
| Centralina | 2022 |
| Eastern Carolina | 2022 |
| Foothills | 2022 |
| High Country | 2022 |
| Kerr-Tar | 2022 |
| Land-Of-Sky | 2022 |
| Lumber River | 2022 |
| Mid-Carolina | 2022 |
| Mid-East | 2022 |
| Piedmont Triad | 2022 |
| Southwestern | 2022 |
| Upper Coastal Plain | 2022 |
| Western Piedmont | 2022 |
As decision makers consider policies, programs and practices to support the agriculture sector there are numerous examples and supporting reports providing guidance:
Center for Environmental Farming Systems / NC State Extension Local Food
Local Government Guide to Developing Local Food Economies
cefs.ncsu.edu/food-system-initiatives/local-food-economies/local-government-guide-to-food-economies
The NC 10% Campaign Initiative
NC Local Food
localfood.ces.ncsu.edu/food-system-supply-chain
USDA
For up to date information on this project go to
This material is based upon work supported by NC State Extension Local Foods Program, NC FarmLink, and the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems Project of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.
Supporting Resources
- Data Sources & Definitions for Local Profiles: A list of data items, what they mean, and where to locate them within the Ag Census data.
- Discussion Points for Local Profiles: Ideas for where and how to share the information from these local profiles. Be creative!
- Bringing it Home: Using USDA Ag Cenus Data at the County Level (June 2020 Recorded Webinar): This webinar reviews how to access and interpret Ag Census Data.
- Forestry Economic Impact: Extension Forestry compiles industry economic impact data in county-based fact sheets.
- Economic Contribution of North Carolina Agriculture and Agribusiness: See page 13 for dollar and jobs multipliers for selected farm sectors.