Agriculture

In NC

North Carolina Farm Facts • Farms in North Carolina - 52,400+ • Land in Farms - 8,600,000 acres + • Average size of Farm - 164 acres + • Farm Real Estate Value per Acre - $4,470 + • Realized Net Farm Income - $3,336,952,000 ++ • Net Income per Farm - $45,532 ++ • Value of Agricultural Exports - $2,743,800,000 +++

• +2010 Estimates, ++2007 Census of Agriculture +++ ERS

Field Crops

• Tobacco has historically been the major cash crop in North Carolina and remains one of the state's most predominant farm commodities

• Cotton was once "king" in North Carolina. Insect problems and the increase of synthetic fibers contributed to the decline of cotton.

• Soybeans became an important crop in North Carolina with the increased demand for bio-fuels

• Corn has been produced in most of North Carolina throughout history.

• peanut farmers produce some of the best peanuts in the world. Most of North Carolina's peanuts are consumed "out-of-hand," as cocktail peanuts

• wheat produced in North Carolina is winter wheat. Unlike most crops, wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in June. This allows farmers to plant another crop on the same acreage after the wheat has been harvested.

Livestock

• Hogs & pigs have historically been an important part of North Carolina agriculture. North Carolina leads the country in this structural shift towards larger size farms.

• Cattle & calves on farms has remained relatively stable throughout time. The northern mountain and northern piedmont counties have traditionally raised the most cattle.

Poultry

• With the ever increasing demand for chicken, the broiler industry continues to expand.

• North Carolina remains a leading state in the production of turkeys. Turkey production continues to be concentrated in the southern piedmont and coastal regions of the State.

• The state ranking for table egg production has fluctuated

Nursery & Greenhouse

• Another part of the diversified agriculture in North Carolina.

• There are a large number of acres devoted to Christmas tree production in North Carolina, with the Fraser Fir being the most popular species produced

Fruits & Vegetables

• North Carolina produces a significant amount of Sweet Potatoes, cucumbers for pickles, lima beans, turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, strawberry, bell peppers, blueberries, chile peppers, fresh market cucumbers, snap beans, cabbage, eggplant, watermelons, pecans, peaches, squash, apple, sweet corn, tomatoes, and grapes for millions of people in the United States and numerous other countries.

Lincoln county

Aquaculture

• As North Carolina farmers continue to diversify, aquaculture is an area that has provided opportunities.

• North Carolina has become a major producer of trout and catfish.

• With increasing recognition that fish is a healthy food for consumers, the increase in demand has allowed aquaculture to be another diverse agriculture crop.

Aquaculture

• commercial growth growing of fish, mollusk, crustaceans, frogs, and alligators

• fish have a higher percentage of edible meat (up to 85%)

• up to 6000 pounds fish can be raised on one acre

Reasons for aquaculture

• many advantages over other agricultural animals

• 9lbs. Feed for 1lbs. Of gain for steer• 2lbs. Feed for 1lbs. Of gain a fish• fish are ectothermic (cold-blooded)• this means less energy goes into maintaining a

constant body temp

Change over the years

• Agriculture has changed dramatically, especially since the end of World War II. Food and fiber productivity soared due to new technologies, mechanization, increased chemical use, specialization and government policies that favored maximizing production. These changes allowed fewer farmers with reduced labor demands to produce the majority of the food and fiber in the U.S.

Sustainable farming

• Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals--environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. A variety of philosophies, policies and practices have contributed to these goals.

Why Sustainable Agriculture?

• Environmental Damage• Animal conditions• Human health

Farming and Natural Resources

• Water–Water supply and use–Water quality

Wildlife Energy Air Soil

Sustainable Agriculture:

• Reduces inputs.• Uses ecological pest and weed management• strategies.• Cycles nutrients back into the soil for fertility• and health.• Strengthens rural and urban communities.• Produces viable farm income.• Promotes healthy family and social values.• Brings the consumer back into agriculture.

Farm as an Ecosystem: Energy Flow

• Energy flow is the pathway of sunlight through abiological system.

• In relation to the farm, energy capture is enhanced bymaximizing the leaf area available for photosynthesisand by cycling the stored energy through the foodchain.

• We make money in farming by capturing sunlight – in essence, we are farming the sun (and the soil).

Farm as an Ecosystem: Water Cycle

• An effective water cycle includes: no soil erosion, fast water entry into the soil and the soil’s ability to store water.

• Management decisions on the farm that add to ground cover and soil organic matter only enhance the natural water cycle.

• Effective water use on the farm results in low surface runoff, low soil surface evaporation, low drought incidence, low flood incidence, high transpiration by plants and high seepage of water to underground reservoirs

Soil Fertility: Cover Crops

Cover Crops– Cover crops improve the soil’s physical properties

with carbon and nitrogen cycling.– Reduce erosion and attract beneficial bugs.

• Composts– beneficial to build soil organic matter, add

nutrients to the soil and retain water.

• Crop Rotation– Break weed and pest cycles– Rotate crops to maximize use of nutrient inputs

and distribute nutrient demand placed on soil.– Intercropping is the growing of two or more crops

in proximity to promote interaction between them.

Ecological Pest Management

• Intercropping, diversity and cover cropping• Crop rotation• Use of resistant varieties• Biological controls• Organic chemical controls• Physical controls

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Farm as an Ecosystem: Biodiversity

• A farm will be dynamic and healthy if it has a high diversity of plants and animals (aboveground and below).

• GREATER DIVERSITY = GREATER STABILITY

Social Sustainability

• Buying farm supplies locally rather than from out of-state.

• Educating your community about sustainable food production.

• Direct marketing through CSAs and farmers’ markets builds community and social sustainability.