A brief focus on Georgia s agricultural industry

A brief focus on Georgia s agricultural industry

2010 Total Farm Gate Value $200,000,000 - $475,048,630 $80,000,000 - $200,000,000 $45,000,000 - $80,000,000 $20,000,000 - $45,000,000 $313,000 - $20,000,000 Poultry & Eggs 44.9% Row & Forage Crops 19.7% Livestock & Aquaculture 10.4% Fruits & Nuts 3.8% Forestry & Products 4.8% Ornamental Horticulture 4.9% Other Income 5.3% Vegetables 6.3%

2010 Georgia Agricultural Commodity Rankings 2010 Total Farm Gate Value = $12.0 billion 2009 = $11.3 billion Farm Gate % of Rank Commodity Value GA Total 1 Broilers $4,591,024,507 38.25% 2 Cotton $1,166,526,022 9.72% 3 Eggs $570,240,252 4.75% 4 Timber $480,347,745 4.00% 5 Peanuts $470,504,152 3.92% 6 Beef $406,729,181 3.39% 7 Horses $362,368,000 3.02% 8 Dairy $269,507,320 2.25% 9 Greenhouse for Ornamental Horticulture $248,494,122 2.07% 10 Pecans $233,941,290 1.95% 11 Corn $227,327,894 1.89% 12 Breeder Pullet Unit $221,795,352 1.85% 13 Container Nursery $170,649,216 1.42% 14 Hay $146,741,117 1.22% 15 Onions $139,021,248 1.16% 16 Blueberries $133,595,643 1.11% 17 Pork $115,807,628 0.96% 18 Soybeans $113,640,059 0.95% 19 Misc. Vegetables $103,620,855 0.86% 20 Hunting Leases - Deer $101,350,404 0.84%

Economic Impact Food and Fiber Production and Directly Related Manufacturing as a Percentage of Total Economic Output 50-63% 30-50% 20-30% 10-20% 0-10% $68.9 billion output impact on Georgia s $719.8 billion economy

Top Ten Georgia Commodities by Value Cotton 9.7% Broilers 38.3% Rest of Commodities 26.7% Pecans 1.9% Eggs 4.8% Timber 4.0% Peanuts 3.9% Beef 3.4% Horses 3.0% Greenhouse 2.1% Dairy 2.2% Food and fiber production and directly related processing are key components of Georgia s economy. Agriculture shaped Georgia s history and will continue to be a driving force in local economies across the state. Food and fiber production and directly related processing directly and indirectly generated a total economic impact of $68.9 billion for the state and created more than 380,000 jobs in 2010. In nearly two thirds of Georgia s counties, food and fiber production and directly related businesses represent the largest or second largest segment of all goods and services produced.

2010 Row & Forage Crops Farm Gate Value $30,000,000 - $100,616,482 $15,000,000 - $30,000,000 $5,000,000 - $15,000,000 $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 $0 - $1,000,000

Row & Forage Crops 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $2.4 billion 2009 = $1.9 billion Cotton 49.5% Hay 6.2% Peanuts 19.9% Oats 0.2% Other Row Forage 0.9% Corn 9.6% Wheat 2.6% Tobacco 2.0% Straw 1.3% Rye 0.8% Sorghum 0.5% Silage 1.6% Soybeans 4.8% Row and forage crops have traditionally been the backbone of South Georgia agriculture. With 4.5 million acres of cropland, Georgia produced almost half of the nation s peanuts and harvested the second highest cotton acreage in 2010. With long growing seasons and abundant irrigation resources, row and forage crops were responsible for a $12.7 billion impact on the state s economy and represented more than 64,000 jobs in 2010.

2010 Vegetables Farm Gate Value $15,000,000 - $125,991,725 $3,000,000 - $15,000,000 $500,000 - $3,000,000 $100,000 - $500,000 $0 - $100,000

Cucumbers 6.0% Cantaloupe 3.8% Cabbage 4.7% Zucchini 2.3% Vegetables 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $753 million 2009 = $916 million Greens Eggplant Other Peppers 5.3% 4.6% 0.1% Bell Peppers 10.3% Watermelon 13.0% Tomato 3.3% Onions 18.5% Okra 0.8% Other Vegetables 13.8% Snap Beans 2.3% Southern Peas Squash 1.3% Sweet Corn 2.9% 7.0% The vegetable industry in Georgia is one of agriculture s most diverse and fastest growing sectors. With a favorable climate often allowing both spring and fall plantings, Georgia ranked among the top five states for fresh market vegetable area harvested, production and value. Vegetable industry production and processing generated a total economic impact of $2.3 billion and accounted for more than 15,000 jobs in 2010.

2010 Fruits & Nuts Farm Gate Value $5,000,000- $71,913,875 $1,500,000 - $5,000,000 $300,000 - $1,500,000 $50,000 - $300,000 $0 - $50,000

Fruits & Nuts 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $451 million 2009 = $366 million Others 0.7% Pecans 51.9% Peaches 10.4% Strawberries 1.4% Apples 1.7% Blackberries 2.3% Blueberries 29.6% Grapes 1.9% Fruit and tree nuts are important staples in the diet, and many types are grown in Georgia due to its favorable climate. Peaches have long been a trademark and are the state s official fruit. Additionally, Georgia has ranked first in pecan production for the past four years. The fruit and nut industry contributed a total economic impact of $2.0 billion for the state in 2010 and represented more than 13,000 jobs.

2010 Ornamental Horticulture Farm Gate Value $10,000,000- $61,751,425 $6,000,000 - $10,000,000 $3,000,000 - $6,000,000 $1,000,000 - $3,000,000 $0 - $1,000,000

Ornamental Horticulture 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $586 million 2009 = $699 million Field Nursery 13.4% Container Nursery 29.1% Greenhouse 42.4% Other 0.6% Turfgrass 14.4% Ornamental horticulture provides a wide range of opportunities scattered across the state. This industry includes ornamentals and other plants in addition to landscape services. Greenhouses and container nurseries both ranked among the top thirteen Georgia agricultural commodities in 2010. Green industry production and processing generated a total economic impact of $6.1 billion and created nearly 70,000 jobs.

2010 Forestry & Products Farm Gate Value $10,000,000 - $19,701,395 $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 $1,000,000 - $3,000,000 $0 - $1,000,000

Forestry & Products 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $577 million 2009 = $499 million Timber 83.2% Pine Straw 13.9% Other 1.5% Christmas Trees 1.4% Forests affect nearly every aspect of our lives by providing the raw materials for home building, paper, packaging and many other uses. Forests shape our landscape, help stabilize our farms and enhance our cities. Timber production ranked fourth highest in farm gate value in 2010. Forest industry production and processing generated a total economic impact of $14.0 billion and contributed nearly 66,000 jobs.

2010 Livestock & Aquaculture Farm Gate Value $15,000,000 - $60,478,017 $10,000,000 - $15,000,000 $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 $0 - $3,000,000

Livestock &Aquaculture 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $1.3 billion 2009 = $1.2 billion Beef 32.6% Goats 1.8% Pork 9.3% Quail 2.5% Sheep 0.1% Other 1.5% Dairy 21.6% Horses 29.0% Honeybees 1.3% Catfish 0.3% Livestock has long been an important component of Georgia s agricultural economy with beef and dairy among the top ten commodities. Raising and breeding horses has become a significant industry and increasing interest in goats, quail and catfish production keeps this industry dynamic. Livestock and aquaculture production and processing generated a total economic impact of $5.8 billion for Georgia and led to more than 44,000 jobs covering every county of the state.

2010 Poultry & Eggs Farm Gate Value $100,000,000 - $363,791,473 $40,000,000 - $100,000,000 $10,000,000 - $40,000,000 $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 $0 - $1,000,000

Poultry & Eggs 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $5.4 billion 2009 = $5.2 billion Broiler - Grower 7.9% Broilers - Integrator 77.3% Other 0.1% Table Layers 3.6% Hatching Layers 7.0% Breeder Pullet Unit 4.1% As Georgia s most valuable agricultural sector, the poultry-egg industry has dramatically increased in size over several decades, with more than two-thirds of the state s 159 counties now involved in production. Georgia has led the nation in broiler production for 27 consecutive years. Poultry-egg production and processing contributed $20.9 billion total economic impact for the state in 2010 and the industry contributes nearly 98,000 jobs.

2010 Agritourism & Other Income Farm Gate Value $12,000,000- $23,386,800 $8,000,000 - $12,000,000 $2,000,000 - $8,000,000 $500,000 - $2,000,000 $0 - $500,000

Agritourism & Other Income 2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $641 million 2009 = $548 million Government Payments 49.6% Other 0.7% Crop Insurance 18.3% Nature-based tourism 9.2% Deer Hunting Leases 15.8% Agriculture-based tourism 5.0% Duck & Turkey Hunting Leases 1.5% Both ag-based and nature-based tourism play a major role in making Georgia a destination for increasing numbers of tourists. Millions of residents and nonresidents enjoy abundant fishing, hunting and wildlife watching opportunities. Government payments, other than those directly related to crop production, are important for environmental and conservation programs across the state.

Number of Farms 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture data 801-1,054 601-800 401-600 201-400 22-200 Number of farms = 47,846 Land in farms = 10,150,539 acres Average farm size = 212 acres Harvested cropland = 3,390,437 acres Market value of agricultural products sold = $7.1 billion Total farm production expenses = $6.0 billion

Number of Farms by Size Less than 10 acres = 7.3% (3,504) 10 to 49 acres = 33.9% (16,243) 50 to 179 acres = 34.0% (16,244) 180 to 499 acres = 15.5% (74,321) 500 to 999 acres = 5.2% (2,470) 1000+ acres = 4.1% (1,953) Number of Farms by Value of Sales Less than $2,500 = 48.9% (23,391) $2,500 to $4,999 = 9.3% (4,450) $5,000 to $9,999 = 9.5% (4,527) $10,000 to $24,999 = 10.3% (4,906) $25,000 to $49,999 = 4.8% (2,308) $50,000 to $99,999 = 3.1% (1,491) $100,000 or more = 14.2% (6,773) Farmers, Principal Operator Worked 200+ days off farm = 39.9% (19,087) Average age of principal operator = 57.8 yrs. Female = 15.7% (7,532) Black = 4.3% (2,072) Hispanic = 0.8% (365) Other AG Facts Georgia Conservation Reserve Program Acreage: 296,860 active acres as of Oct. 31, 2011 Source: USDA-FSA Conservation Reserve Program Irrigation system acres = 1,446,754 Acres of irrigated crops = 1,548,772 Source: 2008 Irrigation Survey, UGA Cooperative Extension, Tifton, GA 752 million gallons per day state water withdrawals for irrigation Source: Fanning, J.L. and Trent, V.P., Water Use in Georgia by County for 2005; and Water Use Trends, 1980-2005, U. S. Geological Survey

To learn more about Georgia agribusiness, contact: The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development 706-542-2434 or log on to our website at: www.caed.uga.edu J. Scott Angle Dean and director Thanks to our partner The Center of Innovation for Agribusiness The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. CAES Office of Communications and Technology Services 2011 11492-FY12 Printed on recycled paper.