The Economic Importance
of Food and Fiber
A Spotlight on Elbert County, Georgia
Prepared for:
Elbert County Cooperative Extension
January, 2006
by:
The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
Agriculture in Georgia
¾ Georgia's 2004 Farm Gate Value was
$10.3 billion. Adding the value of
landscape services increased the total
agricultural production value to $11.2
billion.
¾ Total food and fiber production and
directly related businesses account for
a $49.3 billion impact on Georgia's
$557 billion economy.
Production Agriculture: 2004
Georgia Total
Agricultural
Production Value
$11.2 Billion
Other Income
4.1%
Poultry &
Eggs
41.5%
Landscape
services
10.2%
Fruits & Nuts
2.0%
Forestry &
Products
5.3%
Ornamental
Horticulture
5.7%
Vegetables
6.3%
Livestock &
Aquaculture
11.4%
Row & Forage
Crops
13.4%
$0 - $20
$20 - $45
$45 - $80
$80 - $200
$200 - $325
2004 Farm Gate
Value by County
in Millions of Dollars
What We Know
about Elbert County
¾ 2004 Farm Gate Value in Elbert Co.
was $67.6 million. Adding $288
thousand of landscape services
increased the total agricultural
production value to $67.9 million.
¾ The highest value commodity group
was poultry & eggs, representing
73.7% of the total agricultural
production value.
Elbert County
2004 Agricultural Production Value
2004 Agricultural Production
Forestry
2.6%
LivestockAquaculture
11.2%
Veges-Fruits- Orn Hort
Nuts
3.6%
0.1%
Other
2.9%
Landscape
services
0.4%
Row-Forage
crops
5.5%
2004 Top Farm Gate Commodities
Horses
Hay Cotton
Timber 2.4% 1.5% 2.2%
2.6%
Greenhouse
3.6%
Beef
4.3%
Wheat
0.5%
Rest of
commodities
4.2%
Dairy
4.6%
Poultry-Eggs
73.7%
Layers
13.7%
Total AG Value = $67.9 million
Broilers
60.3%
Trends in Elbert County:
Number of Farms & Average Farm Size
Number of Farms, El bert County
Average Farm Size
300
2500
Elbert Co.
Georgia
Avg. GA Co. 310 farms
2000
218
145
Acres
200
1500
100
1000
438
500
Source: 1945
-
2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
02
R
20
97
92
19
19
87
19
82
78
19
19
74
69
19
19
64
59
19
19
54
49
19
19
1945 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982 1987 1992 1997R 2002
19
0
45
0
Trends in Elbert County:
Land in Farms & Farms by Size
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Percent of Farms by Size, 2002
50
Source: 1945
-
Elbert Co.
Georgia
40
30
63.4
20
10
0
19
45
19
50
19
54
19
59
19
64
19
69
19
74
19
78
19
82
19
87
19
9
19 2
97
R
20
02
Acres X 1,000
Land in Farms
E lbert County
1-9
acres
2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
10-49
acres
50-179
acres
180-499 500-999
acres
acres
1000+
acres
Trends in Elbert County
Number of Farms by Commodity
300
1987
1992
1997
2002
267
250
186
200
150
100
50
10
12
17
0
Beef cows
Source: 1987
-
Milk cows inv.
Layers inv
2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
Broilers sold
Hay-silage
How Do We Compare ?
Georgia, Elbert, and Surrounding Counties
Farm Gate Value
$ Per Farm (thousands)
$ Per Acre
$4,000
$3,000
$3,571
$3,218
$2,000
$957
$1,000
$209
$0
ia
g
r
o
Ge
$2,875
$559
$1,066
$154
ert
b
l
E
$412
$322
$446
$159
$454
$68
rt
ln
pe
es
on
r
o
s
k
i
l
c
o
Ha
i
d
th
W
Lin
e
Ma
l
Og
Sources: 2002 Census of Agriculture and 2004 Farm Gate Value Report
What We Did
¾ The Center for Agribusiness
and Economic Development
performed an analysis of the
county’s economy, focusing
on the role of
food and fiber.
What We Asked
County Economy Modeled
¾ How much of the county’s total
current economic output comes from
food and fiber production and directly
related processing? (A Snapshot of
the Economy)
¾ What is the total (direct and indirect)
Impact of food and fiber production
and directly related industries?
Elbert County Economy
Agriculture - OUTPUT
Output in $ Millions
68.559
14.468
31.073
331.491
29.987
92.107
36.138
67.175
114.375
Percent
8.7
1.8
4.0
42.2
3.8
11.7
4.6
8.6
14.6
Agriculture
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total County Economic Output = $785.4 million
Elbert County Economy
Agriculture + Directly Related Businesses
Agriculture + Direct
Output in $ Millions
162.671
14.468
31.073
237.379
29.987
92.107
36.138
67.175
114.375
Percent
20.7
1.8
4.0
30.2
3.8
11.7
4.6
8.6
14.6
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total County Economic Output = $785.4 million
An Economic Snapshot
of Elbert County
¾ How much of Elbert County’s total
economic output comes from food and
fiber production?
¾ AG value alone of $68.6 million consisting
of Farm Gate Value and landscape
services comprises 8.7% of the county’s
economy.
¾ AG plus directly related businesses (ex.
poultry processing, other slaughtering,
etc.) comprise 20.7% of the county’s
economy.
Food and Fiber Production, Processing and Direct
Manufacturing as % of Total Output
0 - 10%
10 - 20%
20 - 40%
40 - 60%
60 - 84%
Elbert Co.
20.7%
What is the Impact?
¾What is the total (direct and indirect)
impact of food and fiber production and
directly related industries?
¾This scenario illustrates how other
industries are affected by the presence
of food and fiber in the county. The
indirect impacts measure output created
due to food and fiber production and
processing in the county.
What Impact Means:
A Brief Explanation
¾ The impact numbers capture the
ripple effects that food and fiber
create in the county’s economy.
Many other sectors rely in part on the
existence of food and fiber for sales.
Labor
Seed
Utilities
Elbert County
Agriculture - IMPACT
Direct $ Millions
Indirect $ Millions
67.883
4.566
Agriculture
0
0.005
Mining
0
0.209
Construction
0
0.903
Manufacturing
0
1.718
Trans-Utilities-Info
0
5.680
Trade
0
1.498
Finance-Ins-RE
0
2.125
Services
0
2.797
Government
67.883
19.499
Total
Total Impact of Production AG = $87.4 million – 11.1% of total economy
Elbert County
Agriculture and Directly Related Businesses IMPACT
Agriculture + Direct
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total
Direct $ Millions
162.671
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Indirect $ Millions
4.905
0.007
0.548
13.024
3.260
11.801
3.419
5.252
5.577
162.671
47.793
Total Impact of AG + Directly Related = $210.5million—26.8% of total economy
Elbert County
Production Agriculture + Directly Related Industries
Employment IMPACT
Direct
1,358
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Indirect
73
0
7
86
27
169
27
112
10
Agriculture + Direct
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total Impact of AG + Directly Related Employment = 1,868 Jobs
What These Numbers Mean:
A Brief Explanation
¾ Direct impact is $162.7 million. This
includes food and fiber production,
processing and directly related
manufacturing.
¾ Indirect impact from the Trade sector is
$11.8 million. This captures the effects
of farmers (direct source) buying
supplies (seed, fertilizer, work boots)
from local stores. These stores must
increase their output to meet farmer
demand.
What These Numbers Mean:
A Brief Explanation (continued)
¾ As local stores increase their output, they
may demand more stock from local
wholesalers (also in the Trade sector).
Local wholesalers demand more from
local manufacturers, thus increasing
activity in the Manufacturing sector.
¾ Local stores also hire employees to assist
farmers. They take home wages and buy
groceries at the local store which
increases demand there.
Elbert County Food and Fiber
Impact Conclusions
¾ The total impact of food and fiber
production, processing and direct
manufacturing is $210.5 million.
¾ The total output is $785.4 million.
¾ Thus, food and fiber (directly and
indirectly) account for 26.8% of the
total output.
Food and Fiber Production, Processing and Direct
Manufacturing Impact as % of Total Output
0 - 10%
10 - 20%
20 - 40%
40 - 60%
60 - 100%
Elbert Co.
26.8%
Contact Information
Prepared by:
Sue Boatright and Archie Flanders
Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development
“Adding Value to Georgia's Agricultural Economy
Through Research and Extension“
To learn more about your county, go to:
http://www.caed.uga.edu/
...click on “Georgia Statistics System”
Special County Area Report
#06_02A
January, 2006