A Spotlight on Pickens County, Georgia
Prepared for:
Pickens County Cooperative Extension Service
November, 2005 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
Poultry &
Eggs
41.5%
Landscape services
10.2%
Other Income
4.1%
Fruits & Nuts
2.0%
Forestry &
Products
5.3%
Ornamental
Horticulture
5.7%
Vegetables
6.3%
Row &
Forage Crops
13.4%
Livestock &
Aquaculture
11.4%
$0 - $20
$20 - $45
$45 - $80
$80 - $200
$200 - $325
2004 Farm Gate
Value by County in Millions of Dollars

What We Know about Pickens County
¾ 2004 Farm Gate Value in Pickens Co. was $63.6 million. Adding $1.5 million of landscape services increased the total agricultural production value to $65.1 million.
¾ The highest value commodity group was poultry & eggs, representing
85.6% of the total agricultural production value.

Pickens County
2004 Agricultural Production Value
Livestock-
Aquaculture
7.0%
Row-
Forage crops
1.2%
2004 Agricultural Production
Forestry
1.9%
Veges-
Fruits-
Nuts
0.3%
Orn Hort
1.5%
Land-
Other scape
0.3% services
2.2%
Poultry-
Eggs
85.6%
2004 Top Farm Gate Commodities
Breeder
Hay
Pullet Unit
1.0%
1.4%
Timber
Beef
1.8%
2.5%
Layers
3.7%
Horses
4.2%
Field
Nursery
Greenhouse
0.6%
0.6%
Pork
0.5%
Other commodities
1.3%
Broilers
82.5%
Total AG Value = $65.1 million

Number of Farms & Average Farm Size
Number of Farms, Pickens County
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
243
1945 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982 1987 1992 1997R 2002
300
200
100
Pickens Co.
Georgia
Average Farm Size
0
1945 19
49
1954 195
9
1964 196
9
1974 197
8
1982 198
7
19
92
19
97
R
20
02
Source: 1945-2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture

Land in Farms & Farms by Size
Land in Farms
Pickens County
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
17.372
19
45
19
50
19
54
19
59
19
64
19
69
19
74
19
78
19
82
19
87
19
92
199
7R
20
02
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Percent of Farms by Size, 2002
Pickens Co.
1-9 acres 10-49 acres
Georgia
50-179 acres
180-499 acres
500-999 acres
1000+ acres
Source: 1945-2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture

Number of Farms by Commodity
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
67
47
40 41
Broilers sold
1987
1992
1997
2002
13 15 14 15
Layers inventory
89
70
66 65
Hay
140
118
113
112
Cattle/calves sold
Source: 1987-2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture

Georgia, Pickens and Surrounding Counties
Farm Gate Value
$ Per Farm (thousands) $ Per Acre
$10,000
$8,000
$8,474
$6,000
$4,000
$3,805
$3,662 $2,591 $2,645
$2,000 $957
$2,154
$0
Geo rgi a
$209
Pic ken s
$262
Bar
$361 tow
Che rok
$129 ee
Daw son
$347
Gilm er
$692
Gor
$251 don
Sources: 2002 Census of Agriculture and 2004 Farm Gate Value Report

¾ The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development performed an analysis of the county’s economy, focusing on the role of food and fiber.

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?

Pickens County Economy
Agriculture - OUTPUT
Agriculture
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Output in $ Millions
70.011
38.824
93.553
113.567
48.726
77.430
107.816
124.698
102.645
Percent
9.0
5.0
12.0
14.6
6.3
10.0
13.9
16.0
13.2
Total County Economic Output = $777.3 million

Pickens County Economy
Agriculture + Directly Related Businesses
Output in $ Millions Percent
Agriculture + Direct
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
84.751
38.824
93.553
98.828
48.726
77.430
107.816
124.698
102.645
10.9
5.0
12.0
12.7
6.3
10.0
13.9
16.0
13.2
Total County Economic Output = $777.3 million

An Economic Snapshot of Pickens County
¾ How much of Pickens County’s total economic output comes from food and fiber production?
¾ AG value alone of $70 million comprises
9% of the county’s economy.
¾ AG plus directly related businesses (ex. ag services, logging, etc.) comprise
10.9% 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%
Pickens Co.
10.9%

¾ What is the total (direct and indirect) impact of food and fiber production and directly related industries?
¾ This 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.

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.
Utilities
Labor
Seed

Pickens County
Production Agriculture IMPACT
Direct $ Millions Indirect $ Millions
Agriculture
65.072
3.683
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
0
0
0
0
0
0.003
0.260
0.352
2.656
2.910
0 2.666
Services 0 3.291
Government 0 1.629
Total Impact of Production AG = $82.5 million--10.6% of total economy

Pickens County
Agriculture + Directly Related Businesses IMPACT
Direct $ Millions Indirect $ Millions
Agriculture + Direct
Mining
Construction
70.011
0
0
4.794
0.004
0.349
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total
14.739
0
0
0
0
0
84.751
0.724
3.412
3.964
3.458
4.545
2.328
23.579
Total Impact of AG + Directly Related = $108.3 million--13.9% of total economy

Pickens County
Production Agriculture + Directly Related Industries
Employment IMPACT
Direct Indirect
Agriculture + Direct
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
497
0
0
0
31
0
4
5
0 14
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
0
0
53
15
Services
Government
0
0
80
2
Total Impact of AG + Directly Related Employment = 702 jobs

A Brief Explanation
¾ Direct impact is $84.8 million. This includes food and fiber production, processing and directly related manufacturing.
¾ Indirect impact from the Trade sector is
$4 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.

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.

Impact Conclusions
¾ The total impact of food and fiber production, processing and direct manufacturing is $108.3 million.
¾ The total output is $777.3 million.
¾ Thus, food and fiber (directly and indirectly) account for 13.9% 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%
Pickens Co.
13.9%

Prepared by:
Archie Flanders and Sue Boatright
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
#05 - 22A
November, 2005