The Economic Importance
of Food and Fiber
A Spotlight on Charlton County, Georgia
Prepared for:
Charlton County Cooperative Extension
November, 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 2005 Farm Gate Value was
$10.6 billion. Adding the value of
landscape services increased the total
agricultural production value to $12.3
billion.
¾ Total food and fiber production and
directly related businesses account for
a $52.7 billion output impact on
Georgia's $614 billion economy.
Production Agriculture: 2005
Georgia Total
Agricultural
Production Value
$12.3 Billion
Poultry &
Eggs
36.7%
Landscape
services
14.0%
Other Income
5.4%
Fruits & Nuts
2.2%
Forestry &
Products
5.7%
Ornamental
Horticulture
7.3%
Vegetables
5.2%
Livestock &
Aquaculture
10.6%
Row &
Forage Crops
13.0%
$0 - $20
$20 - $45
$45 - $80
$80 - $200
$200 - $317
2005 Farm Gate
Value by County
in Millions of Dollars
What We Know
about Charlton County
¾ 2005 Farm Gate Value in Charlton Co.
was $20.6 million. Adding $450
thousand of landscape services
increased the total agricultural
production value to $21.1 million.
¾ The highest value commodity group
was Forestry, representing 49.7% of
the total agricultural production
value.
Charlton County
2005 Agricultural Production Value
2005 Agricultural Production
Veges-FruitsNuts
0.3%
Orn Hort
5.4%
Landscape
Other services
11.5%
2.1%
2005 Top Farm Gate Commodities
Poultry-Eggs
21.6%
Row-Forage
crops
2.0%
Forestry
49.7%
LivestockAquaculture
7.4%
Field Nursery
Horses 1.5%
Hay
1.4%
Container 2.8%
Nursery
3.1%
Beef
3.4%
Breeder Pullet
Unit
5.6%
Broilers
6.5%
Layers
Hunting
9.9%
Leases
10.7%
Total AG Value = $21.1 million
Rest of
Commodities
4.8%
Timber
50.3%
Trends in Charlton County:
Number of Farms & Average Farm Size
Number of Farms, Charlton County
Average Farm Size
500
300
Charlton Co.
Georgia
400
A cres
200
101
100
300
218
147
200
100
Source: 1945-2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
R
02
20
97
92
19
19
87
19
82
19
78
19
74
19
69
19
64
19
59
19
54
19
19
1945 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982 1987 1992 1997R 2002
19
45
0
49
0
Trends in Charlton County:
Land in Farms & Farms by Size
Acres X 1,000
Land in Farms
Charlton County
Percent of Farms by Size, 2002
40
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Charlton Co.
Georgia
30
20
14.89
10
9
19 2
97
R
20
02
87
19
82
19
78
19
74
19
69
19
64
19
59
19
54
19
50
19
19
19
45
0
1-9 acres
Source: 1945-2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
10-49
acres
50-179
acres
180-499
acres
500-999
acres
1000+
acres
Trends in Charlton County
Number of Farms by Commodity
70
1987
1992
1997
2002
60
50
49
40
27
30
20
9
10
4
3
0
Beef Cows
Hogs and Pigs
Corn
Source: 1987-2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
Tobacco
Hay
How Do We Compare ?
Georgia, Charlton and Surrounding Counties
Farm Gate Value
$ Per Farm (thousands)
$ Per Acre
$1,400
$1,200
$1,000
$800
$1,224
$1,386
$985
$782
$600
$749
$688
$553
$400
$200
$0
$215
$204
$94
$181
ia
ey
en
on
l
g
t
t
d
r
l
o
m
ar
an
r
h
Ge
Ca
B
C
$318
$126
ch
n
i
Cl
ce
r
e
Pi
Sources: 2002 Census of Agriculture and 2005 Farm Gate Value Report
$151
re
a
W
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?
Charlton County Economy
Agriculture OUTPUT
Output in $ Millions
Percent
Agriculture
21.083
7.3
Construction
8.307
2.9
Manufacturing
118.419
40.9
Trans-Utilities-Info
10.208
3.5
Trade
17.699
6.1
Finance-Ins-RE
14.439
5.0
Services
44.740
15.5
Government
54.667
18.9
Total County Economic Output = $289.6 million
Charlton County Economy
Agriculture + Directly Related Businesses OUTPUT
Output in $ Millions
Percent
Agriculture + Direct
92.514
31.9
Construction
8.307
2.9
Manufacturing
46.988
16.2
Trans-Utilities-Info
10.208
3.5
Trade
17.699
6.1
Finance-Ins-RE
14.439
5.0
Services
44.740
15.5
Government
54.667
18.9
Total County Economic Output = $289.6 Million
An Economic Snapshot
of Charlton County
¾ How much of Charlton County’s total
economic output comes from food and
fiber production?
¾ AG value alone of $21.1 million consisting
of Farm Gate Value and landscape
services comprises 7.3% of the county’s
economy.
¾ AG plus directly related businesses (ex.
logging, sawmills, etc.) comprise 31.9%
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%
Charlton Co.
31.9%
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
Charlton County
Agriculture IMPACT
Direct $ Millions
Indirect $ Millions
21.083
0
Construction
0
0.022
Manufacturing
0
0.161
Trans-Utilities-Info
0
0.451
Trade
0
0.678
Finance-Ins-RE
0
0.420
Services
0
0.868
Government
0
1.049
21.083
3.650
Agriculture
Total
Total Impact of Production AG = $24.7 million – 8.5% of total economy
Charlton County
Production Agriculture + Directly Related Businesses IMPACT
Direct $ Millions
Indirect $ Millions
92.514
0
Construction
0
0.054
Manufacturing
0
2.470
Trans-Utilities-Info
0
1.824
Trade
0
2.009
Finance-Ins-RE
0
1.620
Services
0
2.751
Government
0
2.466
92.514
13.193
Agriculture + Direct
Total
Total Impact of AG + Directly Related=$105.7 million—36.5% of total economy
Charlton County
Production Agriculture + Directly Related Industries
Employment IMPACT
Direct
Indirect
936
0
Construction
0
1
Manufacturing
0
11
Trans-Utilities-Info
0
15
Trade
0
30
Finance-Ins-RE
0
11
Services
0
58
Government
0
2
Agriculture + Direct
Total Impact of AG + Directly Related Employment = 1,063 Jobs
What These Numbers Mean:
A Brief Explanation
¾ Direct impact is $92.5 million. This
includes food and fiber production,
processing and directly related
manufacturing.
¾ Indirect impact from the Trade sector is
$2 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.
Charlton County Food and Fiber
Impact Conclusions
¾ The total impact of food and fiber
production, processing and direct
manufacturing is $105.7 million.
¾ The total output is $289.6 million.
¾ Thus, food and fiber (directly and
indirectly) account for 36.5% 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%
Charlton Co.
36.5%
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
#06-26A
November, 2006