The Economic Importance
of Food and Fiber
A Spotlight on Habersham County, Georgia
Prepared for:
Habersham County Cooperative Extension
March, 2006
by:
The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
Total Population
Habersham County
2010 Trend CAED
43,769
2010 Proj. OPB
44,362
38,978
35,902
2004 Est.
2000
27,621
25,020
1990
1980
20,691
1970
18,116
16,553
1960
1950
14,771
12,748
1940
1930
0
9,000
18,000
27,000
36,000
45,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED (Center for Agribusiness &
Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
Population Change: 2000-2004
LOSS
0 – 4.3%
4.3 – 7.8%
7.8 – 15.7%
15.7 – 34%
GA = 7.8%
US = 4.3%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Habersham Co.
8.6%
Percent of Land in Cropland & Forestland: 2002
23 – 40%
40 – 55%
55 – 70%
70 – 85%
85% or more
Habersham
Co. = 77.6%
Primary data sources:
U.S. Census of Agriculture, 2002
Forest Statistics for Georgia, 1997
GA Total = 78.5%
GA Avg. Co. = 77.3%
Metro Avg. Co. = 70.7%
Nonmetro Avg. Co. = 82.6%
Components of 2004 Property Tax Gross Digest
Habersham County
Residential
55.1%
Heavy Equip.
0.01%
Ag-PreferentialEnv-Conserv
11.1%
Timber *
0.03%
Mobile Home
1.2%
Commercial
11.7%
Public Utility Industrial
Motor Vehicle
5.0%
3.8%
7.6%
40% Assessment Value of Property
Gross Digest = $1,179,998,933
Net M&O Digest = $1,059,172,677
STATE Homestead & Property Exemptions = $120,826,256
Primary data source:
GA Dept. of Revenue
Value of exempt property = $133,285,188
* Timber taxed at 100% based on previous year sales
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2004
County
% Residential
HABERSHAM
55.1
15.6
11.7
5.0
7.6
5.0
BANKS
35.4
31.2
14.4
5.4
9.1
4.5
HALL
55.4
6.8
16.5
10.8
8.1
2.5
RABUN
57.1
7.4
6.3
3.6
3.7
21.9
STEPHENS
52.1
4.7
13.4
15.3
9.0
5.6
TOWNS
75.8
4.4
10.7
0.2
6.2
2.8
WHITE
54.6
23.3
9.2
1.4
8.0
3.6
Avg. GA Co.
40.7
20.8
13.2
7.9
9.0
8.4
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
% Agri- % Com- % In% Motor
cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle
%
Other
Revenue : Expenditure Ratios
$ of Revenue for Each $ of Expenditure
$1.92
$2.86
Farm/Forest
$1.01
$1.18
$2.70
$3.19
$1.17
Commercial
$1.93
$1.25
$3.45
Residential
$0.00
Cherokee
Jones
Carroll
Oconee
US Avg
$0.64
$0.87
$0.83
$0.90
$0.87
$1.00
$2.00
$3.00
Dorfman, Jeffery, The Economics of Growth, Sprawl and Land Use Decisions (presentation), Dept. of Ag &
Applied Economics, UGA, January 2004.
$4.00
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
Other
10.2%
Income
4.1%
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 Habersham County
¾ 2004 Farm Gate Value in Habersham
Co. was $274.5 million. Adding $2.7
million of landscape services
increased the total agricultural
production value to $277.2 million.
¾ The highest value commodity group
was poultry/eggs, representing 90%
of the total agricultural production
value.
Habersham County
2004 Agricultural Production Value
2004 Agricultural Production
Veges-FruitsNuts Orn Hort
Livestock- Forestry
1.7% Other
0.8%
Aquaculture 0.3%
0.7%
4.8%
Row-Forage
crops
0.6%
Landscape
services
1.0%
2004 Top Farm Gate Commodities
Grapes
Agritourism Hay
Pork
0.4% 0.3%
0.6%
Timber
0.6%
Rest of
Horses
0.3% commodities
Beef 1.5%
2.9%
2.3%
Breeder Pullet
Unit
5.2%
Poultry-Eggs
90.2%
Layers Hatching egg
8.7%
Total AG Value = $277.2 million
Broilers
77.1%
Trends in Habersham County:
Number of Farms & Average Farm Size
Number of Farms, Habersham County
Average Farm Size
1600
300
Habersham Co.
Georgia
1400
1200
218
200
Acres
1000
800
517
600
100
75
400
200
Source: 1945
-
2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
02
R
20
97
92
19
87
19
19
82
78
19
19
74
69
19
19
64
19
59
19
54
19
49
19
45
1945 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 1974 1978 1982 1987 1992 1997R 2002
19
0
0
Trends in Habersham County:
Land in Farms & Farms by Size
Land in Farms
Habersham County
Percent of Farms by Size, 2002
60
Acres X 1,000
120
40
80
40
30
38.5
20
20
10
0
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
Source: 1945
-
Georgia
50
100
60
Habersham Co.
1-9
acres
2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
10-49
acres
50-179
acres
180-499 500-999
acres
acres
1000+
acres
Trends in Habersham County
Number of Farms by Commodity
300
278
1987
1992
1997
2002
250
200
155
150
150
100
50
27
0
Beef cows
Source: 1987
-
Layers inv.
Broilers sold
2002 (quinquennial) Censuses of Agriculture
Hay
How Do We Compare ?
Georgia, Habersham and Surrounding Counties
Farm Gate Value
$ Per Farm (thousands)
$ Per Acre
$8,000
$6,000
$4,000
$2,000
$0
$7,125
$5,153
$3,732
$2,849 $2,504 $2,067 $2,810
$957
$209 $531
$351
ia
am anks
g
r
h
o
s
B
Ge aber
H
$382
ll
Ha
$195
$205
$152
$226
ns
un hens
ite
b
w
h
p
W
To
Ra
e
t
S
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?
Habersham County Economy
Agriculture OUTPUT
Output in $ Millions
277.189
0.538
110.181
683.947
121.266
128.824
109.170
254.540
191.684
Percent
14.8
0.0
5.9
36.4
6.5
6.9
5.8
13.6
10.2
Agriculture
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total County Economic Output = $1.9 Billion
Habersham County Economy
Agriculture + Directly Related Businesses OUTPUT
Agriculture + Direct
Output in $ Millions
521.535
0.538
110.181
439.602
121.266
128.824
109.170
254.540
191.684
Percent
27.8
0.0
5.9
23.4
6.5
6.9
5.8
13.6
10.2
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total County Economic Output = $1.9 Billion
An Economic Snapshot
of Habersham County
¾ How much of Habersham County’s total
economic output comes from food and
fiber production?
¾ AG value alone of $277.2 million
consisting of Farm Gate Value and
landscape services comprises 14.8% of
the county’s economy.
¾ AG plus directly related businesses (ex.
poultry processing, sawmills, etc.)
comprise 27.8% 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%
Habersham
Co.
27.8%
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
Habersham County
Production Agriculture IMPACT
Direct $ Millions
277.189
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
277.189
Indirect $ Millions
0.000
0.000
1.032
5.162
16.603
10.043
10.310
16.187
7.205
66.544
Agriculture
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total
Total Impact of Production AG = $343.7 million—18.3% of total economy
Habersham County
Agriculture and Directly Related Businesses IMPACT
Agriculture + Direct
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total
Direct $ Millions
521.535
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
521.535
Indirect $ Millions
0.000
0.000
2.354
37.129
29.393
18.970
18.216
47.607
14.143
167.811
Total Impact of AG+Directly Related = $689.3 million—36.7% of total economy
Habersham County
Production Agriculture + Directly Related Industries
Employment IMPACT
Agriculture + Direct
Direct
2,833
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Indirect
0
0
33
244
177
310
94
797
13
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trans-Utilities-Info
Trade
Finance-Ins-RE
Services
Government
Total Impact of AG + Directly Related Employment = 4,502 Jobs
What These Numbers Mean:
A Brief Explanation
¾ Direct impact is $521.5 million. This
includes food and fiber production,
processing and directly related
manufacturing.
¾ Indirect impact from the Trade sector is
$19 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.
Habersham County Food and Fiber
Impact Conclusions
¾ The total impact of food and fiber
production, processing and direct
manufacturing is $689.3 million.
¾ The total output is $1.9 billion.
¾ Thus, food and fiber (directly and
indirectly) account for 36.7% 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%
Habersham
Co.
36.7%
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
#06-04A
March, 2006