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
Row &
Forage Crops
19.7%
Poultry & Eggs
44.9%
Fruits
& Nuts
3.8%
Forestry &
Products
4.8%
Livestock &
Aquaculture
10.4%
Vegetables
6.3%
Other
Income
Ornamental 5.3%
Horticulture
4.9%
2010 Georgia Agricultural
Commodity Rankings
2010 Total Farm Gate Value = $12.0 billion
2009 = $11.3 billion
Rank Commodity Farm Gate
% of
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
10 Pecans $233,941,290 1.95%
11 Corn 2.07%
$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%
$101,350,404 0.84%
20 Hunting Leases - Deer 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
Broilers
38.3%
Rest of
Commodities
26.7%
Pecans
1.9%
Cotton
9.7%
Eggs
4.8%
Timber
4.0% Peanuts
3.9%
Greenhouse
2.1%
Dairy
Beef Horses 2.2%
3.4% 3.0%
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
Oats
0.2% Other Row
Forage
Hay
0.9%
6.2%
Cotton
49.5%
Peanuts
19.9%
Corn
9.6%
Rye
0.8%
Sorghum Silage
0.5%
1.6%
Soybeans
Straw
4.8%
Tobacco
2.0% 1.3%
Wheat
2.6%
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
Vegetables
2010 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $753 million
2009 = $916 million
Cucumbers Eggplant Greens
5.3%
6.0%
4.6%
Cantaloupe
3.8%
Cabbage
4.7%
Bell Peppers
10.3%
Zucchini
2.3%
Other Peppers
0.1%
Onions
18.5%
Okra
0.8%
Other
Vegetables
13.8%
Snap
Beans
Watermelon
2.3%
13.0%
Southern Peas
Squash 1.3%
Tomato Sweet Corn 2.9%
7.0%
3.3%
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
Pecans
51.9%
Others
0.7%
Peaches
10.4%
Strawberries
1.4%
Blueberries
29.6%
Grapes
1.9%
Apples Blackberries
2.3%
1.7%
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%
Turfgrass
14.4%
Other
0.6%
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
Goats
1.8%
Beef
32.6%
Other
1.5%
Quail
2.5%
Pork
9.3%
Horses
29.0%
Dairy
21.6%
Sheep
0.1%
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 Breeder Pullet Unit
4.1%
7.0%
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%
Crop Insurance
18.3%
Other
0.7%
Deer Hunting
Leases
15.8%
Duck & Turkey
Hunting Leases
Nature-based
tourism
Agriculture-based 1.5%
9.2%
tourism
5.0%
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
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