A brief focus
on Georgia’s
agricultural industry
2009 Total Farm Gate Value
$200,000,000 - $443,441,000
$80,000,000 - $200,000,000
$45,000,000 - $80,000,000
$20,000,000 - $45,000,000
$313,000 - $20,000,000
Livestock
& Aquaculture
10.3%
Row &
Forage Crops
16.7%
Poultry & Eggs
46.1%
Vegetables
8.1%
Ornamental
Horticulture
6.2%
Other
Income
4.9%
Forestry &
Products
4.4%
Fruits &
Nuts
3.3%
2009 Georgia Agricultural
Commodity Rankings
2009 Total Farm Gate Value = $11.3 billion
2008 = $11.9 billion
Rank Commodity Farm Gate
% of
Value
GA Total
1
Broilers $4,421,181,714 39.3%
2
Cotton
$712,666,755
6.3%
3
Eggs $572,149,060 5.1%
4
Timber
$401,524,348
3.6%
5
Peanuts
$401,198,028 3.6%
6
Horses $397,876,700
3.5%
7
Beef $356,141,684
3.2%
8
Greenhouse
$263,196,439 2.3%
9
Dairy $243,199,690 2.2%
10 Container Nursery $210,443,858 1.9%
11 Corn $203,266,035 1.8%
12 Breeder Pullet Unit
$188,736,480
1.7%
13 Pecans $170,979,661
1.5%
14 Soybeans
$168,450,779 1.5%
15 Hay $155,118,653 1.4%
16 Watermelon
$139,001,756 1.2%
17 Bell Peppers
$129,281,103 1.2%
18 Onions
$126,107,748 1.0%
19 Turfgrass
$116,477,162 1.0%
$103,723,788
0.9%
20 Deer Hunting Leases 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%
Top Ten Georgia Commodities by Value
Container
Nursery
1.9%
Rest of Commodities
29.1%
Broilers
39.3%
Dairy
2.2%
Greenhouse
2.3%
Beef
3.2%
Horses Peanuts
3.5%
3.6% Timber
3.6%
Eggs
5.1%
Cotton
6.3%
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.
$68.8 billion output impact on
Georgia’s $727.3 billion economy
Food and fiber production and directly related
processing directly and indirectly generated a
total economic impact of $68.8 billion for the state
and represented more than 383,000 jobs in 2009.
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.
2009 Row & Forage Crops Farm Gate Value
$30 ,000,000 - $79,313,000
$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
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $1.9 billion
2008 = $2.0 billion
Other
2.0%
Hay
8.2%
Cotton
37.9%
Peanuts
21.3%
Corn
10.8%
Rye
0.9%
Wheat
3.1%
Tobacco
2.8%
Straw
1.7%
Soybeans
8.9%
Silage
2.4%
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 2009.
With long growing seasons and abundant
irrigation resources, row and forage crops
were responsible for a $12.1 billion impact on
the state’s economy and represented more
than 59,000 jobs in 2009.
Vegetables
2009 Vegetables Farm Gate Value
$15,000,000 - $129,672,000
$3,000,000 - $15,000,000
$500,000 - $3,000,000
$100,000 - $500,000
$0 - $100,000
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $916 million
2008 = $849 million
Cantaloupe
Cabbage
4.1%
3.2%
Peppers
15.3%
Watermelon
15.2%
Cucumbers
5.7%
Eggplant
1.7%
Greens
5.3%
Onions
13.8%
Other
Vegetables
10.8%
Tomato
7%
Sweet Corn
Squash
9.0%
3.8%
Snap Beans
Southern Peas 3.8%
1.3%
The vegetable industry in Georgia is one of
agriculture’s most diverse and fastest growing
sectors. Seventeen individual
vegetables each generated $10 million
or more farm gate value in 2009. With
a favorable climate often allowing
both spring and fall plantings, Georgia
ranked among the top four states for
fresh market vegetable area harvested,
production and value. Vegetable industry
production and processing generated
a total economic impact of $2.7 billion and
accounted for more than 18,000 jobs in 2009.
Fruits & Nuts
2009 Fruits & Nuts Farm Gate Value
$5,000,000- $53,997,000
$1,500,000 - $5,000,000
$300,000 - $1,500,000
$50,000 - $300,000
$0 - $50,000
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $366 million
2008 = $268 million
Strawberries
1.3%
Pecans
46.7%
Peaches
16.2%
Others
0.7%
Grapes
3.1%
Blueberries
28%
Apples
1.8%
Blackberries
2.2%
Fruit and tree nuts are important staples
in people’s diets, and many types are
grown in Georgia due to its favorable
climate. The peach has long been a
trademark and is the state’s official fruit.
Additionally, Georgia has ranked first in
pecan production for the past three years.
The fruit and nut industry generated a total
economic impact of $1.9 billion for the state in
2009 and represented more than 11,000 jobs.
2009 Ornamental Horticulture Farm Gate Value
$10,000,000- $67,813,000
$6,000,000 - $10,000,000
$3,000,000 - $6,000,000
$1,000,000 - $3,000,000
$0 - $1,000,000
Ornamental Horticulture
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $699 million
2008 = $696 million
Field Nursery
13%
Container Nursery
30.1%
Greenhouse
37.7%
Turfgrass
16.7%
Other
2.5%
Ornamental horticulture is providing a
wide range of opportunities scattered
across the state. City growth in both
Georgia and Florida is creating higher
demand for ornamentals and other
plants in addition to landscape services.
Greenhouses and container nurseries
both ranked among the top ten Georgia
agricultural commodities in 2009. Green
industry production and processing
generated a total economic impact of $6.8 billion
and represented more than 72,000 jobs.
2009 Forestry & Products Farm Gate Value
$10,000,000 - $16,886,000
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000
$3,000,000 - $5,000,000
$1,000,000 - $3,000,000
$0 - $1,000,000
Forestry & Products
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $499 million
2008 = $571 million
Timber
80.5%
Pine Straw
16.3%
Other
1.6%
Christmas Trees
1.6%
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 2009. Forest
industry production and processing
generated a total economic impact of $15.2
billion and accounted for more than
67,000 jobs.
2009 Livestock & Aquaculture Farm Gate Value
$15,000,000 - $39,310,000
$10,000,000 - $15,000,000
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000
$3,000,000 - $5,000,000
$0 - $3,000,000
Livestock &Aquaculture
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $1.2 billion
2008 = $1.3 billion
Honeybees
1.5%
Dairy
20.9%
Beef
30.7%
Horses
34.3%
Goats &
Sheep
1.5%
Pork
5.5%
Quail
3.6%
Other
2.0%
Livestock has long been an important
component of Georgia’s agricultural
economy with beef and dairy among
the top ten commodities. Horse raising
and breeding has become a significant
industry; and increasing interest in goats,
quail, and catfish production keeps the
livestock and aquaculture industry dynamic.
Production and processing generated a total
economic impact of $6.4 billion for Georgia and
represented more than 46,000 jobs covering
every county in the state.
Poultry & Eggs
2009 Poultry & Eggs Farm Gate Value
$100,000,000 - $340,554,000
$40,000,000 - $100,000,000
$10,000,000 - $40,000,000
$1,000,000 - $10,000,000
$0 - $1,000,000
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $5.2 billion
2008 = $5.7 billion
Breeder
Pullet Unit
3.6%
Broilers
85.3%
Layers
11%
Other
0.1%
As Georgia’s most valuable agricultural sector,
the poultry-egg industry dramatically
increased in size over several
decades, with more than two-thirds
(107 counties) of the state’s 159 counties
now involved in production. Georgia has
led the nation in broiler production for 26
consecutive years. Poultry-egg production
and processing contributed $20.5 billion
total economic impact for the state in 2009,
and the industry represented more than
96,000 jobs.
2009 Agritourism & Other Income Farm Gate Value
$12,000,000- $22,297,000
$8,000,000 - $12,000,000
$2,000,000 - $8,000,000
$500,000 - $2,000,000
$0 - $500,000
Agritourism &
Other Income
2009 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $548 million
2008 = $614 million
Government Payments
46.0%
Crop Insurance
17.5%
Deer Hunting
Leases
18.9%
Agriculture-based
tourism
Nature-based
5.3%
tourism
9.9%
Other
0.8%
Duck & Turkey
Hunting Leases
1.6%
Both ag-based and nature-based
tourism play a major role in making
Georgia a destination for increasing
numbers of tourists. More than 2.7
million 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 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 Program and Wetlands System
Acreage: 323,133 acres and 8,951 active contracts for
program years 1996-2011 as of 8/31/2010
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
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
The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.
CAES Office of Communications 2010 · 11307-FY11
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