The Economic Importance
of Agriculture Series
This brochure is one of a series of publications from the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.
The goal of these brochures is to inform Georgians of the essential role
agriculture plays in the economy. Others in the series include:
∗
Economic Importance of Food and
Fiber Production and Processing
∗
Poultry and Eggs
∗
Livestock & Aquaculture
∗
Vegetables
∗
Ornamental Horticulture
∗
Forestry and Related Products
∗
Fruits and Nuts
The Center for Agribusiness
and Economic Development is a unit
of the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, combining
the missions of research
and extension.
Economic
Importance
of Row and
Forage Crops
in Georgia
The University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state
cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service offers
educational programs, assistance and materials to all people
without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or
disability. An equal opportunity/affirmative action organization
committed to a diverse work force.
Scott Angle, Dean and Director
Food and Fiber Production Value
Georgia, 2006
F ruit s &
N ut s
3 .0 %
P o ult ry &
E ggs
4 2 .4 %
O t he r
Inc o m e
6 .2 %
F o re s t ry &
P ro duc t s
6 .4 %
O rna m e nt a l
H o rt ic ult ure
7 .4 %
Row &
F o ra ge
C ro ps
14 .5 %
V e ge t a ble s
8 .0 %
Liv e s t o c k
& A qua c ult ure
12 .2 %
Total Farm Gate Value = $10.4 billion
Source: 2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value Survey
Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
John C. McKissick, Director
The Lumpkin House, Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706-542-0760
Fax: 706-542-8934
Email: caed@agecon.uga.edu
To access this brochure series as well as other data related
to Georgia and its counties, visit our websites at:
www.caed.uga.edu
www.georgiastats.uga.edu
Brochure Series 07-03
Center for Agribusiness and
Economic Development
“Adding Value to Georgia’s
Agricultural Economy
Through Research and Extension”
EMPLOYMENT IMPACT
OUTPUT IMPACT
Georgia’s
Row & Forage Crop
Industry
⇒ The row and forage crop industry
⇒ Row & forage crop producers and processors generate direct sales of $4.0 billion.
Row and forage crops have traditionally been the
employ 20,824 workers in Georgia
⇒ These sales, in turn, generate additional sales in the
backbone of Georgia agriculture, particularly in
state economy, creating another $2.2 billion of indi-
the southern portion of the state. Row and forage
rect economic impact.
Economic Impact Due to Row & Forage
Crop Industry: Georgia, 2006
tion pressure. Despite these factors, row and forage crops remain an important component of
Billions of Dollars
Georgia agriculture.
S o rghum
0 .3 %
S ila ge
2 .0 %
B a rle y
0 . 0 1%
C o rn
6 .8 %
C o tto n
49 . 6 %
$7
$6
$5
$4
$3
$2
$1
$0
jobs. This group includes those who provide inputs to
the crop industry, such as utility suppliers. Increased
wage spending creates jobs in other sectors, such as
$6.2
$2.2
D i r ect
retail sales and health services.
Employment Due to Row & Forage
Crop Industry: Georgia, 2006
$4.0
Ind ir ect
40,000
T o t al
⇒ The row and forage crop industry generates a total
R ye
P e a nut s
O t he r
0 .7 %
2 1. 4 %
0 .7 %
Oats
0.4%
H ay
8 .7 %
economic impact of $6.2 billion for the State of
GEORGIA CROP FACTS:
•
Row and forage crop production had a total
Farm Gate Value of $1.5 billion in 2006.
•
Georgia cropland encompasses 4.7 million
acres. (2002 U.S. Census of Agriculture)
•
Cotton and peanuts ranked in the Top Ten
2006 commodities for farm gate value.
(Center for Agribusiness)
Georgia produced 45% of the nation’s peanuts in 2005. (USDA, NASS)
37,156
30,000
20,000
20,824
10,000
0
D i r ect
16,332
Ind i r ect
T o t al
Georgia.
⇒ A total of 37,156 jobs are created due to the row and
2006 Row & Forage Crops Farm Gate Value by County
•
time jobs.
forage crop industry) provides an additional 16,332
modity prices, irrigation restrictions and popula-
Whe a t
2 .3 %
T o ba c c o
3.7%
S t ra w
1. 6 %
S o ybe a ns
1. 7 %
which include full-time and part-
⇒ Indirect employment (those relying on the row &
crop producers face many challenges: low com-
Row & Forage Crops
Farm Gate Value by Percent
Georgia, 2006
producers and processors directly
$0-$1 million
$1-$5 million
$5-$15 million
$15-$30 million
$30-$55 million
forage crop industry in Georgia.
STUDY METHODOLOGY
⇒ This study used an inputoutput model called IMPLAN
to determine the effects of
the row & forage crop industry in Georgia.
⇒ Data used came from IMPLAN as well as from the
2006 Farm Gate Value Report. Production includes
the major industrial sectors included in this series.
Processing includes all industries which rely directly
on the production of agricultural products in Georgia.