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North Carolina Horticulture. We’ve got a lot growing on. NC Ag History. In 1790, 93% of the population in the USA was rural, most of them farmers. In 1990, 200 years later, barely 2% of our population are farmers. NC Ag History. Very few people farm now
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North Carolina Horticulture We’ve got a lot growing on.
NC Ag History • In 1790, 93% of the population in the USA was rural, most of them farmers. • In 1990, 200 years later, barely 2% of our population are farmers.
NC Ag History • Very few people farm now • Little understanding of food production • Food production is taken for granted • No experience with food scarcity
NC Ag History • Supermarkets full and food is cheap. • Today we spend 10% of our income on food • 1950, spent 22% • 1935, spent 47% • In the past it took time and effort to obtain and produce food
Top Commodities: • Broilers • Hogs • Greenhouse/Nursery • Turkeys • Tobacco
Floriculture • NC ranks 6th, behind CA, FL, MI, TX, & NY • 2005-324 growers, 20.4 million square feet of covered area, 637 acres of outdoor production • $170.9 million in cash receipts
Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens NC Floriculture • Bedding plants $93 million • Potted flowering plants $35 million • Herbaceous Perennial Plants $28.3 million • Foliage Hanging Baskets and Potted Foliage $28.3 million • Cut Flowers $3.2 million
NC Pomology • Grapes • Explosive growth over last five years • Vineyards increasing 75%, acres 125% • Vineyards in 77% of counties • Increases due to health benefits, attractive alternative to tobacco
NC Pomology • Peaches • Decline in acres, trees, and orchards (23%) • Piedmont remains the major peach growing region with 72% of the trees • Young trees available with a brighter future for peach industry
NC Pomology • Blueberries • Solid growth over the last five years • Coastal plain region has 55% of states growers and 96% of acreage • Future is bright… demand is increasing for this healthy fruit.
NC Pomology • Apples • Largest fruit crop in North Carolina • 34% decrease in acreage and 23% decrease in trees and orchards since 1996 • 1 million apple trees maintained • Mountain Region highest producer
NC Olericulture • Sweet Potatoes • 555 million pounds were harvested in 2000, 47% increase from 1999 • Valued at $58.3 million
NC Olericulture • Cucumbers • 16,500 tons of cucumbers were harvested • Value of the crop was $24.3 million, an increase in of $3.7million
NC Olericulture • Sweet Corn • 81 million pounds • Valued at $12.2 million
NC Agriculture • Agriculture is a fusion of the food, fiber, and forestry industries. • Agriculture provides $62.6 billion to the state’s economy (20.3%) • Agriculture employs 17% of the state’s workforce. • Agriculture utilizes 8.9 million of the 31 million acres in North Carolina.
How does Horticulture Help the Economy? • The Importance of Horticulture is in 3 forms: • Economic: Money • Aesthetic: Appearance • Environmental: Health and Comfort
Economics • Horticulture puts over $25 BILLION into the U.S. Economy a year • It provides jobs. • Produces food- fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. • Increases the value of homes through landscaping
Aesthetics: Appearance 1. Improves appearance of homes and buildings through landscaping 2. Improves appearance of land from fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops grown.
Environment: Health and Comfort • Provides Clean Air • Prevents erosion • Provides shelter • Nutrition The outlook for the horticulture industry in the future is to GROW because of the increase in population and home construction!!
Horticulture Conclusion • There are a plethora of job opportunities in horticulture and the agriculture industry. • Horticulture is what you eat, enjoy in the landscape and in the home, and what you play sports on. • If you didn’t have horticulture… what would life really be like? • So, remember at your dinner table to thank Horticulturists.
NC Ag Statistics What part of the state has the youngest average farmer? What Co.?2. What is the No. 1 Co. with Total Cash Receipts?Do you want to know any thing else about any County or the state?http://www.nass.usda.gov/Data_and_Statistics/Quick_Stats_1.0/index.asp