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

NC Ag History

NC Agriculture Today

Top Commodities: Broilers Hogs Greenhouse/Nursery Turkeys Tobacco

NC Floriculture

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

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 Ranking-20091st Sweet Potatoes- Yams

1st Tobacco (all and flue-cured)

2nd Christmas Trees Cash Receipts

2nd Hogs and Pigs 2nd Trout Sold 2nd Turkeys

3rd Cucumbers for pickles

3rd Strawberries

(fresh market)

4th Cucumbers Fresh Market

5th Broilers (meat chickens)

5th Burley Tobacco 5th Catfish sold

5th Greenhouse/

Nursery $

5th Peanuts

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.

National Horticulture

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

1. It provides jobs.

2. Produces food- fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.

3. 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

1. Provides Clean Air2. Prevents erosion3. Provides shelter4. 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 Green Industry’s Video

http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/codata/index.htm

1.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

NC Ag Statistics

NC Ag…

Top 20 Ag. Commodities