Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 6/12/19


As more people move to the urban centers of North Carolina, consumers lose previously close connections with where their food comes from.

“No farms, no food” is just the tip of the iceberg. Agriculture benefits everyone in many ways.

Agriculture may be out of sight and out of mind at times, but it’s ever-present in our daily lives. And as an $87 billion industry, N.C. agriculture should never be taken for granted. Agriculture remains North Carolina’s biggest economic driver, employing 17% of the state’s workforce while feeding, fueling, and clothing people around the world.

Join Ryan Adams with NC State Extension as he shares why agriculture is important to everyone in our state, not just the 48,000 farms who supply most of the foods in the local grocery store.

5 Fast Facts | N.C. Agriculture
• The agriculture industry supports nearly 700,000 jobs
• More than 80 different crops and commodities are grown in North Carolina
• More than 8 million acres of land is used for farming
• North Carolina leads the nation in sweet potato, egg and poultry production, and ranks in the top three for Christmas trees, pork, trout, and turkeys
• NC State generates a $1.6 billion annual impact from research and extension with just four key crops (blueberry, peanut, sweet potato, and tobacco) while supporting over 13,000 related jobs in 97 of the state’s 100 counties

Learn more about NC Agriculture at NC State Extension Homegrown