Source: RICHMOND COUNTY DAILY JOURNAL, 9/24/21


Seeing the writing on the wall when tobacco was declining in the late 1980’s, Derby farmer Jim Lambeth decided to diversify. Having earned a forestry degree from N.C. State, he started raking pine needles year-round, which “has kept us out of any financial trouble.” He sells 50,000 bales per year from the family land and another 50,000 from other farms. Lambeth and his twin brother, Joe, also started raising chickens. The Lambeths discontinued their 140 acres of tobacco. Their old tobacco barns will “never be used again on this farm.”

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