Blue Ridge RC&D - Agriculture and Forestry
Agriculture and forestry have been historically and still are of great importance to the economic and social well-being of the Blue Ridge RC&D area. Both enterprises are greatly impacted by the availability of open land (undeveloped land) across the landscape. That availability is rapidly changing.
Twenty one percent of the total land in the Blue Ridge RC&D area, was in farms in 2002. Between 1997 and 2002, the number of farms in the area declined by 9% from 5,540 to 5,176. It is estimated that the decline in farm numbers from 2002 until the present is somewhat greater than from 1997 – 2002. Harvested cropland ranges from a low of about 4,941 acres in Mitchell County to over 30,598 acres in Wilkes County. Larger numbers of poultry are produced in Wilkes County. Poultry integrators in this county enable the farm enterprise to be profitable. Cattle numbers, mostly beef cattle, range from 1,000 in Avery to 32,000 in Wilkes. The location of viable cattle markets within the seven Blue Ridge R&CD counties remain a concern for cattle producers.
Because of high public interest, several opportunities are available to help preserve open space/farmland. Some of the counties in the area have adopted the use of Voluntary Agricultural Districts. The North Carolina General Assembly has established the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.
The area is fortunate to have significant forest resources that are essential for maintaining much of the area’s resources. Approximately $47+ million in wood products are sold in the Blue Ridge RC&D area annually. Besides providing substantial sources of revenue, forestry is also essential for maintaining or improving water and air quality, tourism, wildlife and plant habitat, and other natural resource values.
