UGA Cooperative Extension’s mission is to deliver scientific, research-based information to the public in the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, and Family and Consumer Sciences. A lesser known contribution of Extension Agents is the data and information compiled and used in the annual Farm Gate Value Report. This report, in combination with the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Survey (NASS) is a useful tool to determine what agriculture is present at a state and county level, and allows the identification of trends in agriculture over time.
The Farm Gate Value Report is compiled from data provided by UGA Extension Agents across the state. Each year, agents complete a spreadsheet with over 80 commodities and provide information on acreage farmed, yield expectations, and commodity pricing. Agent involvement in farm gate reporting is critical, as they are the “boots on the ground” and able to provide the most accurate information possible for their assigned county. The Farm Gate Value Report is then published electronically for each individual county and the data is also compiled into an annual “Ag Snapshot” that provides information on agriculture across the entire state of Georgia. The county farm gate report can be found at farmgate.caes.uga.edu/CountyAnnualReport.aspx and the annual Ag Snapshot can be found at caed.uga.edu/publications/Georgia-agricultural-statistics.html. A word of caution- the Farm Gate Value Report is only as accurate as the individual reporting it—and county agents can use your help! Self-reporting the types of commodities produced, yield information, and price data for an operation can help Farm Gate be more accurate than a county agents best estimate will ever be.
At a state level, agriculture is a driving force for local economies and reflects over $13 billion in impact to Georgia’s economy. When you account for agriculture-related industries like food service, fiber production, and other supply-chain contributions, the economic impact on the state skyrockets to $70.1 billion dollars and over 359,220 jobs. The top ten commodities in the state represent 67% of that economic impact and are: broiler chickens, cotton, timber, beef, peanuts, greenhouse, corn, hay, dairy, and pecans. Furthermore, Georgia is ranked #1 in the nation for broiler chicken and peanut production, #2 for cotton, pecans, and watermelon, and #3 for bell peppers, blueberries, cucumbers, and peaches.
At a glance, Lincoln County has a Farm Gate Value of approximately $13 million and, based on total market value of agriculture products sold, is ranked 136 out of 159 counties in the state. While this ranking may seem low, the economic value is not, especially considering the overall ranking (140th) of the county based on population. The top commodities produced in Lincoln County are livestock ($3.2 million), forage crops ($2.4 million), and forestry ($2.7 million).
If you’d like assistance accessing Farm Gate information, or if you’d like to self-report data to be included in next year’s report, please let us know at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
