VALUE ADDED AGRICULTURE

North Carolina is known as an agricultural state, leading the nation in production of sweet potatoes and tobacco, and second in poultry and eggs, hogs and pigs, Christmas trees, trout, turkeys, cucumbers and fresh market strawberries.  In 2010, the state had over 52,000 farms encompassing 8.6 million acres.  Farm cash receipts in 2010 exceeded $9.65 billion.  Livestock, dairy and poultry products make up 65.9% of sales, with row crops making up the remainder 34.1%.

For more information on NC crops /products, click here.

Major Agricultural Production Area

• Martin County is #1 peanut producer in state with 8,700 acres harvested (2010) producing 24.78 million pounds.
• In cotton, the County is #2 statewide with nearly 68,000 bales produced in 2010.
• Tobacco, the County's historical agricultural cash crop, is still important, with 5,550 acres / 13.28 million pounds in 2010, ranking Martin County as #9 in production.

Other crops include:

• Broilers
• Corn
• Vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries
• Wheat
• Cattle
• Hay

Surrounding counties are also major agricultural producers:

• Beaufort County -- #1 in sweet potatoes, #2 in corn, #4 in wheat, and #10 in cotton production statewide.
• Bertie County --  # 2 in peanuts, #5 in cotton, and #6 in broilers produced statewide.
• Edgecombe County -- # 4 in both cotton and peanuts, #8 in wheat.
• Halifax County -- # 1 in cotton, #9 in peanuts .
• Pitt County -- #3 in peanuts, #6 in cotton, #10 in hogs and pigs,   and #11 in soybeans and tobacco.
• Washington County -- # 6 in corn, #8 in soy beans, and #12 in vegetables, fruits, nuts and berries.

For specific crop production #s by county, click here.

Major Regional Agribusiness Companies

• Weyerhaeuser – tree farms and nursery, as well as pulp / paper and wood products manufacturing; www.weyerhaeuser.com
• Perdue – integrated broiler production and processing facilities; www.perduefarms.com
• Avoca, Inc. – world's premier botanical extraction facility; www.pharmachemlabs.com/divisions/avoca
• PCS Phosphates –  liquid and solid fertilizers and animal feed supplements;
  http://www.potashcorp.com/about/facilities/phosphate/aurora/
• Severn Peanuts – peanut sheller; http://www.hamptonfarms.com/about-us/severn-peanut-co/
• Jimbo's Jumbos, Inc. – peanut sheller and roaster; http://www.jimbosjumbos.com/
• Ventria Bioscience – cell-based biomanufacturing; www.ventria.com
• Rose Acre Farms – layer houses and eggs;   www.goodeggs.com
• Robersonville Meat Packing? – slaughters and processed meat for wholesale and retail operations
• Roanoke Tar Cotton? – offers cotton ginning, equipment and supplies
• Mackey's Ferry Peanuts? - makes peanut butter, candies, cookies, packaged and bulk peanuts; www.mfpnuts.com
• (last three included by Georgette, not Mary, want to keep these?)

Other national firms with a local presence include companies such as Cargill, Southern States, AgCarolina, Monsanto.

Many smaller, privately held further processors of agricultural products are located throughout the area.  These include:

• Peanut buying stations
• Cotton gins and support companies
• Grain elevators
• Livestock markets
• Farmers roadside markets

NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and USDA assets located within the region

Senator Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center, Williamston
State of the Art  equestrian facility  includes 110,000+ SF coliseum encompassing (1) 150' x 300' arena with permanent seating for 2,286 and a major regional meeting center.  Other facilities on site include:

• 75' x 125' paddock with attached 120' x 240' covered arena
• 3 outdoor 120' x 240' practice rings
• 5 lunging rings
• 2 dressage pads
• 456 permanent stalls with 18 wash bays with space available for another 134 temporary stalls
• 100 RV sites

Vernon James Center / Tidewater Research Station, Plymouth
This facility covers over 1,500 acres and includes 1 32,000 SF research and extension complex with over 300 specialists involved in swine, beef, soils, entomology, plant pathology, crop science, horticulture science, and aquaculture disciplines.

Northeast Marketing Center, Elizabeth City
Marketing specialists here provide assistance in locating buyers and suppliers, developing new markets, designing marketing strategies, and conducting marketing promotions to increase demands for regional commodities that include fruits, vegetables, seafood and other products.  These efforts enhance the "Goodness Grows in North Carolina" campaign that has been in place for many years.

Research Centers
focusing on research and development including specialized work with peanuts, cotton, and tobacco), grains and swine production.

State Cooperative Grading Services Headquarters, Williamston

County Forest Rangers and staff in every county

Regional office for USDA FSA and NRCS offices

Mideast Research and Conservation Development organization in place

North Carolina State University (NCSU) assets in Region

Located in Raleigh, NCSU has the largest student population of any in the University of North Carolina System, with over 34,000 students and a faculty / staff of 8,000+.  NCSU's College of Engineering is among one of the top engineering schools in the country with 9 academic department and over 20 state-of-the-art laboratories, institutes and research centers.   

NCSU is responsible for specific outreach programs throughout the state.

County Extension Offices provide agricultural outreach program within each county of the state using local staff and the resources of the NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and NC A&T University.  Program areas include sustaining agriculture and forestry, protecting the environment, maintaining viable communities, development responsible youth through 4-H and other programs, and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

Industrial Extension Service Northeast Regional Office is located in Williamston and provides hands-on expertise for manufacturers in the following fields:

• Defect-free processes  (including Six Sigma)
• Growth and innovation
• Organization Benchmarking
• Standardized processes and production  (including ISO 9001 and related systems)
• Process Optimization (including Lean processes)
• Sustainability and green  (including ISO 14001)
• Workplace efficiency

NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
The NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) offers undergraduate programs in the following areas:  Pre-Med and Other Health Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Pre-vet & Animal Biology, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, and Business Education & Community.  CALS also offers the Agricultural Institute, providing a two year associate degree in agriculture.

For more information, click here.


Other Assets

• East Carolina University
  Along with strong biology and chemistry programs, ECU's Department of Engineering programs focus on mechanical, electrical, and industrial / systems engineering.  Also offer programs focused on erosion control and climatology.
• Mount Olive College
  Offers a BS degree in Agribusiness through the Tillman School of Business as well as BS degrees in Biology and Chemistry.
• NC Community College System
  The NC Community College System is made up of 58 primary campuses spread throughout the state offering access to two year degree programs, college transfer programs, certificate and continuing education programs. Martin Community College is located in Williamston and has programs in Equine Technology and Biotechnology, as well as many other program areas.
• Regional Agricultural High School
  <need info from Vann>
• Martin County Farmers Fresh Market
  Innovative program where fresh produce grown in Martin County is sold to regional restaurants via the internet.

(links to be added asap)