Farming – it drives the economy

Broiler chickens like these are Virginia’s No. 1 farm commodity (Photo courtesy of North Carolina Extension Service).

Virginia agriculture is the state’s largest industry and contributes $55 billion to the commonwealth’s economy each year.

In fact, farming creates jobs and produces food and fiber for much of the state and beyond. Virginia agriculture exports totaled a record $2.35 billion in 2011.

There aren’t many vocations that can make that claim.

But what are our farmers growing or raising?

The National Agriculture Statistics Service recently released data from 2009 that ranks Virginia’s top 20 farm commodities.

Broilers, which are chickens raised for meat, are the state’s No. 1 commodity, generating more than $550 million in cash receipts. Cattle and calves are second, with sales of $287.5 million, and not far behind is the dairy industry with cash receipts of $264.4 million.

Following dairy is the nursery, greenhouse, sod and turfgrass business, with cash receipts of $261.4 million. Ranking fifth are turkeys, with sales of more than $215 million, and soybeans are ranked sixth after generating $184 million in cash receipts.

Soybeans are followed by corn for grain, then the horse industry, tobacco and winter wheat to round out the Top 10.

Eggs ranked 11^th, with cash receipts of $68.7 million, followed by fresh market tomatoes at $63.2 million. Hay was ranked 13^th and aquaculture 14^th. They were followed by hogs, cotton, apples, potatoes, grapes and peanuts.

Virginia farms are diverse, plentiful and family-owned and -operated. There are large farms, small farms and plenty in between. The commonwealth boasts traditional agriculture producers as well as organic farmers.

We need farmers—big and small—and we need the food that they produce.