March 8 is the 39th anniversary of National Ag Day organized by the Agriculture Council of America. It is celebrated so that everyone can appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry by far, with nothing else coming a close second. The industry has an economic impact of $55 billion annually and provides more than 357,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.”
Agriculture plays an essential role in maintaining a strong economy. The following are agricultural statistics compiled from website citydata.com, comparing agriculture in Amelia, Nottoway and Prince Edward Counties for year 2009:
Average size of farms: P.Ed. Co. 200 acres / Nottoway 175 acres / Amelia 200 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: P. Ed. Co. $29,914 / Nottoway $67,343 / Amelia $113,163
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: P. Ed. $163.65 / Nottoway $131.79 / Amelia $146.96
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: Prince Edward 8.21% / Nottoway 0.85% / Amelia 0.13%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: Prince Edward 77.64% / Nottoway 90.92% / Amelia 93.46%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: Prince Edward $27,645 / Nottoway- $47,149 / Amelia-$94,398
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: Prince Edward 20.48% / Nottoway 26.49% / Amelia 25.19%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: Prince Edward 3.24% / not listed / not listed
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: Prince Edward $34,336 / Nottoway $33,097 / Amelia $33,059
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: Prince Edward 93.67% / Nottoway 92.405 / Amelia 90.57%
Average age of principal farm operators: Prince Edward 60 years / Nottoway 58 / Amelia 58
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: Prince Edward 16.26 / Nottoway 22.84 / Amelia 16.95
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: Prince Edward 4.77% / Nottoway 7.96% / Amelia 14.87%
Corn for grain: Prince Edward 609 harvested acres / Nottoway 514 HA / Amelia 1406 HA
All wheat for grain:Prince Edward 268 harvested acres / Nottoway and Amelia – not listed
Soybeans for beans: Prince Edward 0 / Nottoway 730 harvest acres / Amelia 5,984 HA
Vegetables: Prince Edward 55 harvested acres / Nottoway and Amelia- not listed
Land in orchards: Prince Edward 14 acres / Nottoway 42 acres / Amelia 6 acres
