Farming has played an integral part in the development of Bedford County's culture and communities. Many of our small towns grew up around mills used to process the farmers' grain. Several of the area's banks once had the word "Farmers" in their names.
Today, agriculture is big business and in Bedford County it is a growth industry. Every five years the USDA commissions a Census of Agriculture which details almost every aspect of agricultural production in the nation. The information it produces can be very interesting; for example, did you know that the number of Layers (egg producing chickens) in Bedford County increased by 36,368 in the past decade?
The 2007 Ag Census results suggest very positive changes have been happening. The number of farms in the county has risen by 7% since 2002, and by 24% since 1997. The number of acres being farmed has also risen, growing by over 12,000 acres in the past decade. This is particularly good news as the 2002 census reported over over 6,000 acres lost in the 1997 to 2002 time frame. The best news is that the market value for products sold has increased by 58% in the past five years, adding over $33.4 million to the local economy. Much of this gain has been a result of increased sales of livestock. As our area grows, new houses, roads and businesses put pressure on agricultural lands. Seeing an increase in land used for farming suggests that Bedford County is successfully balancing both interests.
For businesses related to agriculture, check the Member Directory.
