Orange County NC Website
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2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />Soils from three main associations -- Georgeville-Herndon [5], Georgeville-Herndon-Tatum [6] <br />and Tatum-Goldston [7] -- are prevalent in this area. These gently sloping and well-drained <br />soils contain layers of silt loam and clay that make them suitable for most agricultural uses. <br />Other soil types are located throughout the County in small areas, along drainageways or <br />ridges. Orange County also contains significant areas of Appling-Helena [1] soils, in the <br />northwest corner of Cedar Grove Township, the southern section of Bingham Township and in <br />scattered pockets throughout the county. The Appling-Helena soil type contains layers of sandy <br />loam and sandy clay. It has good potential for woodland, hay and pasture cover, less for <br />tobacco, row crops, and truck crops (vegetables.) <br />Agricultural Production & Impact to Local Economy <br />For the most part, Orange County's agricultural <br />legacy is one of small- to medium-size family <br />farms, where farmers raised livestock and grew <br />grains and vegetables for their own use. Flue- <br />cured bright leaf tobacco became the primary <br />crop in the late nineteenth century, particularly <br />for the northern part of the county, and it <br />remained the staple commodity until the federal <br />tobacco buy-out program a few years ago.' <br />Approximately 15 farmers still grow tobacco, <br />primarily in northern Orange County. Sorghum <br />was raised and processed in the Carr <br />community, in the extreme northwest part of <br />Cedar Grove Township during the turn of the <br />twentieth century. Poultry production was another major source of farm <br />1920s to 1950s period, particularly after World War II. Local farmers als <br />dairy operations during the 1920s to 1950s, and by the 1980s, Grade A <br />tobacco as a source of farm income. <br />income during the <br />o began to invest in <br />milk had surpassed <br />Revenues from almost all of the commodities that traditionally formed the basis of the local <br />agricultural economy such as tobacco, grains, dairy and beef cattle are on the decline. But <br />revenues from specialized sectors such as commercial horticulture, fruits and vegetables <br />(including organics), and equestrian activities are increasing. Other sources of future farm <br />income will likely come from timber harvesting, forestry, and from the conversion of former <br />dairy and tobacco operations to feed-based hay production. The transition from traditional <br />commodity operations to more diverse organic and small-scale sustainable farming is occurring <br />nationwide. <br />The following table shows this transition, particularly the shifts in gross value within five <br />categories highlighted in light green: milk and dairy, tobacco, fruits and vegetables, greenhouse <br />and nursery, and horses. It is always difficult to get an exact profile of agricultural activity from <br />census information. Farmers often have to estimate their production quantity and census <br />The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 ended the Depression-era tobacco quota program <br />and established the Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP) also called the "tobacco buy-out." <br />Draft 6/1/2009 Overview ofAgricultural Activity 9 <br />