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1 The number of local farms grew by 8% from 1997 to 2002. The average farm size dropped <br />2 from 156 to 113 acres, but this pattern is consistent with the emergence of smaller farms, <br />3 particularly horse farms, as well as goat and vegetable farms, including some organic farms. <br />4 These smaller operations use less land and can be a compatible neighbor to residential uses. <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 />Local farmers enjoy an advantage that is rarely available for those in more rural areas of North <br />Carolina; many Orange County residents, particularly those who live in the municipalities, desire <br />locally grown products and are willing to pay a more for them. Many of these same residents <br />are interested in the larger goals of regional food systems-limiting their food purchases to a <br />certain radius. Private gardens, community gardens and small to medium-sized farms can go a <br />long way toward achieving food security. But the enhanced qualify of life provided by farm <br />vistas will only survive into the next generation if the county is able to retain large areas of <br />contiguous working farmland. If Orange County is going to preserve its agricultural heritage it <br />must find the right combination of tools and programs to keep conventional (large acreage) <br />farms under cultivation, and to encourage smaller farms to work together to protect <br />communities of active farmland. <br /> 1992 2002 Difference <br />1 to 9 acres 27 50 +23 <br />10-49 acres 107 221 +i14 <br />50 to 179 acres 186 253 +67 <br />180 to 499 acres 85 76 -9 <br />500 to 999 acres 22 25 +3 <br />1,000 acres or more 6 2 -4 <br /> 433 627 +194 <br />As of 2008, the majority of producers in Orange County were still family-owned but in 1992, <br />only 224, roughly 52% of local farmers considered farming to be their principal occupation. <br />That figure increased to 356 or roughly 57% by 2002. Despite the increase of 5%, many farm <br />families still depend on off-farm employment to offset the low profitability of agriculture and to <br />provide benefits such as health insurance and retirement pensions. The 2002 USDA Census of <br />Agriculture reported that 84% of Orange County's 627 farms were owned by individuals or <br />families. Fifteen of these farms were listed in the North Carolina Century Farm program, a <br />special program for families who have owned and maintained an active farm for more than 100 <br />years.8 Partnerships and family corporations account for 14% of the remaining farms per the <br />2002 Census. <br />$ The Orange County farmers include: Elbert H. Allison; N. K. Andrews; Elizabeth N, Blalock, Thomas N. <br />Btalock, James M. Blalock; J. Fred Bowman, Betty Bowman; Jane M. Branscome, L. M. Merritt, E. <br />Mangum; Flora Dick Dellinger, Edna Dellinger, Cothran Dellinger, Gene Dellinger; Estelle Haley, Frances <br />Drati~ 6/1/2009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 12 <br />