Agenda - 02-02-1999 - 10e - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1998 Agricultural Survey Orange County, North Carolina Sponsored by: Orange County Agricultural Districts Advisory Board & Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Staff: Don Belk, Preservation Planner Sarah Magruder, Graduate Intern Executive Summary The total number of survey responses received was 165 from a sample size of 535, a response rate of 30.8%. The first section of the survey related to Finding an Adequate Labor Supply. Results from the initial tabulations show that more people employed on agriculture operations in Orange County are from outside the household than within the family unit. Fifty percent (50%) of survey respondents report having difficulty hiring outside the family. The inability to offer a competitive wage was the reason most cited. The second section addressed Environmental Regulations. A majority of farmers noted an increase in the environmental regulations that affect their operation over the last 10 years. A majority of respondents cited County watershed regulations as having the most significant impact on their operation. As related to Taxes, most respondents (79%) are taxed at agricultural use value. Under Profrtability, 20% of the respondents reported an operation that did not make a profit. Chemical and fertilizer costs are the largest of several factors limiting the profits of farmers. In the section Changes in Land Use, two-thirds (67%) of respondents noted changes in the land bordering their property, with most citing residential development as the new use. Forty-nine percent (49%) felt development has adversely affected their operations, while 42% said development activity near their farm has had no effect on operations. Farmers were asked about a number of Operational Hindrances. A majority of farmers cited crop loss from wildlife as the major operational hindrance they face. Over three-fourths (76%) of respondents agreed that operational hindrances are worse now than a decade ago. A quarter of respondents stated they get complaints from their non-farming neighbors, primarily related to odors. Section G of the survey addressed History and Future of the agricultural operation. Orange County farming families have operated their farms an average of 54 years, and only 8% stated they had no future plans of continuing their operations. Most (60%) respondents hope to continue their operation within the family, and most (59%) reported their interest in agriculture as increasing or remaining the same. When asked what would most influence their decisions to discontinue farming, 70% of respondents stated that more restrictive planning and zoning regulations would be the deciding factor. The single largest factor influencing a decision to 1998 Orange County Agricultural Survey