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North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services The N.C. Department of Agriculture ancf.e- Consumer Services has been able to maintain an ever - increasing level of services over the past twenty years. New statutory and regulatory mandates have been placed on programs for public safety and protection. The agricultural economy has grown from an estimated $15 billion to $59 billion per year, as new and different farming systems have evolved. Our rapidly developing state has grown from. a population of almost 5 million to more than 8 million. However, the funding for NCDA &CS programs has . not. kept pace with the growth of the state or with other state programs these past two decades. With the current budget being less than % of 1 percent of the state's total budget, the department is compromised in its ability to provide safe, healthy food and drugs, crop testing, animal disease and plant pest monitoring for the agricultural community and many other programs currently in place. These programs bring tremendous financial returns to North Carolina. Agriculture is North Carolina's number one industry, generating $7.4 billion in cash receipts to our farmers. Agribusiness employees nearly 20 percent of the workforce and provides a significant tax base for local towns and counties as well as the state. Agricultural - related industries and services, such as processing facilities and sales of- equipment and supplies, .provide $59 billion annually to the state's economy. Beyond the economic impact of farming and agribusiness, agriculture also provides consumers a safe and healthy food and drug supply. Consumers on local as well as international levels .enjoy the comforts of clothing, furniture, shelter and other products derived from the fiber and forestry resources produced and processed in North Carolina. This is made possible through the work of NCDA &CS inspectors and graders.