Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
4 . ) Agricultural Economic Impact Analysis <br /> Purpose <br /> Agriculture in the TJCOG region is undergoing enormous change . This change is being <br /> driven by many factors , including depressed commodity markets , environmental factors <br /> such as drought , changing agricultural market structures, increasing government <br /> regulation , labor shortages , competing/conflicting land uses , and increasing land values . <br /> These factors affect farmers and their support industries as well as the communities in <br /> which they exist . <br /> Many communities in the Southeast have chosen to study and seek solutions to problems <br /> within the agricultural community on an issue by issue basis , beginning with farmland <br /> preservation . These studies fail to generate a comprehensive understanding of local and <br /> regional agricultural economic health, and frequently miss opportunities to preserve <br /> agriculture through profitability and the - enhancement of economic health . In other words , <br /> they fail to turn the challenges of agriculture into opportunities for growth , advancement <br /> and economic stability . <br /> By engaging in the proposed agricultural economic impact study ( ies ) , the TJCOG region <br /> will be strategically positioned to capitalize on its absolute and relative strengths in <br /> agriculture and related industries . The benefits of this approach will accrue not only to <br /> the region ' s farms and agribusinesses , but to the overall community as well . <br /> Methodology <br /> The analysis will include two components : a market analysis and a SWOT analysis . They <br /> are described below : <br /> Market Analysis : Empirical data from available county , state , and federal sources , <br /> including the U . S . Census of Agriculture , United States Department of Agriculture <br /> (USDA) reports ( Market order reports ) , North Carolina Department of Agriculture <br /> markets reports , U . S . Economic Census , Regional Economic Information System , and <br /> County Business patterns will be used to classify and assess agricultural and related <br /> industry segments of the economy . Where applicable , ACDS will develop trend line <br /> information over a twenty- five year time frame . <br /> In addition , ACDS will utilize the IMPLAN model (Input- Output Analysis ) to benchmark <br /> the agricultural sector against other industry segments in the local economy . LMPLAN <br /> will also yield output , employment , and value - added multipliers for the county ( ies ) <br /> allowing ACDS to estimate the economy-wide impact of agriculture and related <br /> industries . <br /> Anecdotal information gathered from interviews with agricultural industry leaders will be <br /> used to supplement this analysis and provide a basis for predicting trends within <br /> individual industry segments . ACDS will work with state and local economic <br /> developers , the IDA , the Chamber of Commerce , Soil Conservation District , and others <br /> 4 <br />