Agriculture in North Carolina

An often overlooked aspect of the Southern rural economy is the role of government subsidies in farming. This week the News and Observer reports on the Congressional Committee on Agriculture’s public hearings in North Carolina. North Carolina farmers came out to voice their concerns regarding government assistance.

Growers of traditional crops such as cotton, corn and soybeans said they cannot stay in business if the government cuts payments that make up for low market prices. They pointed out that farm money makes up less than 1 percent of the national budget.

"Without a strong farm program, our rural economy and the backbone of our nation will suffer," said Bo Stone, a soybean, corn and livestock producer from Rowland.

With the growing federal deficit and the Bush administration’s new budget, farmers want to guarantee government support for their way of life. With the decline of tobacco, new crops are becoming more important to the agricultural economy of North Carolina.

From grape growers to watermelon farmers, most said that the government should fund new research into specialty crops and provide insurance to growers of those crops.

Government support for new crops and agricultural practices is important for all farmers, especially those in the South. As rural areas become increasingly impoverished, investment in the agrarian economy is vital to the health and success of the South’s suffering regions.