Agriculture & Farming in North Carolina

Farms, farmland, crop and livestock output and agricultural exports.

Real GDP, agriculture, forestry & fishing
$3,935,000,000
2025 · BEA
Number of farms
41,300
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Soybean production value
$620,172,000
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Total agricultural exports
$4,454,264,400
2024 · USDA Economic Research Service
Certified and exempt organic sales
$264,024,000
2022 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Farm Cash Receipts

Real GDP, agriculture, forestry & fishing
$3,935,000,000
2025 · BEA
Farm proprietors' income
$2,127,000,000
2025 · BEA state personal income

Real GDP, agriculture, forestry & fishing

1997–2025
$3,935,000,000▼ 10%

BEA, chained 2017 dollars (FRED NCAGRRGSP).

Farm proprietors' income

1970–2025
$2,127,000,000▲ 301%

BEA state personal income, annual average of quarterly rates (FRED NCOFAR).

Farms & Farmland

Number of farms
41,300
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Land in farms
8,000,000
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Average farm size
194
2025 · Land in farms divided by number of farms

Number of farms

1993–2025
41,300▼ 31%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Farms and Land in Farms survey (QuickStats).

Land in farms

1993–2025
8,000,000▼ 17%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Farms and Land in Farms survey (QuickStats).

Average farm size

1993–2025
194▲ 21%

Land in farms divided by number of farms, USDA NASS survey.

Top Commodities

Soybean production value
$620,172,000
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Tobacco production value
$545,710,000
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Sweet potato production value
$391,824,000
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Milk production value
$179,960,000
2025 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
Cattle and calves inventory (January 1)
690,000
2026 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Soybean production value

1948–2025
$620,172,000▲ 7774%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, soybeans (QuickStats).

Tobacco production value

1866–2025
$545,710,000▲ 34703%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, tobacco (QuickStats).

Sweet potato production value

1868–2025
$391,824,000▲ 11908%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, sweet potatoes (QuickStats).

Milk production value

1983–2025
$179,960,000▼ 29%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Milk Production, Disposition and Income (QuickStats).

Cattle and calves inventory (January 1)

1867–2026
690,000▲ 15%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Cattle inventory survey (QuickStats).

Agricultural Exports

Total agricultural exports
$4,454,264,400
2024 · USDA Economic Research Service
Tobacco exports
$818,194,100
2024 · USDA Economic Research Service
Pork exports
$784,007,600
2024 · USDA Economic Research Service
Other plant products exports
$593,753,600
2024 · USDA Economic Research Service
Broiler meat exports
$563,361,000
2024 · USDA Economic Research Service

Total agricultural exports

2000–2024
$4,454,264,400▲ 35%

USDA Economic Research Service, State Exports, Cash Receipts Estimates (calendar year).

Tobacco exports

2000–2024
$818,194,100▼ 57%

USDA Economic Research Service, State Exports, Cash Receipts Estimates (calendar year).

Pork exports

2000–2024
$784,007,600▲ 310%

USDA Economic Research Service, State Exports, Cash Receipts Estimates (calendar year).

Other plant products exports

2000–2024
$593,753,600▲ 79%

USDA Economic Research Service, State Exports, Cash Receipts Estimates (calendar year).

Broiler meat exports

2000–2024
$563,361,000▲ 274%

USDA Economic Research Service, State Exports, Cash Receipts Estimates (calendar year).

Organic Agriculture

Certified and exempt organic sales
$264,024,000
2022 · USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Certified and exempt organic sales

2007–2022
$264,024,000▲ 3519%

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Census of Agriculture / Organic Survey (QuickStats).