Madison County is among the top 7.5 percent of livestock and poultry producing counties in the United States.
According to the recently released 2007 Census of Agriculture, Madison County ranks 12th out of 159 counties in Georgia in livestock and poultry production and 234th out of 3,079 counties in the country (among the top 7.5 percent).
Here is a further breakdown of livestock inventory in Madison County:
•Broilers and other meat-type chickens: 8th in the state; 51st in the U.S.
•Pullets for laying flock replacement: 5th in state and 49th in the U.S.; layers: 13th in state; 204th in U.S.
•Cattle and calves: 9th in the state; 1,423 in the U.S.
•Goats: 10th in the state; 528th in the U.S.
OTHER NOTABLE FARM STATS
Other notable farm states in the 2007 ag census included:
•Number of farms in Madison County: 771 (2007); 763 (2002).
•Land in farms: 76,499 acres (2007); 76,458 acres (2002).
•Average size of farm: 99 acres (2007); 100 acres (2002).
•Market value of production: $140,876,000 (2007); $123,053,000 (2002); + 14 percent.
•Average per farm: $182,719 (2007); $161,275 (2002); + 13 percent.
•Government payments: $289,000 (2007); $487,000 (2002); - 41 percent.
•Average government payment per farm: $2,276 (2007); $2,020 (2002); + 13 percent.
•Land in farms (by type): 33.09 percent cropland, 32.3 percent pasture, 26.8 percent woodland, 7.76 percent other uses.
•Forage-land used for all hay and haylage, grass silage and greenchop: 8th in the state; 1,497 in the U.S.
•Total value of agricultural products sold: 15th in state out of 159 counties; 588 in the U.S. out of 3,079 counties.
•Value of crops including nursery and greenhouse: 107th out of state; 2,669 in U.S.
•Net cash farm income of operation — average per farm: $33,544.
•Principal operators by primary occupation: farming, 298; other, 473.
•Principal operators by sex: 649 male, 122 female.
•Average age of principal operator: 57.2.
•All operators by race: American Indian or Alaska native, 5; Asian, 4; black or African American, 8; native Hawaiin or other pacific islander, 3; white, 1,092; more than one race, 17. All operators of Spanish, Hispanic or Latino origin, 4.
To the full-time farmers in this county, thank-you, but the majority are part-timers. The majority are not paying their fair share of the tax bill.
Sorry, but it's true.
Tell me why over 2000 parcels are in the conservation program which accounts for about $12 million dollars which are discounted?
Too many farmers are doing this business PART time not full time and getting the same benefits.
Be THANKFUL you have something to eat and quit complaining !!!!!!!!
If it was not for the FARMERS you would be hungry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if you don't like the country life the same road that brought you here can take your grumpy #$% back to the CITY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And regardless whether it is part time or full time it still gets the food on the table. So the next time you sit down at the table to eat just remember where that food comes from and it is not the dang grocery store !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!