AG 2012 02 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

In 2002, 60% of Cabarrus County farmers considered farming to be their principal occupation, an increase of 21% from 1997. Approximately 50% of farmers currently work full -time on the farm. However, many farm families now depend greatly on off -farm employment, presumably to offset the low profitability of agriculture. D. Farm Land Use Trends According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, Cabarrus County had 73,346 acres in farms, representing 31 % of the total county land base. These lands included 26,943 acres of harvested cropland, 20,000 acres of pastureland, 25,471 acres of forestland, and 932.1 acres of land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program. 12 In the 1992 Census, the county had 63,067 acres in farms or 27% of the land base, an increase of 4% over the ten (10) year period between surveys. 13 E. Agricultural Soils Soils in Cabarrus County are for the most part well suited to agricultural uses. Altogether about 80 % of active and inactive farmland in the county are Class I, II, or III soils (Soil Survey of Cabarrus County, MRCS, 1988) These classes define the suitability of various soils for agricultural uses, based on limitations of the soils, range of usefulness for agriculture, the risk of environmental damage such as erosion when they are used for agriculture, and how easily their limitations can be overcome by remedial measures. Class I soils are soils that generally have few limitations, support the widest range of uses, and carry the least risk of environmental damage. Class 11 soils have some limitations that reduce the range of potential crops or require moderate conservation practices. Class III soils have greater limitations on range of potential crops, require special conservation measures, or both. According to the Soil Survey, the following associations predominate in the agricultural areas of the county: 14 Enon - Mecklenburg- Poindexter, Badin- Tatum- Georgeville (see attached) Class I and II soils are considered to be "prime" agricultural soils — those soils whose characteristics make them most suited to agricultural uses. Approximately 11,000 acres, or 15 % of active and inactive agricultural lands in the county are on prime agricultural soils. The largest concentration of these soils is located in #6 Township. There are also significant concentrations of these soils in #7, #8 and #9 Townships. ARTICLE IV: CHALLENGES TO AGRICULTURE IN CABARRUS COUNTY Surveys of Cabarrus County farmers and other owners of farmland identified some of the strengths of county agriculture as well as its challenges. 15 While the agricultural industry remains an important part of Cabarrus County's economy, both farmers and farmland Attachment number 1 G -1 Page 202