Farming/Foresty

North Carolina offers unique forestry and farming opportunities that will become even more important in future economies.

Farming
Within U.S. urban areas, there is a rising trend towards the purchase of fresh foods produced close to home. U.S. citizens will become more dependent on locally grown foods. As biofuels become accepted as an alternative fuel source for gasoline and heating, countries will compete for grain products. To meet the demands of a changing market, North Carolina’s farms must have the ability to be flexible, year to year. For our future requirements, we need to support our local farmers now.

Forestry
The Southeast provides the most hardwood tree products in the U. S. Global hardwood tree production and increased demand for hardwoods, along with the unmanaged international practices of cutting tropical hardwoods, will make the oak and hickory forests of the southeastern U.S. among the most important hardwood resources in the world.