Agriculture in Bedford County
Agriculture and Forestry is by far the largest land use in the County. It is also a powerful economic engine, $26,470,000 annually in farm sales alone. According to a recently completed study by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, the total economic impact of agriculture and forestry in Bedford (includes secondary multiplier effects) was $60,800,000 and the combined industries accounted for 1,547 jobs.
| Commodity | Value (2017) |
|---|---|
| Cattle and Calves | $14,536,000 |
| Milk | $2,663,000 |
| Other crops and Hay | $3,862,000 |
| Fruits/Berries | $704,000 |
| Nursery/Greenhouse | $1,330,000 |
| Grains (Corn, Wheat) | $1,806,000 |
| Vegetables | $173,000 |
| Horses/Ponies | $403,000 |
| Christmas Trees | $25,000 |
| Sheep and lambs | $140,000 |
| Goats | $79,000 |
| **Bedford ranks 38th among Virginia counties in cash receipts from agricultural product sales | |
| Value of agricultural products sold direct to individuals for human consumption | |
|---|---|
| 2007 | $565,000 |
| 2012 | $453,000 |
| 2017 | $1,210,000 |
| Total Land Area | Land in Farms | % Land Area in Farms |
|---|---|---|
| 486,329 acres | 211,534 acres | 43.4 |
| Average farm Size | 149 acres | |
| Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture, 2017 | ||
| State Rankings of Bedford Agriculture (among Virginia Counties) | |
|---|---|
| All Cattle and Calves (48,235 head) | #6 |
| Beef Cows (25,110 head) | #3 |
| Milk Cows (782 head) | #21 |
| Hay (41,910 acres) | #2 |
| Horses (1,933 head) | #7 |
| Goats (1,479 head) | #5 |
| Orchards (221 acres) | #17 |
| Grapes (70 acres) | #15 |
| Sources: U.S. Census of Agriculture, 2017 | Virginia Agricultural Statistics Bulletin, | |
Forestry
The forest industry in Bedford County generates approximately $18.1 million in economic activity (Source: The Economic Impact of Virginia’s Agriculture and Forest Industries, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, 2017)
| Bedford Businesses dependent on agriculture: |
|---|
| Farm Bureau |
| Bedford Southern States Cooperative |
| Bedford-Augusta Cooperative |
| Moneta Farm and Home Center |
| Tractor Supply Company |
| Royal Oak Farm |
| Boone Tractor |
| Powers Tractor and Equipment |
| Robertson Equipment |
| New London Tractor and Implement |
| Springlake Livestock Market |
| Farm Credit of the Virginias |
| Aylor’s Farm Store |
| Eco-Friendly Foods – meat processing facility |
| Farm Building/Fencing Contractors |
| Bedford Animal Hospital |
| Lil Doc’s Veterinary Service |
| Equine Veterinarians |
Agriculture pays its way – a Cost of Community Services study documents that residential development does not pay its way, but agriculture does.
| Cost of Community Services Study – Bedford County FY 2004 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | Commercial/Industrial | Agricultural | |
| Land use ratio* | 1.07 | 0.40 | 0.25 |
| *Cost for each $1 of revenue generated | |||
| Estimated Market Value of Land and Buildings, Dollars/Acre, Bedford | |
|---|---|
| 1987 | $1,007.00 |
| 1992 | $1,206.00 |
| 1997 | $1,943.00 |
| 2002 | $2,920.00 |
| 2007 | $4,727.00 |
| 2012 | $4,430.00 |
| 2017 | $4,399.00 |
| Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture | |
Farmer Characteristics
| 2007 | 2012 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Farms, total | 1,428 | 1,369 | |
| Farmer age group | |||
| Under 25 years | 10 | 3 | 40 |
| 25-34 years | 34 | 35 | 165 |
| 35-44 | 166 | 102 | 193 |
| 45-54 | 352 | 304 | 373 |
| 55-54 | 352 | 385 | 679 |
| 65+ | 515 | 540 | 809 |
| Average Age | 59 | 59 | |
| Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture | |||