Agriculture: A Driving Force in Washington County's Economy

SPECIFIC ECONOMIC IMPACT - In Washington County Agriculture contributes $385.7 million in output. Agriculture employs over 5,700 people in Washington County…in Washington County Agriculture & Natural Resources are #2 generator of economic output (Chemical & Petroleum $652.9) – of which farmers consume a large amount of in the forms of fuel & fertilizer

Land Use - 96.6% of the land is in agriculture and natural resources. 3.4% is urban, barren and open water. Agricultural land generates revenue and saves the county money

Cost of community services per tax dollar received in Ohio counties: $0.30 – Farmland, $0.34 – Commercial, $1.20 – Residential

GENERAL ECONOMIC IMPACT - New development patterns, economic cost, subdivisions require more in public services than they generate in taxes. Agriculture not only generates more in taxes than it is provided in services but it is the foundation of our local economy and has the potential to grow and create new jobs.

Top Commodities - Dairy Products, Cattle & Calves, ‘Other Crops’ is our top crop, Horticulture, greenhouse, vegetables, etc.

Processing - Broughtons Foods, Blaney Hardwods of Ohio, Hassley Hardwood Lumber Company, Cappy’s Donuts, Pine Ridge Meat Processing, Mullinex Meat Processing, Riverview Meat Processing

Supporting/Dependent Businesses - Green Valley Cooperative, Seaman’s General Mdse., Beverly Feed & Equipment, Apex True Value, Tractor Supply Company, Mac’s Farm Equipment, William Ford Trucking, Barth Trucking, Wash. Co. Farmers Mutual Insurance, Farm Credit Services, Skinner Firestone/Hocking Tire, Bumper to Bumper/Napa, Lang Outdoor Power Equipment

RETAIL SALES TAX – L.E. Huck & Sons Market & Greenhouse, Hensler’s Town & County, Witten Farm Market & Greenhouse, Sweetapple Farm Market, Sparling Greenhouses, Dixon Buffalo Farm, Sunny Hill Greenhouses, Bob’s Farm Market & Greenhouses, Stahl’s Nursery, Greenleaf Landscapes, Thomson’s Landscaping, Red Barn Farm Market, Morgenstern’s Greenhouse & Nursery, Kern’s Greenhouse

Agriculture brings in state and federal dollars through supporting agencies including OSU Extension, the Washington Soil & Water Conservation District, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources.

Helping with…Productivity, Profitability, New Enterprises, Research & Development, Education, Recertification, Conservation

Providing for the present…Farmland preservation, FFA/4-H, www.yourfarms.com, Research, Education, Conservation

In addition - the federal government supported Washington County with $1.84 million in conservation payments, agriculture subsidies (breakeven prices) and crop disaster assistance.

One Ohio farmer produces enough food to feed 129 people…101 in the United States and 28 others around the world

HISTORIC - Home to the 1st Ag Cooperative in the United States – Marietta Truck Growers, Leading Grape Area in US in 1800’s, Large Poultry Industry in early 1900’s…changes with the times, continues to provide for our county

The future is here…Biofuels (Ethanol, SoyDiesel, etc.), Bio-engineered crops, Bio-based industrial materials, Local foods…

Farmers are instruments of public health - Agriculture is medicine…Staggering Health Care costs, preservatives and other methods of our food system are linked to disease. The public wants to know where their food comes from. Local, fresh foods provide the opportunity to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Quality of life - Few things better define Washington County’s quality of life and character than its working farms, open spaces and abundant wildlife. Perhaps no other things can. 61.5% of our population lives outside of town. Townships are gaining population because of quality of life issues. Non-farm newcomers can be a great threat, but they also can be customers…

Information gathered from the OH Food model, Agricultural Economics; US Department of Agriculture; and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Compiled by Eric Barrett, Extension Educator and County Director, Washington County.

http://washington.osu.edu