Agriculture
In 2017, Mitchell County had 250 farms occupying 19,322 acres (10.4%) of the County’s land area. Mitchell County was also the 6th largest producer of cut Christmas trees out of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Source: USDA Census of Agriculture, 2012
140,000
% of acres that make up Mitchell County
Average elevation is
3,000 feet
and ranges from 1,700-6,313 feet above sea level.
The Christmas tree industry began in Mitchell County during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. There has been continual growth in Christmas tree production throughout the past 40 years. Following the 1995 harvest season, Christmas trees became the number one cash crop in Mitchell County, replacing Burley tobacco. Currently, there are over 200 producers growing Christmas trees on over 1300 acres of land. Farm size ranges from less than one acre to over 100 acres. Presently, the industry is approaching 6.1 million dollars in sales, plus the ripple effect of employment and money spent within the county.
Other commodities of importance include Burley tobacco, landscape ornamentals, beef cattle, hay, apples, trout, and medicinal herbs. For more information on the number of farms, acres, or production figures, the NCDA and CS has 2010 census information available for North Carolina Counties on their website at http://www.agr.state.nc.us/stats
| Mitchell County Agricultural Profile, source: USDA Census of Agriculture | 2017 |
| Number of Farms | 250 |
| Land in Farms | 14,802 acres |
| Average Size of Farm | 59 acres |
| Market Value of Products Sold | $2,351,000 |
| Average Per Farm | $9,402 |
| MARKET VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SOLD ($1,000) | |
| Total value of agricultural products sold | $2,351 |
| Value of crops including nursery and greenhouse | $1,759 |
| Value of livestock, poultry, and their products | $591 |
| VALUE OF SALES BY COMMODITY GROUP ($1,000) | |
| Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas | 36 |
| Tobacco | 42 |
| Cotton and cottonseed | – |
| Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes | 148 |
| Fruits, tree nuts, and berries | 242 |
| Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod | 391 |
| Cut Christmas trees and short rotation woody crops | 862 |
| Other crops and hay | 280 |
| Poultry and eggs | 5 |
| Cattle and calves | 400 |
| Milk from cows | (D) |
| Hogs and pigs | (D) |
| Sheep, goats, wool, mohair, and milk | 50 |
| Horses, ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys | 8 |
| Aquaculture | – |
| Other animals and other animal products | 4 |
| TOP CROP ITEMS (acres) | |
| Forage-land used for all hay and haylage, grass silage, and greenchop | 1,773 |
| Forage-land used for all hay and haylage, grass silage, and greenchop | 1,011 |
| Nursery stock crops | 121 |
| Apples | 55 |
| Vegetables harvested, all | 52 |
| TOP LIVESTOCK INVENTORY ITEMS (number) | |
| Cattle and calves | 1,615 |
| Layers | 559 |
| Goats, all | 357 |
| Horses and ponies | 252 |
| Broilers and other meat-type chickens | 156 |
