Agriculture & Natural Resources / Amherst County, Virginia

You are here: Home•Departments•Virginia Cooperative Extension•Agriculture & Natural Resources

Whether you're a farmer who has crops and livestock or a homeowner caring for a lawn and/or a vegetable garden, Extension has information for you. Our soil testing service will help you to select the proper nutrients and quantities to provide for your growing crops in the field or at home. We can identify weed, disease and insect problems and provide an accurate control recommendation. Assistance is available through individual contact, group meetings, telephone contact, videos and publications.

Agriculture and Forestry Demographics:

Number of Farms	424
Average Farm Size	209 acres
Land in Farms	88,430 acres
Percent of Land in Farmland	29%
Average Value of Land and Buildings	$638,897 per farm
Average Production Expenditure per Farm	$22,344

Cash Receipts of Crops	$1.36 million
Cash Receipts of Livestock	$6.29 million
Total Cash Farm Receipts	$7.65 million

Cattle and Calves	15,754 head
Horses and Ponies	1500 head
Apples and Peaches	253 acres
Grapes	51 acres

Annual Expenditures for Equine	$5.46 million
Total Value of Equine	$11.67 million

Value of Standing Timber Sales	$3.53 million
Forest Land Acreage	221,538

Land in Conservation Easement	4,735 acres
Public Land in Conservation Easement

Sources:

· 2007 NASS Census of Agriculture

· 2006 Virginia Equine Survey Report

· 2008 Virginia Department of Forestry

· Virginia Outdoors Foundation

Economic Impact of Agriculture and Forestry

	Employment	Output/Sales($=2006)
Direct	1,156	$243,421,672
Indirect	252	$25,234,621
Induced	172	$15,038,644
Total	1,580	$283,694.937

Source: University of Virginia - Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service

According to "Cost of Community Services" studies conducted over 15 years show agriculture and forestry lands generate more public revenue than they receive back in public services.

The summary of "Cost of Community Services" studies for 95 US communities indicates the median cost -- per dollar of revenue raised -- to provide public services to different land uses:
Commercial/Industrial	Agriculture/Forestry	Residential
$0.27	$0.36	$1.16

Source: American Farmland Trust / Farmland Information Center

Statements:

Agriculture and forestry is one of Amherst County's largest industries.

Nearly all of Amherst's farms are family owned and operated.

Every $1 landowners receive for timber generates $41.82 of value-added to Virginia's economy.

In this Department

More Information

Locations

Contact Us

100 Goodwin St
P.O. Box 580, Amherst, VA 24521
Get Directions

Phone: (434) 946-9365
Fax: (434) 946-9404
Staff Directory
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM