AGRI-INDUSTRY AND
FOOD PROCESSING ASSETS
Not only is agriculture a basic component of the history
of NC’s Southeast
Region, it is still a dominant industry
today. But today, it is the basis of a
vertically Integrated sector that starts with crops and animals
and moves up
the food chain to include the production
of chemical ingredients, fertilizers,
processed foods and
biofuels. And because of the nearby Port of Wilmington,
it is also a significant generator of exports for the State
and US.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
North Carolina is a leader in agricultural production,
ranking #1 in the
nation for production of sweet
potatoes and tobacco, and #2 in Christmas
trees, hogs,
and turkeys. And NC’s Southeast Region is a major reason for
our state’s leadership position.
NC Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services - Regional Facilities
Because the Region is such a large contributor to the
agricultural
production of the State, the NCDA
(www.agr.state.nc.us) operates several
research and
other support facilities in the area.
• Border Belt Tobacco Research Station, (Whiteville)
—102 acre
research farm focused on genetic studies
on corn, soybeans, tobacco,
and peanuts.
• Horticultural Crops Research Stations, (Castle Hayne
and Clinton)—66 acres and 349 acres respectively,
research farms with facilities
that include
laboratories, offices, computerized greenhouses and
environmental control chambers, two cold storage
facilities, and new state of the art chemical storage
and chemical mixing rooms.
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