ALABAMA AGRICULTURE SINCE 1950: DECLINE AND CHANGE

Highlights of Alabama Agriculture Since 1950 Total number of farms has decreased Average farm size has increased The few remaining row-crop farms are viable Originally, Alabama farmland was both A. Row crop land B. Mixture of pasture and light forest cover The pasture and light forest cover was converted to pure forest without pasture The total forest land grew because of the conversion Farms that could not raise row crops converted to chickens, catfish, and other alternatives

Number of Farms and Land In Farms (in acres, all numbers x 1000 ) USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS), "Farm Real Estate Historical Series Data, ", Statistical Bulletin No. 855 YearNumber of FarmsLand in Farms

Ag and Forest Land Use (in acres, all numbers x 1000) USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS), "Major Land Uses ", Stock No A.B.C.D.E. YearTotalCropTotalForestWoodland OnlyLandForestUse,as Pasture Not Grazed

Why Row Crop Agriculture Has Declined Crops can grow in Alabama but they cannot compete with other areas of the country Climate too severe and unpredictable Late, early, unpredictable frosts Severe storms Occasional droughts Soil is poor, except for a few good areas in the Black Belt and by Huntsville Still, some alternatives have opened up

Climatic Variability: Last Frost The next slide is a map showing the average date of last frost in various places in Alabama. There is almost three months difference between the north and south of the state. Because of this difference across the state, each point in the state varies considerably in the date of last frost. In Alabama, crops have to be planted later than people think, and the growing period is shorter than people think. This makes Alabama farmers less able to compete.

Alabama Has Poor Average Yields The next two slides compare Alabama yields of bushels of corn per acre, and pounds per milk of cow, with three other states, for two periods: 1960 and Alabama improved its yields, especially with milk, but it has not been able to match production in other states regardless of how much effort has gone into research and extension. Notice how production in other states has held more steady. Much of the apparent improvement in Alabama actually came about because poor producers dropped out rather than because all producers improved.

Average Bushels of Corn per Acre State/Year: Alabama2665 Indiana68146 Iowa64144 Oregon69180

Average Pounds of Milk per Cow State/Year: Alabama Indiana Minnesota Oregon