7
of farm enterprises.
Table 2. Distribution of Enterprise Systems in
Suwannee County, 1982.
System type Percentage of Farms
tobacco only -7.
tobacco/other 14.0
cattle only 20.2
corn/hog 5.9
corn only 16.9
hog/other 26.8
misc. other 11.2
Source: Suwannee County Extension Service and Chamber of Commerce survey, 1982.
Relation to Larger Economic Sector
In 1978, agriculture remained the number one revenue producing sector in Suwannee. Government ranked first in Columbia with 30.3% of the total revenue. These figures obscure the true economic importance of agriculture because they do not measure importance of agriculture to the other industries.
Besides supplying town labor, farm households are sources
of seasonal employment to youth, elderly and those town laborers who cannot find full-time employment. Working on a farm teaches useful agricultural and mechanical skills which are not likely to be obtained in traditional academic educational settings.
These observations further do not measure other exchanges of great economic value. These include social support such as health care and provisioning, gardening, exchange of produce, reciprocal labor and equipment exchanges, land sharing, kin credit loans, and unreported income from roadside sales, to name the most important ones. -'These activities take place to some degree on virtually every farmstead in the region.
Zf political statements are a valid basis for assessing farming's importance to an economy, then the 1982 election rhetoric indicates that farm households in the region are its lifebloodd" Farmers commonly win election to county commission and school board seats, and their interests importantly guide development policy.
In conclusion, agriculture continues to have a major social and economic influence on the region. Many activities of importance to the local community, such as the county fairs, the 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs, church gatherings and family get-togethers, have agricultural bases. Many rural industries depend upon a farmer clientele. Extended families in the rural areas support each other with aid, food exchanges and care when someone is ill. These observations justify research and extension activities oriented towards farmers in the region.