Adjustments in Upper East Tennessee agriculture, 1978 to 1982

This study was undertaken to document the agricultural char-acteristics of the Upper East Tennessee Area. The objective of the study was to identify the changes that occurred in the agriculture of the area between 1978 and 1982. By so doing, information was revealed on what resources were adjusted in preference to others. Changes occurred in many aspects of the area's agriculture. The number of farms increased and so did acreage of land in farms. However, the average size of farm and acreage of total cropland decreased. Both the value of land and buildings and the value of all machinery and equipment on per farm basis declined. Farmers in the area engaged in the production of diverse crops during the period. Acrewise, corn was the most important crop pro-duced. Acres of land devoted to corn during the period increased by 25 percent. Tobacco was next in importance to corn. While acres of tobacco did not increase substantially, tobacco yields increased by 28 percent. Overall, crops including nursery and greenhouse products generated about $79.3 million in 1978 and $96.4 million in 1982. Livestock production showed substantial strength during this period. Except for hog and pigs and poultry, higher inventories were reported for the other classes of livestock in 1982 than in 1978. During the same period sales from livestock and poultry and their products declined from $113.8 million to $110.2 million.