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SANFORD — The latest recruitment of state-of-the-art industries to Lee County have been profitable and introduced thousands and thousands of {dollars} to the native economic system.
But residents want to concentrate on one other career that has supplied for them and introduced cash into the neighborhood, too.
“Lee County is still a rural county, still mostly agricultural with almost 100 farms,” mentioned Dr. Sandy Stewart, assistant commissioner of Agricultural Services at the N.C. Department of Agriculture.
Stewart was the keynote speaker at the Monday breakfast at the McSwain Extension Center formally launching Lee County Ag Week 2022: Farm Forward.
Members of the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, county commissioners, agricultural producers and extra had been available for the occasion.
People are likely to overlook the significance of farming and the important function it performs, not simply in the neighborhood, however on this planet, in keeping with Stewart.
Not solely do farmers feed native residents, however they supply assets that assist feed thousands and thousands of individuals.
In truth, mentioned Stewart, who grew up on a farm in Moore County, the meals from one U.S. farm feeds 140-plus individuals around the globe.
In Lee County, leaders have efficiently recruited a wide range of industries, however have tried to take care of the stability between the fields and state-of-the-art technological operations.
“At no time in my career has it been so important to understand agriculture,” Stewart mentioned.
Farming was a household custom in rural areas, however fewer younger persons are taking that route at the moment.
Without farmers, Stewart mentioned, individuals will go hungry. The agriculture business has been hampered in previous years by local weather change, new developments and supply-chain shortages.
Farmers and their merchandise proceed to be wanted, in keeping with Stewart.
“I’m glad to see a celebration of agriculture here,” he mentioned.
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