Georgia Farms and Ranches: Agriculture History, How Farms Make Money and Strategy
Guide updated November 2026
Georgia farms operated 39,264 farms on 9,939,313 acres in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, with an average size of 253 acres. Market value of products sold reached about $13.2 billion in 2022, up from about $9.6 billion in 2017, and livestock and poultry (about $8.9 billion) outweighed crops (about $4.3 billion).
| Farms and land in farms | 39,264 farms and 9,939,313 acres (2022 Census of Agriculture) |
|---|---|
| Top commodities | Poultry and eggs, peanuts, cotton, pecans, peaches, onions, vegetables and blueberries |
| Market value of ag products sold | About $13.2 billion in 2022 (crops about $4.3 billion; livestock and poultry about $8.9 billion) |
| State agriculture department | Georgia Department of Agriculture |
| Land-grant extension | University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) |
| Farm Bureau | Georgia Farm Bureau |
Agriculture in Georgia: A Short History
Georgia agriculture has moved from cotton and tobacco to a diversified mix led by poultry, peanuts, pecans and fruit and vegetable specialties. Fort Valley and Peach County became a major peach hub in the late 1800s thanks to a mild climate and red clay soil, and the state's Centennial Farm program, begun in 1993, has recognized hundreds of farms that have operated for 100 years or more.
Between 2017 and 2022 the number of farms fell about 7.5 percent while land in farms stayed nearly flat, meaning remaining farms grew in size. Sales rose about 38 percent, with livestock sales growing faster than crop sales.
How Farms in Georgia Make Money
Commodity sales
Poultry and eggs are the largest sector, and livestock and poultry account for roughly two thirds of farm sales. Peanuts, cotton and pecans are the major row and tree crops, and the CAED Ag Snapshots from the University of Georgia are the best annual source of county and commodity data.
Value-added and direct sales
Packers and shippers such as Georgia's peach and Vidalia onion operations sell through branded programs, farm markets and online shops. Pearson Farm and Dickey Farms illustrate how baked goods, gifts and prepared foods raise revenue per pound of fruit.
Agritourism, leases and diversification
Lane Southern Orchards reports about 300,000 visitors a year. Pecans plus peaches, vegetables plus cattle, and multi-state production such as that of Southern Valley are common ways to spread risk.
Agriculture Strategy for Georgia Farms
Soils, water and climate
South Georgia's sandy soils and long growing season support vegetables, peanuts and cotton, while the red clay of the peach belt favors orchard crops. Irrigation, soil biology testing and cover crops are widely used; Southern Valley reports sap analysis and cover crops of millet, oats, radish and hemp.
Production and risk
Late spring freezes, hurricanes and heat are the main risks for fruit and nut growers. Staggered varieties, crop insurance and diversified calendars reduce exposure, and USDA farmers.gov lists risk management and conservation programs.
Technology and inputs
Data integration for planting, spraying and harvest and mechanized packing lines are expanding. Labor is a major cost, and Southern Valley reports labor at 45 percent of costs.
Farm Business Strategy in Georgia
Margins and markets
Growers capture margin through branding, regional names such as Vidalia and year-round supply programs. Imported complementary supply lets shippers serve retail customers outside the Georgia season.
Land, credit and succession
Family farms such as Pearson Farm have lasted six generations by planning succession early. Lenders including Farm Credit and USDA FSA offer operating and ownership loans, and the Centennial Farm program is a way to document a family's history.
Marketing and diversification
Farm markets, gifts and cause marketing build brand value. Producers should track UGA data and Georgia Department of Agriculture programs.
Farm Insight: Georgia Trends to Watch
Watch consolidation and labor costs. Fewer, larger farms are the trend in the 2022 Census, and labor costs drive acreage decisions.
Weather risk is rising for perennial crops. Diversify by variety, crop and geography.
Georgia grows peaches, pecans, peanuts and enough onions to make the whole state cry on schedule, which is why the farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes at farm.FM feel like home. A state with a peach on its license plate surely has room for a few more punchlines. We are happy to oblige between frost warnings.
Readers who want the full experience can pair the jokes with Tractor Tunes, the country music for farmers that farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, plays between stories. This author page is a fine starting point.
Elite Farms and Ranches in Georgia
These 5 operations are profiled in full, with history, how each makes money, lessons for other farms and published contact details.
Elite operations in Georgia
- Dickey FarmsElite operation. Musella, Georgia. Dickey Farms, Musella, Georgia: peach growers since 1897 with a 1936 packing house. History, what it raises, revenue streams, lessons and contact details.
- Lane Southern OrchardsElite operation. Fort Valley, Georgia. Lane Southern Orchards, Fort Valley, Georgia: largest peach grower in the state, 11,000 acres of peaches and pecans. History, revenue streams, lessons, contact.
- Pearson FarmElite operation. Fort Valley, Georgia. Pearson Farm, Fort Valley, Georgia: six-generation peach and pecan grower since 1885. History, what it raises, revenue streams, lessons and contact details.
- Shuman FarmsElite operation. Reidsville, Georgia. Shuman Farms, Reidsville, Georgia: one of North America's largest Vidalia sweet onion growers and year-round shipper. History, revenue streams, lessons, contact.
- Southern Valley Fruit and VegetableElite operation. Norman Park, Georgia. Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable, Norman Park, Georgia: family produce grower since 1987, 2025 Georgia Farmer of the Year Kent Hamilton. Profile and contact.
Who to Contact in Georgia: Agriculture Offices and Associations
- Georgia Department of Agriculture - State agency news on the Centennial Farm awards
- UGA CAED Ag Snapshots 2024 - University of Georgia agricultural economics data
- USDA NASS Georgia Census of Agriculture - Official 2022 state farm numbers
- Georgia Farm Bureau - Farm Bureau news on a Georgia Farmer of the Year
- Georgia Centennial Farms - State historic preservation program for century farms
- USDA Farmers.gov - Federal programs, loans and conservation
Georgia Farming FAQ
How many farms are in Georgia?
The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 39,264 farms on 9,939,313 acres.
How much do Georgia farms sell?
About $13.2 billion of products in 2022.
Which Georgia farms are profiled here?
Lane Southern Orchards, Pearson Farm, Dickey Farms, Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable and Shuman Farms.
Where can Georgia farmers find programs?
The Georgia Department of Agriculture, UGA Extension, Georgia Farm Bureau and USDA FSA.
Georgia farms range from historic peach orchards to multi-state vegetable growers and Vidalia onion shippers. Explore the profiled operations below for details and contact information.