[Image: photo of cattle in field]Vernon Parish is grouped with DeSoto, Sabine and Beauregard to form the western dairy, poultry, livestock and pine area. Agricultural products from this area include timber, milk, cattle and calves and broilers. Other important commodities are forage crops such as corn, hay, home gardens, commercial vegetables and fruits like peas, watermelons, turnips and mustard, peaches and sweet potatoes.
Of the land that is farmed, more than 500 farms share nearly 76,000 acres. This is fewer farms than there were in 1940 in Vernon Parish, but, like the rest of the country, small farms have given way to larger operations. In 1978 the average size of a farm in Vernon Parish was 142 acres. But in 1939 the average size was 55 acres. Many small farms are being bought and added to other farms. The bigger farm is more efficient because it can use more improved production methods and equipment, and this lowers production costs.
Since 1949, farm income in Vernon Parish has increased almost $26 million. Although agriculture has grown over those years in Vernon Parish, much of the increase is caused by inflation.
Strong agriculture leads to the creation of farm-support businesses known as the "agribusiness sector." These new types of businesses have grown up as farms changed from self-sufficiency to specialization.
Let's take a dairy farm as an example. To produce milk, the dairyman needs feed for the cows, seed for pastures, pesticides to rid the cows of insects, veterinary supplies and services, milking equipment and facilities, legal and accounting services and fencing services. The list goes on. Once the milk is produced, other agribusiness firms come into the picture. Milk must be transported to processing plants for pasteurization or to be manufactured into other diary products such as cheese and butter. Milk plants, like the dairyman, need supplies and services from lawyers, accountants and advertising agencies. After processing, milk products are transported to grocery stores for sale to consumers. This adds up to a complex story of cooperation and dependence. But this process helps to make the economy of Vernon Parish strong.
The outlook for the parish is good, too. Increasing world population and the growing demand for food mean that agriculture in Vernon Parish, in Louisiana and throughout the United States will remain strong.
|
2007 Vernon Parish Statistics |
|
Crop/Animal |
Number of
Producers |
Gross Farm Value |
| Cattle & Calves |
260 |
$10,183,518 |
| Dairy |
|
$721,918 |
| Forestry |
|
$64, 274, 098 |
| Home Gardens |
1,000 |
$300,000 |