Impact of Agriculture
Poultry, pecans and produce are the backbone of the farming community in Tattnall County, but because of its rich soil and dedicated farmers, Tattnall County agriculture is truly diverse.
Tattnall has long been known for its onion production, where more than 5,000 acres of prized Vidalia onions are grown each year. Other vegetables like sweet potatoes, sweet corn, watermelons and carrots also make up significant acreage. Pecan acreage in Tattnall County has expanded rapidly in the last few years with some 7,000 acres planted in pecans.
Tattnall is home to a local poultry integrator, and more than 350 poultry houses. This is the county's leading agricultural product, valued at more than $110 million, according to the 2013 Georgia Farm Gate Value Report. The county produces more than 41 million broilers per year, making it one of the largest poultry producers in south Georgia.
Along with poultry, pecans and produce, Tattnall farmers plant thousands of acres of row crops including corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and wheat. Pasture and cattle also fill the county, with several thousand head within our borders. Forestry, is also a major economic force in Tattnall County, where a majority of the land is forested.
Agriculture is Georgia’s economic lifeblood. From poultry to peanuts and landscape to livestock, all of Georgia’s 159 counties are impacted by agriculture. With an overall 2013 farm gate value of $13.6 billion and a total economic impact of some $72.5 billion, the state’s largest industry pumps vital revenue into Georgia’s economic arteries. Many Georgia counties are almost totally dependent upon agriculture for economic survival. This industry is one of the state’s largest employers, providing more than 371,000 jobs involved directly in commodity or food- and fiber-related industries