Agriculture
Of North Carolina’s 100 counties, Wilkes County ranks:
- #2 in the production of poultry broilers,
- #3 in the production of beef cattle,
- #4 in all cattle and milk cows,
- #6 in the production of hay, and
- #10 in the production of poultry layers.
These rankings make Wilkes County the state’s seventh largest county in agriculture cash receipts totaling $287,429,836 (2019 data).
The agricultural impact on the county is around $551 million, making up 36 percent of the county’s GDP and providing 22 percent of the county’s jobs. With an abundant water supply from both local rivers, the 421 Expressway, and a rich history of entrepreneurial growth, it is well positioned as an experienced agricultural producer and processor.