Knowledge Bank

A long term decline in comparative importance of Ohio farm income from livestock compared to crops is part of larger regional and national changes in both the location and organization of livestock production. These developments appear to suggest continuing declines in the comparative importance of animal agriculture (compared to crops) in Ohio, Yet the Northeast census region contains 20 percent of the meat consuming (but non-producing) U.S. population, a market that states like North Carolina hasten to supply. Does this market potential justify collective efforts in Ohio to reverse long term industry trends?