The Eastern Mountain Region, Home of Appalachia and Horses
The Eastern Mountain Region of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service lies along the scenic Blue Ridge Mountain range. Comprised of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, NASS’s Eastern Mountain Region is known for being the heart of Appalachia. And according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, it is also known for the sale of horses, grains, tobacco, poultry and cattle.
Naturally, Kentucky finished first in the nation in the sale of horses with $736 million, while coming in fourth in the sales of other animals at $153 million. They also place second in the nation for tobacco sales with $225 million. The Bluegrass State ranks 27th in the nation in total agricultural products sold at $8 billion, with its top commodity being grains ($3.1 billion).
Tennessee’s top commodities are grains ($1.8 billion), poultry ($1 billion) and cattle ($784 million). The Volunteer State ranks 31st in the nation of total agricultural products sold at $5.2 billion.
North Carolina ranks top five in the nation in several categories of agricultural products sold. They are first in sales of poultry ($9.2 billion) and tobacco ($504 million), second in sales of cultivated Christmas trees ($601 million), third in sales of hogs and pigs ($4.1 billion), and fifth in cotton sales ($444.7 million). The Tar Heel State ranks eighth in the nation in total agricultural products sold at $18.7 billion.
Virginia ranks sixth in the nation in the sale of both cultivated Christmas trees ($25.6 million) and aquaculture ($119 million). Similarly to Tennessee, Virginia’s top commodities are poultry ($2.2 billion), grains ($843 million) and cattle ($695 million). The Old Dominion State ranks 29th in the nation in total agricultural products sold at $5.5 billion.
West Virginia ranks 43rd in total agricultural products sold at $947.8 million. The Mountain State’s top commodities are poultry ($497 million), cattle ($179 million) and hay ($66 million).
Learn more about the Eastern Mountain Region by visiting nass.usda.gov/AgCensus or contact your state agricultural statistician.
