Daniel Eades Extension Specialist Community, Economic & Workforce Development West Virginia...

Daniel EadesExtension Specialist

Community, Economic & Workforce Development

West Virginia University

The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the WV Deer Farmers Assoc., WV DNR, and financial support from WVU Grants for Public Service

Deer Farming and WV Agriculture

West Virginia (All Farms)1

• 45% of farms 50-179 acres• 24% of farms 10-49 acres

• Avg farm sales: $27,500• 49% of farms sold less than

$2,500

Deer Farming Trends2

• Avg farm PA: 68.5 acres; 30% less than 10 acres

• Avg farm OH: 29.2 acres; 82% less than 50 acres

• Avg sales PA: $ 53,650• Avg sales OH: $71,391

1. USDA Ag Census, 20072. Shepstone Management Company

Counties with One or More Deer Farms Survey Respondents

77.0%

10.7%

7.4%

1.5%

1.3%

0.9%

0.7%

0.3%

0.2%

0.1%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Breeding Stock

Hunting

Semen

Antlers

Leather/Hides

Other

Venison

Urine

Lodging/Dining

Deer Watching

Breeding only74%

Breeding & Hunting

22%

Hunting only4%

West Virginia Deer Farms by Industry Segment

Sales of West Virginia Deer Farm Products

2009-201164%2006-2008

14%

2005-20034% 2002-2000

14%

Before 20004%

< 10 Acres59%

10-19 Acres18%

20-29 Acres14%

50-99 Acres4%

100+ Acres5%

Figure 4. West Virginia Deer Farms by Year Established Figure 5. West Virginia Deer Farms by Acres of LandWest Virginia Deer Farms by

Year EstablishedWest Virginia Deer Farms by

Acres of Land

WV Deer Farm Numbers

• Avg. of farms reporting sales: $22,000

• Employ an estimated 46 workers; pay $343,00 in wages

• Spent estimated $1.9 million on capital expenditures and operations

• 97% of spending occurred in West Virginia

Leading Purchases by West Virginia Deer Farm Operations

Real Estate $559,741 30%

Farm Equipment $190,619 10%

ATVs $173,468 9%

Stock/Animal Purchases $149,752 8%

New Construction $136,198 7%

Fencing $118,909 6%

Vehicles $104,573 6%

Grains $79,718 4%

Supplement Feeds $46,767 3%

Fuel $39,528 2%

Total Impacts from Spending and Payroll

• Employment: 66 jobs

• Output (Sales): $1.44 Million

• Value Added (GSP): $1.03 Million• Labor Income $784,000• Indirect Business Taxes $ 62,000• Other Property Income $185,000

Study, Model, and Policy Considerations

• The impacts presented are conservative estimates• Ignores travel and tourism spending• Assumes non-respondents are NEW operations

• Jobs represent 12 months of work but NOT necessarily full-time employment

• Input-output models are NOT• Feasibility studies• Cost-benefit studies• A complete picture

Thank You

Daniel.Eades@mail.wvu.edu

Table 1. Assumptions for Economic Impact Calculation

From Surveys

Median Non Response Value

Survey + Non-Response

Sales $300,300 $950 $14,250 $314,550

Employment (WV) 31 1 15 46

Wages, Salaries, Benefits (WV)

$318,504 $1,650 $24,750 $343,254

Intermediate Expenditures (Total)

$1,347,498 $36,508 $547,620 $1,895,118

[1] The median number of employees, while small, seems to be a reasonable assumption. Ohio, which has a well developed industry, reported average employment of only 2.4 jobs per operation.