Positioning North Carolina’s number-one industry for continued economic competitiveness
Agriculture and agribusiness remain foundational to North Carolina’s economy, generating more than $100 billion annually and supporting nearly one in five jobs across the state.
North Carolina boasts the nation’s third-most-diverse agriculture economy, producing over 80 commercial crops alongside a thriving animal agriculture sector that makes up 70% of total farm sales. We lead the nation in sweetpotatoes, tobacco, and poultry/egg sales.
Beyond its economic impact, agriculture plays a critical role in North Carolina’s long-term competitiveness, food and national security, supply-chain resilience, and rural economic vitality.
The NC Chamber is steadfast in its commitment to the agriculture industry and its success in our state. We are proud to advocate for policies that guard against overly burdensome regulations on food supply chains and support policies that create a more predictable operating environment for food manufacturers and other agribusinesses.
Beyond North Carolina, the NC Chamber leads national coalition efforts on agricultural workforce policy, convening more than 25 organizations from across the country to challenge the status quo surrounding how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) is determined and to advocate for a more appropriate methodology. The 2025 research, A Broken Baseline: The Flawed Economics Behind AEWR Calculations, found that the current AEWR methodology is disconnected from broader economic benchmarks and contributes to higher food prices, increased imports, and economic strain in rural communities, concluding that indexing AEWR to the Employment Cost Index would better protect U.S. workers while supporting domestic food production, job creation, and rural economic growth. Learn more.
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NC Ag Leads: Shaping the Future of North Carolina Ag
We must ensure that North Carolina’s number-one industry is positioned for continued economic competitiveness and the NC Chamber has been at the forefront of that effort through its engagement with NC Ag Leads. Launched in 2023 by the Golden LEAF Foundation and the NC Chamber Foundation, with support from the NC Farm Bureau and Google, NC Ag Leads continues to advance an industry-led strategic plan for strengthening North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness sector.
Rather than attempting to address every issue the industry faces, the plan focuses on areas of consensus with the highest potential for near-term impact. It also outlines next steps for implementation, including identifying funding for a farmer-engaged ag tech accelerator, advancing Extension service reform, and pursuing a statewide talent management strategy to address agriculture workforce needs.
How to Engage: Ag Allies
Ag Allies brings together leaders across North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness community to help shape the future of policy affecting the industry.
Participants receive direct engagement opportunities with state and federal policymakers, timely updates on regulatory and legislative developments, invitations to policy briefings, webinars, and industry convenings, as well as opportunities to help inform the NC Chamber’s advocacy priorities and strategy.
Ag Allies ensures the business community has a strong, coordinated voice on issues impacting North Carolina agriculture and agribusiness. These invitations are sent directly to NC Chamber members.
The Agenda
- Learn how the NC Chamber championed issues for North Carolina’s businesses in the latest edition of How They Voted.
- View our Legislative Agenda here.
- Explore our annual Ag Allies Conference, held each fall. This event brings together leaders from the agribusiness and food value chains to discuss important trends, policy developments, innovations and risks that will effect the industry in future years.
What Our Members are Saying
“The NC Chamber understands the unique challenges facing the agriculture industry. Knowing the Chamber is in our corner, I can focus more on what our business does best.”
–James Whitehurst, III, President & CEO of Coastal Agrobusiness, Inc.
“From regulatory reform to strengthening nuisance lawsuit protections for farmers, the NC Chamber has stood up for North Carolina agribusiness time and time again.”
-John Prestage, Senior Vice President, Prestage Farms, Inc.
Join the Effort
Ensure your business has a seat at the table as we craft policies and solutions to keep agriculture and agribusiness strong in North Carolina: Explore membership opportunities with the NC Chamber today.