Agriculture is big business in North Carolina, bringing in $100 billion to the state every year. But as labor costs on farms continues to climb, farmers across the area are trying to keep the prices in the grocery store from going up more this year. Lincoln County farmer Allen Davis tells WSOC…

“I can’t eat the cost. I have to pass it on, so therefore the cost of everything for the consumer is going up as well. So there’s nothing, nothing that I can do about that.”

USDA said on some farms that produce fruits and vegetables, labor costs are more than a third of a farmer’s budget. But even farmers who don’t hire as many workers say prices on everything else, from fertilizer to equipment have risen dramatically. Lincoln County farmer Ray Wright fears for the future of farming under the current circumstances.

“I’m afraid the farmers. It’s going to put them come out of business. Can’t keep going on.”

The cost of entry is keeping many young people away from agriculture, as many children of farmers choose to leave the family farm behind as well. Alexander county dairy farmer Cory Reese:

“If you don’t grow up in it or inherit it, it’s hard to buy into a dairy farm. Now, I grew up in it, and I’d probably get into it. It’s rewarding life, but it’s a hard working life.”

Davis concurs.

“Trying to figure out ways where we can move forward in a, maybe a different way. I have to start getting creative in ways that, you know, I never really thought about that.”

Thanks to Mike Raley of WPTF/Raleigh for his help with this report.