Gov. elect Beverly Perdue took suggestions Friday from North Carolina farmers to improve one of the state's healthier industries during the recession but said she understood they're facing similar troubles like everyone else.
The 20 farmers participating in Perdue's round-table discussion mentioned strained lending markets, higher energy costs and limited access to rural high-speed Internet among their concerns.
Agriculture generates about one in every six jobs in the state and nearly 20 percent of state income, generating $8.7 billion in cash receipts, according to a presentation by North Carolina State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
"It's fundamentally a strong part of our economy," Perdue said afterward at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. "The challenges they're having are challenges that all of our people are having."
This was Perdue's fifth stop on her "listening tour" since the Democratic lieutenant governor won the governor's race last month. She taking suggestions from the meetings to help set the priorities in her administration, which begins Jan. 10.
"I don't know if I can be a great governor that's what my intention is - with your help unless I listen," she said. "I intend for this new administration to reflect my attitude of being hands on, and open to introspection, and open to criticism and partnership."
The banking and financial crisis has got farmers worried. Kirk Mathis, a Wilkes County poultry farmer, said the bad economy could threaten companies that transport grain to farmers because bankruptcies would lead to canceled contracts with growers.
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