Mocksville is the largest town within Davie County, alongside Advance, Cooleemee, and Bermuda Run. Davie County contains 264 square miles of land, 35% of which is farmland. The 2012 Census of Agriculture reported a total of 59,618 acres of farmland across 640 farms, with an average size of 93 acres. Approximately 65% of gross sales from agricultural products are from livestock, while crops make up 35% of sales. Davie County is home to numerous vineyards and winners that contribute to North Carolina’s tourism industry. Mocksville in particular is home to over four farms focusing on general produce, four greenhouses and nurseries, three meat producers, two bee farms, and three vineyards and wineries. 

Although agriculture is a large industry that significantly contributes to the world economy, many people are unaware of where their food comes from. Even in 2020, agriculture is the main source of numerous people’s income, many of whom live in more rural areas. Climate change has the power to affect all of this. People’s livelihoods as well as the world food supply could be severely impacted. According to Professor Rod. M. Rejesus, a professor of agricultural and resources economics at North Carolina State University, “Agriculture is one of the most climate-sensitive industries worldwide; the nature of farming means that growers are exposed to the vagaries of weather and climate.” Occurrences such as drastic changes in temperature, and frequent natural disasters have significant adverse impacts on crop yields and consequently the food supply. 

Local farmers will have to determine how climate change is affecting their crops in order to make an action plan. Once it is understood how climate change is affecting crop yields, farmers can create more educated plans to implement new agricultural techniques, technologies, and practices to combat the effects of climate change. North Carolinians have perceived a noticeable difference in climate over the past few years. Fall is not ushered in with the typical crisp air and cool temperatures. Fall has now more or less been a continuation of the summer months, with high temperatures lasting well into September. Many have also picked up on the lack of rainfall during the autumn months, which contributes to the erratic weather and climate change that has been plaguing North Carolina. The warm temperatures persisting into the fall have contributed to an extended growing season, which was good for business, but was not without its drawbacks. The warmer season brought less rain, which meant that farmers had to water crops much more frequently.

Changing weather patterns are nothing new to farmers, who are used to adapting. But it seems as if the changes are becoming more permanent, which could lead to issues in the agricultural field. The extended growing season meant that the weather would quickly transition to freezing temperatures, which was devastating for cool-season plants which don't have the time to get established. The rapid temperature changes make it difficult for plants to adjust. It is becoming increasingly difficult for farmers to predict the temperature and the levels of expected precipitation, which further shifts the odds toward mother nature, a force that is only fed by human disregard for her environment.