According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, there are 50,908 acres of land in 308 farms in Carroll County.  The market value of products sold was reported to be $5,811,000.  Since the 1998 Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement, the pounds of tobacco harvested in Carroll County has decreased over 95% and the importance of diversifying agricultural operations from tobacco to other production areas has been vital.

Supporting local agricultural producers is a high priority of the Carroll County Extension Council and the Carroll County Agricultural Development Council.  In response, the Carroll County Agricultural Development Council, Carroll County Conservation District, and Carroll County Cooperative Extension Service carried out the County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP) to local producers in 2019.

Funding for CAIP originates from the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.  The program reaches producers of all agricultural operations in the county to provide farmers with incentives to allow them to improve and diversify their current production practices.  The Carroll County Agricultural Development Council reviews, discusses, and approves the CAIP application submitted by the Carroll County Conservation District.  The Conservation District serves as the legal entity and administrator for CAIP.  Education to producers is provided by the Carroll County Cooperative Extension Service.

Seventy-eight Carroll County producers applied for CAIP with fifty-eight producers funded, receiving a total of $139,121.14.  Investments were made in the following areas, in order from most money spent to least:  Large Animal ($52,410.06), Farm Infrastructure ($31,974.21), Fencing & On-Farm Water ($30,202.22), Forage & Grain Improvement ($13,264.93), Agricultural Diversification ($5,000.00), Innovative Agricultural System ($4,931.40), Technology & Leadership Development ($1,300.75), and Value-Added & Marketing ($37.57).

CAIP is a popular form of cost-share in Carroll County, and the Carroll County Agricultural Development Council has submitted the application to begin the 2020 CAIP in June 2020.