RALEIGH -- Hundreds of farmers from all across North Carolina gathered on the State Fairgrounds Thursday for the annual Farm Show. They met with state agriculture leaders and talked about some of the major issues threatening their farms.

Mark Phelps grows soybeans and cotton in Winston-Salem. He grew up farming and hopes his young son Joshua will eventually take over the farm.

“It's ... the love of the soil and going out and earning a living from the land,” he explained.

But the ongoing drought and rising fuel and fertilizer costs are making it hard to make a living on the farm.

“That's a lot of money to put out and a lot of variable factors actually could cause you to lose all your inputs,” Phelps said.

Some farmers, like Franklinville cattlemen Allen Holt, say farming isn't enough to support the family.

“You got to have two jobs,” he complained. “You have work somewhere else eight hours a day and then do the farm on the side.”

But state agriculture leaders say there are some things farmers can do to make money, even in a drought.

“There are crops that are more drought tolerant than others,” explained Steve Troxler, NC Commissioner of Agriculture. “Cotton yields I think were surprising this year to all of us when they came in. Tobacco was the staple in North Carolina and has always been known to be a crop that's fairly resistant to drought.”

Farmers say they would like to see more ethanol plants across the state. Many believe that might help bring down fuel costs and could push up the demand and price of corn grown here in North Carolina.

The Agriculture Commissioner says the state will continue to do all it can to help farmers through this tough time. Agriculture is North Carolina's number one industry, generating $66 billion a year for the state's economy.

Farmers say the biggest saving grace would be a long, soaking rain to end the drought.