:

:

Background on the 2004 Program The NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission in partnership with the NC Cooperative Extension of the West District has created a program to support alternative agricultural enterprises that will help stabilize and expand agricultural income and support farmland preservation. The NC Department of Agriculture, Handmade in America and the NC Cooperative Extension have provided 51 mini-grants for $2,500 for farms to transition into new crops and/or Agri-Tourism. View the results by County or by Topic AgOptions Executive Summary The primary cash crop for many of our mountain communities has been burley tobacco for many years. The continuing annual decreases in burley tobacco marketing quotas, increasing disease pressure, difficulties in obtaining reliable labor, and uncertainty about the future of the tobacco program is forcing farmers to consider other sources of income to support their families.    More>> Project Goals and Objectives The goal of this project is to encourage Western North Carolina farmers who are dependent on tobacco income or farmers who live in tobacco dependent communities to diversify operations in 2005 by trying new alternative agricultural income opportunities. Farmers will create plans for projects for supplemental sources of agricultural income through inclusion of agricultural tourism ventures and/or a diversified mix of agricultural commodities. More>> Project History The Agricultural Tourism and Crop Diversification Demonstration Program started as a concept during the late Spring of 2003. Partners brought to the table to discuss state of the western North Carolina mountain farmer included several Agriculture and Community Development Extension Agents, County Extension Directors, North Carolina Department of Agriculture Marketing Division Specialists and the non-profit organization Handmade in America Programming Director. More>> Project Justification Benefits will include increased income for farmers from either diversifying their crop or venturing into agriculture tourism. Approximately 30 farmers will be funded in order to reduce their dependency on tobacco income by supplementing their farm operation with other enterprises. These 30 farmers will be trained by the Cooperative Extension agents in their local communities (approximately 30 agents involved in program) to learn what other crops are suited for the region and market. More>> About the Project  :  2004  :  2005  :  2006  :  2008    |    by County - 2004    |    by Topic - 2004 Q & A    |    Links    |    Media Resource    |    Contact Us   |    Events    |    Search

	-- Click below to visit any of our project leaders --
Copyright 2004-2010 WNC Agricultural Options