Buncombe County Small Farms Initiative

More and more farmers have been sharing with our agents their desire to continue farming, as well as the challenges they are facing in doing so.  Farmers are desperately looking for ways to increase their income so they can keep their operation viable and their land preserved.  Support given by our Buncombe County Commissioners and County Management has allowed the Cooperative Extension to develop a Small Farms Initiative program to aggressively work towards helping both seasoned and new farmers through: 

Recently, Melinda Roberts joined our staff as the Small Farms Agricultural Agent, the position previously held by Jean Harrison.  Melinda is new to Cooperative Extension, but not to this region.  She was born and raised in Statesville NC, growing up on a small farm that was dependent upon income derived from ‘Buy Local’ programs.  Her educational background also lies in Western North Carolina, spanning Haywood Community College, Western Carolina University and Appalachian State University.  Please contact Melinda for additional information or questions. 

Melinda Roberts

Extension Agent, Agriculture – Small Farms

NC Cooperative Extension

Buncombe County Center

94 Coxe Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-3620

(828) 255-5522

(828)255-5202 (FAX)

melinda_roberts@ncsu.edu

http://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/

Current Grant & Money Opportunities

• USDA Value-Added Producer Grant - Deadline November 30th, 2009
• NCDA&CS Food Safety Cost-Share Grants - Given on a First Come First Serve Basis
• NCDA&CS Cost-Share Program for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) - Given on a First Come First Serve Basis
• OCIA Research and Extension Micro Grants - Given on a First Come First Serve Basis
• Appalachian Grown Matching Funds - Ongoing through June 2010
• USDA Small Farm Funding Resources - Ongoing
• FSA Farm Storage Facility Loan Program - Ongoing
• Farm Credit Financial Training Funding provided by NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission Grant - Currently Accepting Applications
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has several programs that offer financial and technical assistance, easements, incentive payments, cost shares and matching funds in the areas of conservation, watershed and wetland rehabilitation and protection, environmental quality, farmland protection, wildlife habitat, and grassland and grazing reserves
• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's Grant Listings

Project Skill-Up

A program to help you stay in farming, return to farming or get training in an exciting new career.  Project Skill-Up is offered by Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and is funded through a grant from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

More Info

WNC AgOptions Grants for Farmers - Deadlines Approaching!  Intent to Apply Deadline:  November 23, 2009!!!  Contact Your Local Extension Agent Now!

Deadline for grant application: January 8, 2010!!

Award recipients are encouraged to explore crop diversification, ways to replace lost tobacco income and marketing & production techniques that demonstrate economic sustainability.

The grant will be provided by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, which will partner with Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) and the WNC Agricultural Options program to accept applications and monitor the recipients’ projects. Through this partnership, WNC AgOptions, a program established in 2004 and managed by N. C. Cooperative Extension Centers in the West District, will continue assisting mountain farmers transitioning from tobacco and other crops through 2011.

Examples of past WNC AgOptions projects include:

• Transition from tobacco production to ornamentals, berries, trout farms or agri-tourism;
• Improvements of existing operations, including horse boarding, mum production and choose-and-cut Christmas trees;
• Creative markets for livestock, including goats for invasive plants removal, grass-finished beef and naturally grown pork;
• Beekeeping, including integrated pest management and queen-rearing;
• Native plants nursery start-ups;
• Season extension for vegetables.

Interested farmers and representatives of agricultural cooperatives or associations may obtain applications from their local N.C. Cooperative Extension Center or at www.wncagoptions.org.  Previous grant recipients may apply again. There is an application on the website for previous recipients. Please make sure you fill out the correct application! They are encouraged to contact their local agricultural extension agent by November 23 to discuss and research their project.  Applications must be postmarked by January 8. Award recipients will be announced in February.

More Info

Even More Info

Western NC Farmers Eligible for Funds Through the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission

Awards totaling $675,000 over a three-year period will be granted to Western North Carolina farmers.

The grant will be provided by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, which will partner with Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) and the WNC Agricultural Options Program to accept applications and monitor the recipients' projects. Through this partnership, WNC AgOptions, a program established in 2004 and managed by N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers in the West District, will continue assisting mountain farmers transitioning from tobacco and other crops through 2011.

More Info

North Carolina Announces Energy Grants & Loans

A series of meetings scheduled for October and November are designed to help North Carolina’s farmers go green by providing $1 million dollars to help them save energy, while increasing farm profits.

The North Carolina Farm Energy Efficiency Project (FEEP) originated from a grant awarded to North Carolina Farm Bureau by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The project’s goal is to provide educational and technical support for farmers regarding agricultural energy use and efficiency. Farmers may also apply for low cost energy audits that will evaluate ways to save farm energy costs.

“As farmers continue to face increasing costs, the data from energy audits and implementing energy saving plans can result in substantial, long-term savings,” said Paul Sherman, air & energy programs director with North Carolina Farm Bureau.

The USDA’s Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) can provide grants and loans on projects that meet the criteria to save energy or implement new energy programs. FEEP will also provide matching funds that will improve a farmer’s ability to obtain funds from REAP.

The funds will provide technical support needed to analyze proposals, perform energy audits, and prepare competitive applications for REAP loans and grants.

FEEP personnel will offer six informational meetings about the project. USDA Rural Development personnel will also be at the meetings to further explain how farmers can benefit from the REAP grant and loan program.

By the end of 2010, the project will have facilitated 200 on-farm energy audits and implemented at least 60 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. For more information, click here to visit the FEEP Web site. 

Farmers are welcome to attend an educational session at any of the following location:

USDA Launches 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Initiative to Connect Consumers with Local Producers to Create New Economic Opportunities for Communities

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced a new initiative September 15th - 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' - to begin a national conversation to help develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity. To launch the initiative, Secretary Vilsack recorded a video to invite Americans to join the discussion and share their ideas for ways to support local agriculture. The video, one of many means by which USDA will engage in this conversation, can be viewed at USDA's YouTube channel. Producers and consumers can comment on the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' YouTube playlist, as well as submit videos or provide comments on this initiative by e-mailing KnowYourFarmer@usda.gov.   

In the months to come, cross-cutting efforts at USDA will seek to use existing USDA programs to break down structural barriers that have inhibited local food systems from thriving. The USDA has already announced a small initial group of moves that seek to connect local production and consumption and promote local-scale sustainable operations: USDA's Risk Management Agency, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Farmers Market Promotion Program, and Rural Development Program have each announced recipients of millions of dollars worth of grant funding.  As the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative evolves, USDA will continue to build on the momentum and ideas from the 2008 Farm Bill and target its existing programs and develop new ones to pursue sustainable agriculture and support for local and regional food systems. Be sure to continue checking the USDA website for grant updates as the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative evolves! 

For the full story, click here.

Upcoming Events, Workshops and Classes

North Carolina Irrigation License CEU Crash Course:  December 4th, 2009 at Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Mills River, NC.  Learn 2-wire irrigation systems, SmartWater technology and prioritizing for profit.  $25 for first attendee and $10 for each additional attendee.  RSVP Felicia at 704-909-3346 or felicia.jacques@smithturf.com.

The Carolina Farm Stewardship Sustainable Agriculture Conference:  Great programming for beginning and advanced gardeners, farmers and kids too. December 4^th through December 6^th, 2009 at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Conference Center.  For more information, please click here.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Meeting:  Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 from 9am-11am at Henderson County Cooperative Extension Office, 740 Glover Street, Hendersonville, NC.  Workshop is free.  Please RSVP to Ivy Olson at 828-697-4891 or ivy_olson@ncsu.edu.  For more information, please click here.

Green & Growin' Educational Conference and Trade Show:  January 12th-16th, 2010.  For more information, click here.

The Business Side of Agritourism Workshop:    January 28th, 2010 at Lake Logan Episcopal Center, Canton, NC.  Learn market evaluation, internet marketing, taxes, liability, types of agritourism enterprises, collaborating with your chamber of commerce, and more!  More information coming soon...

Intermediate Beekeeping School:  January 30th & 31st, and February 6th & 7th, 2010 at Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC.  For more information, click here.

Landscape Management Workshop:  February 11th, 2010 at the NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC.  More information coming soon!

Nursery Management Workshop:  February, 25th, 2010 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Mills River, NC.  More information coming soon!

Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Project Workshop:  February 26th, 2009 at Ray-Cort Rec. Park in Burnsville, NC. For additional Information, click here.

Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference:  February 27th, 2010 at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa.  For more information, click here.

Organic Growers School:  March 6th and 7th, 2010 at the UNC-Asheville Campus.  For more information, click here.

Western North Carolina Turfgrass Conference:  March 17th, 2010 in Asheville, NC.  More information coming soon!

North Carolina Pesticide Recertification Opportunities:  Ongoing; For more information, or to find a class near you, please visit the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences.

For additional events, workshops and classes, please visit Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Events Calendar and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Events Calendar.

Take a look at the most recent Newsletter - November 2009!

Links

• American Farmland Trust
  
• North Carolina Farm Transition Network
• The Farm Prosperity Project
  
• Whole Farm Planning Information
• Farm Energy Efficiency Project
• NC State Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture Project
• Growing Small Farms Project (Sustainable Agriculture in NC)
• Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program
• Permanent Pesticide Collection Sites
• Present Use Value Program in Buncombe County (Property Tax Exemptions and Deferments) 
• Rural Classifieds (Free Internet Adds to Rural Farmers)
• Organic Growers School
• Mountain Tailgate Market Association
• Rural Bounty (Directory Promoting Public Agriculture and Farm Visits, Activities and Events)
• 2008 Southeast Regional Bramble Production Guide
• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
• NC Cooperative Extension WNC Agriculture Options Program
• Gotta Be NC Food Safety
  
• Other Web Resources for Sustainable Production