Agenda - 06-21-2011 - 5r - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

9 2010 Tobacco Con~nunities Reinvestment Fund Community Application-Central Region 4.if your project is successful, how will it benefit farmers in your community? How much income do you expect to generate from the project annually? How much income will farmer participants earn from the project? Programs at the Breeze Farm reach out to a diverse group of participants: • Traditional tobacco farmers who are interested in diversifying • Row crop, dairy, and beef farmers interested in diversifying • Young farmers who don't have access to land or sufficient capital, but are interested in organic & sustainable farming • Graduates of the Central Carolina Community College Sustainable Farming Program • Other traditional farmers who want to diversify • Persons who want to farm as a second career • Persons who want to farm in retirement Each year, the PLANT progt~am provides on-going support to growers in finding markets to sell produce, dealing with production issues, and providing support for infrastructure at the farm. In add=ition, on-going educational support throughout the summers of 2008, 2009, and 2010 was provided to apprentice farmers with field walks on site or at host farms by experienced mentor farmers as well as other demonstrations such as irrigation set-up and deer fence construction. Of particular note were the many row-crop and tobacco farmers that have stopped by the farm to observe the deer fence that is used to protect plantings from deer damage. During the past two years, participants in the workshop series traveled from Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Orange, Person, and Wake Counties. Those interested in sustainable production- will attend classes that interest them even if they have to travel several hours. The commitment of this targeted farmer population- allows the Breeze Farm to serve a larger area in the Piedmont Region. The _Farm incubator was included in the Piedmont Farm Tour in 2009 and 2010 and attracted many new and diversifying farmers across the state. Many farm tour participants are interested in learning about opportunities for commercial agricultural production, but are not often aware of the existing programs. Those from the- consumer perspective appreciate the opportunity to better understand how and which fruits, berries, and vegetables can be grown in the Piedmont Region and perhaps more importantly, when these products are freshest and how they can be preserved for year-round consumption. Through workshops and tours, the Breeze Farm helps generate new farmers and increase market demand for locally grown, raised, and made farm products. Based on the business plans developed by the farm enterprises at the Breeze Farm, average gross revenue was estimated at $9,000 per acre. Given the early stage of the farm enterprises, it is likely that gross revenue will be greater than these estimates in the first 3 to 5 years of operations. The PLANT program will conduct annual surveys of all program participants and associated farm enterprises, and request voluntary reporting of farm income related to the PLANT training program. Participants reported athree-fold profit increase following completion of the PLANT @ Breeze workshop series, with many indicating that they Page 8 of 19