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Farm Enterprise Incubator !Farmer Apprentice Program <br />a. Business training and enterprise budget development, as well as Agronomic & <br />Horticultural training that includes principles and practice of certified organic and <br />sustainable agriculture <br />b. FarmLink program within county for graduate placement; Collaborative <br />relationship with NC Farm Transition Network; Special focus on immigrant <br />communities and their needs; <br />c. Farm equipment available at an hourly or daily rate to participating farmers; <br />Shared office space and equipment <br />2. Shared-Use, Value-Added Processing far Local Farm Products <br />a. Focus on local farm products for value added opportunities primarily for local <br />consumption <br />b. Location of facility to complement activities at the Breeze Farm, but may be <br />physically located on a site with municipal sewer and water. <br />c. Training program on licensures and certifications far added value processing <br />d. With appropriate training, consumer use of facility to encourage purchase of local <br />products and their preservation by local consumers <br />e. Equipment for value added product development far use by participating farmers <br />Existing and Diversifying Farm Enterprises - Program Opportunities <br />1. 4-H, FFA, & Youth <br />a. Livestock exhibition facility for annual Piedmont Livestock Show, as well as new <br />opportunities for marketing of feeder calves, Iambs, and goats <br />b. Resource far local, county, and regional 4-H & youth events <br />c. Environmental education component & trails <br />2. Forage, Grasslands, & Grains <br />a. Interactive demonstration area for grazing technology including new cultivars, <br />fencing, and waterers used in beef cattle, dairy, sheep, sheep, goat, and pig <br />pasture-based operations <br />b. Collaborative applied research an pasture management, multispecies grazing, <br />forage quality, and grass-fed meat products <br />c. Biafuel crop plot areas <br />d. Demonstration plot areas for various new forage cultivars <br />3. Fruits & Berries <br />a. Demonstration areas for appropriate species & cultivars for the Piedmont <br />b. Focus on heirloom fruits <br />c. Regionally appropriate research on innovative production techniques and cultivar <br />suitability <br />Facility Considerations <br />1. Overview <br />a. Multipurpose facilities to maximize use <br />b. Integrated energy efficient technology in all aspects of facility including buildings <br />that utilize passive solar construction methods as well as wind and photovoltaic <br />technology <br />