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~~ <br />Basic Components Provided by the Incubator Program <br />1. Educational Training <br />(a) business skills <br />(b) agricultural techniques, including land preparation, crop planning, seed selection, <br />pest control, as well as equipment use and maintenance <br />(c) instruction in horticulture, agronomy, and livestock <br />(d) hands-on experiences to reinforce classroom instruction <br />(e) instruction in developing a business plan <br />Experience with incubator programs in other states demonstrates that these requirements <br />improve the chances for participants' overall success. <br />The mentor's assistance includes both technical and business guidance, and will be <br />available to the participants throughout the duration of their involvement in the project. <br />2. Land <br />Parcels of production land in half-acre increments will be provided at reasonable rates to <br />apprentice farmers. <br />3. Equipment <br />Basic equipment will be provided at reasonable rental cost to program participants. <br />Equipment will include mechanized basic irrigation and land preparation equipment, as well <br />as a variety of hand tools. A walk in cooler may also be available. All equipment options will <br />be evaluated for energy efficiency and performance prior to purchase or rental. <br />Participant Responsibilities <br />1. Training <br />Apprentices must complete the training in a satisfactory manner. Completion of a business <br />plan is required before participants can obtain parcels of land and use equipment <br />unsupervised. <br />2. Equipment <br />All equipment and shared materials are to be responsibly used. All inoperable equipment is <br />to be reported immediately. Equipment rental fees will be part of the business plan. <br />3. Land <br />Participants can request land in half-acre increments. hand lease fees will be part of the <br />business plan. <br />Next steps <br />1. Develop application materials <br />2. Develop course outlines with specific course coordinating teams. <br />3. Get formal land commitment from NC CAL.S (Mac McNeill) <br />4. Outline equipment needs /services and costs <br />5. Obtain Equipment /Services <br />6. Develop financing options for participants /loan pool <br />7. Develop project budget and target number of participants. <br />Farm Incubator /Farm Linkage Page 3 of 3 <br />