Farm Opportunities Program

The Farm Opportunities Program is designed to help farmers improve profitability through sound decision-making practices; exploring, selecting and implementing alternative agriculture enterprises; and improved natural resource and conservation management.

Audience

The primary target audience is limited-resource and small-scale farmers and their families.

Delivery method

Agriculture technicians use one-on-one instruction to deliver educational information to farmers. These technicians work with a selected group of 15 to 24 farmers for up to three years, until the farmers achieve their goals. Once farmers feel comfortable with the technicians, they participate in other educational experiences, such as group meetings, farm tours and demonstration days.

Cooperating agencies and partners

Local Cooperative Extension Centers, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Center for Rural Development and other producer associations cooperate with the Farm Opportunities Program.

Selected impacts and outcomes

• Eight Wake County farmers generated approximately $129,000 in new farm income through developing alternative enterprises.
• Two thousand acres of farm land in Martin, Halifax, Chowan and Bertie Counties are more environmentally sound due to the efforts of 62 local farmers reducing their reliance on insecticides.
• $1,216,650 of gross income resulted from new investment and marketing of alternative enterprises in North Carolina, during 1997.
• A family-owned, small-scale farm in Vance County added ten varieties of chili peppers to their conventional mix of produce, adding an estimated $5,000 to their annual farm income.