Alternative Crops Successful for Small-Scale Growers


March 14, 1997

Greensboro, NC: Lacking access to large plots of land and expensive equipment, many of North Carolina's small-scale farmers rely on "alternative crops" for their livelihood. By focusing efforts on smaller crops with larger profit margins, a number of small-scale growers are able to maintain successful operations.

"By making simple changes in their growing practices, farmers are often able to produce a crop they previously hadn't considered," said Dr. M. R. Reddy, a professor of soil science with NC A&T's School of Agriculture. "These alternative crops can prove profitable for a farmer with limited land and resources."

Reddy and Dr. John O'Sullivan, a farm management and marketing specialist with NC A&T's Cooperative Extension Program, are assisting small scale farmers in seven North Carolina counties with alternative growing and marketing strategies.

According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, North Carolina is the third most agriculturally diverse state in the country, and, across the state, small-scale farmers are finding that their state's topography and climate make the growing of alternative crops an attractive option.

In Wake County, Morris Dunn, an agricultural extension agent with NC A&T's Cooperative Extension Program, works with several farmers on a number of different crops which are considered alternative or non-traditional.

"In some cases, we have growers with limited resources finding success with as many as six or eight crops," said Dunn. "Specialization in these crops allows them to work with non-traditional markets like roadside stands and farmers markets."

Among the crops mentioned by Dunn are: blueberries, tomatoes, snap beans, okra, collards, cabbage, watermelons, strawberries, pumpkins, cucumbers and cut flowers.

"Farmers in this area have been successful with crops which produce steady amounts on limited land and which command high prices at the market," said Dunn. "Farmers working with these crops are able to overcome their resource shortcomings by using creative strategies to get the most out of their land and resources."

Still other farmers target short-season markets, such as the market for pumpkins during the fall season. However, Dunn cautions that farmers should conduct market research before jumping into this or any other unfamiliar area.

"In Extension, when farmers approach us with an idea, we help them factor in research on the crop and the market which exists for it. There is only so much the market can bear, and we consider that before pursuing any type of alternative crop."

Another key consideration when researching alternative crops is the crop's potential for meeting the income needs of the farmer. Extension agents in each of the state's counties and on the Cherokee Reservation have a number of resources available to help farmers with this crucial planning.

"Management and good record-keeping are essential to the survival of small-scale farmers, especially when they embark on new markets," said Dunn. "Opportunities exist in alternative agriculture, but, as in anything else, a farmer must weigh possible returns against risks and costs."

For more information on alternative agriculture, contact your local County Extension Center.

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