Source: EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA FARMER COLLABORATIVE, INC submitted to NRP
DEVELOPING PROFITABLE ABS SUSTAINABLE FARM BUSINESSES OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN NC
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031305
Grant No.
2023-49400-40869
Cumulative Award Amt.
$478,527.00
Proposal No.
2023-06721
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 15, 2023
Project End Date
Sep 14, 2026
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[BFRDA]- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Standard
Recipient Organization
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA FARMER COLLABORATIVE, INC
446 MUTUAL BLVD
TARBORO,NC 27886
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The goal of this project is to develop profitable and Sustainable farm businesses opportunities for socially disadvantaged and veteran beginning farmers and ranchers (SDVBFR) in North Carolina by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed for them to start and operate profitable and sustainable farm enterprises successfully..The proposed project will be conductedin a comprehensive manner (planning, production, and marketing), and outreach, training and technical assistance will be used as our major project delivery strategies.The espected result is an improved quality of life for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers, their families and their communities.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
20506991070100%
Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this project is to develop profitable and Sustainable farm businesses opportunities for socially disadvantaged and veteran beginning farmers and ranchers (SDVBFR) in North Carolina by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed for them to start and operate profitable and sustainable farm enterprises successfully.
Project Methods
Project team will include farmers and ranchers in planning all activities to be conducted in this project. The team will conduct a series of community outreach events. The purpose of these outreach events is to inform producers about the beginning farmer project, identify, and recruit 45 SDVBFR to participate in the project. The outreach workshops will also provide the project team with an opportunity to educate and provide information on USDA programs and services to SDVBFR. The strategy is to provide a holistic program to the participants by training them on land transition, acquisition, and retention strategies, financial and farm business planning, and management; then enterprise selection and production through workshops, hands- on demonstrations, and mentoring. We will focus on specific, profitable enterprises. These enterprises are Bee keeping, honey Production, specialty vegetable production and small ruminant production. Products from these enterprises are in high demand due to their uniqueness in promoting human health and existence. We will then link them to existing markets and assist them to develop marketing strategies for new and existing markets. Additionally, some experienced farmers and ranchers will be selected to serve as mentors to the participating beginning farmers and ranchers in this project. The methods to be used in our program delivery efforts are, but not limited to, workshops, hands-on demonstrations, one-on-one farm/home visits, farm tours, market tours, and mentoring.

Progress 09/15/24 to 09/14/25

Outputs
Target Audience:THe targeted audiences are beginning and veteran farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project team atteneded the PD annual meeting and also attended online training conducted by NIFA. The tream also attended Train-the-trainer trainings at various conference lead be universities and cooperative extension. Collaborations with the local USDA representatives to gain knowledge of information to share with pareticipants about their programs (FSA, NRCS, SNAP, etc). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Information is shared with participants via our social media platform, via newsletters, at workshops, hand-outs of hard copies at outreach event and to local service centers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period the project team intends to continue to conduct outeach and provide agribusiness training wokshops that will help to improve participation in USDA Programs and improve their farm profitability.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During this reporting period Eastern North Carolina Farmer Collaborative (ENCFC) conducted 173 outreach efforts with an attendance count of 1991. this amount included 33 training workshops. 72% of survey respondents indicated they planned to utilize the information gained. This program has made a measurable impact across farms and community organizations in the region. Participants indicated that they attended one or more ENCFC workshops, where they gained valuable knowledge about USDA programs, farm business planning, and hands-on practices such as seed planting, food safety, soil health, and high tunnel production. Participants indicated they have already implemented practices learned during ENCFC trainings, and they planned to continue applying the knowledge and materials they received. The program has supported diverse areas of farm development. This year participants have produced value-added products, 9 started to selling to food hubs, 12 were connected to wholesale buyers, and 10 successfully selling at farmers' markets. Access to USDA resources has expanded, with 10 farmers securing Farm Service Agency (FSA) track numbers and over 50 reported they improved knowledge of USDA programs and services. Income growth was also a significant outcome, with 10 farmers indicated that they had an increase in farm revenue due to ENCFC's support. Specialty production has expanded as well. 17 participants started to grow in high tunnels, others started to produce microgreens, and raise livestock. Innovative production systems such as aquaponics and hydroponics operation have been implemented by producers. Additionally, 11 participants earned NC SBA Certification for bee production, and have reported received one-on-one technical assistance from ENCFC. 26 participant credited ENCFC with helping them start their farming journey from the ground up.

Publications


    Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24

    Outputs
    Target Audience:During this reporting period the Eastern North Carolina Collaborative (ENCFC) have been very instrumental in assisting limited resourced, native americans, small farmers and ranchers, and veteran farmers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project team received training on Retail Marketing in high-end stores, Soil Health, Multi-crop planting for crop diversity and marketing,and Outreach Methods. The project director also attended the BFRDPDirector's Conference. Theteam also met on a monthly basis to go over project delivery efforts. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Projectresults were dessiminated in our newsletter, distribution of hard copies, by email, online and Facebook. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period the project team intends on continuing to provide hands on training at farm location, continue to assist participants with the development of their operation, developing marketing and sales diversityand conduct othertrainings relating to the project delivery efforts.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The Eastern North Carolina Farmer Collaborative (ENCFC) project team has been very active during this reporting period.ENCFC conducted13 educational workshops and 1 conference educating an attendance of approximately 930. Participants gained knowledgeof USDA programs and services during outreach events such as a Multi-County Agricultural Workshop (USDA & Local State Agencies) and annual conference. Production training such as High Tunnel set-up and production, Soil testing /Soil health, Installation of caterpillar tunnel, Trellising, Food safety, Aggregation services were conducted. How to Write a business plan and Marketing trainings were also conducted to bring about awareness and educate participants on how to develop and improve their farm operation. ENCFC also provided one-on-one technical assistance to 48 beginning and veteran farmers to start farming. Thishands-on training and guidance assisted participants with the implementation of best practices they learned.72% of survey respondents indicated that they plan to utilize the information shared with them during the training. 56% indicated that they have implemented some of what they learned from ENCFC. ENCFC also assisted28 small farmers to participate in the North Carolina State Beekeeping AssociationCertification course and successfully completed it. They are now certified beekeepers.The use of raised bed growing, pollination, greenhouses, tunnel houses, and open planting increased production in all areas. Using domestic hives to pollinate crops increases yield by up to 50% (Cucumbers, Peppers, Onions, Strawberries, Blueberries, and Watermelons,) Cotton farmer's yields have also increased by approximately 50% to 65%. The ENCFC intends to continue to conduct training workshops to educate participants on USDA programs and services, on production workshops to educate on best agricultural practices for successful yield, and unique marketing methods, and how to get produce to market.

    Publications