NEWS RELEASE: 2013 WNC AGOPTIONS AWARDS ANNOUNCED

NEWS RELEASE: 2013 WNC AGOPTIONS AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Program Contact: Jennifer Ferre, (828) 252-4783, admin@wncagoptions.org;
Or the local N.C. Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent

Grants boost farm profits, sustain businesses for future generations:
Projects include innovative hydroponic fodder system, micropropagation
lab and no-till equipment

MILLS RIVER, N.C.—Western North Carolina farmers received $148,500 in
WNC Agricultural Options grants to diversify their farm businesses in
the 2013 growing season. The 28 grant recipients celebrated Tuesday at
an event at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension
Center in Mills River. The goal of the farms' projects is to enhance
profitability.

The WNC AgOptions grant program has been funded exclusively by the
N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission since 2003. "The Commission is very
pleased to fund and support the WNC AgOptions program for another
year," said Bill Teague, Chairman of the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund
Commission. "We expect to see some unique projects, because mountain
farmers have shown they are resourceful, innovative and committed to
making their farms successful."

Six farm businesses received $3,000, one received $4,500, and 21
received $6,000. Many of the farmers are undertaking projects that are
unique to their counties, and some are leading the way in innovative
agriculture nationwide.

Tester Dairy Farm in Watauga County is creating a hydroponic fodder
system, which grows barley, rye and wheat from seed to sprouts in
eight days so that the farmers can feed their cattle high-protein
grasses daily. The fresh palatable feed is proven to enhance animals'
milk production, improve fertility and decrease respiratory issues.
Thomas and Margaret Tester said they are renovating the farm so that
their granddaughter Jessica Lawrence can take it over without the
worries of weather, lease agreements and costs associated with row
crops.

South Valley Nursery and Landscaping in Avery County is building a
micropropagation lab so that grant recipient Tyler Buchanan can mass
produce unique plants such as native orchids that are expensive to
propagate using traditional techniques. Tissue culture requires a
significant upfront investment, specialized training and a sterile
environment to be able to produce new plants in vitro (in a test
tube), but payoff can be significant since the demand for these rare
native plants is high.

Joe Ward in Jackson County is establishing a no-till planting system
in an area where few farmers use this method. In no-till fields, soil
erosion and runoff decrease as a network of fibrous and tap roots grow
throughout the soil profile, providing pathways for air and moisture.
This method also creates a good environment for earthworms and
beneficial bacteria, fungi and enzymes, all crucial for healthy crops.

The WNC AgOptions grants help sustain several significant farms, such
as a 65-acre Old Fort property that the ancestors of grant recipient
Alvin Lytle first acquired in the 1850's, as well as a Bethel Valley
farm that has been in the family of grant recipient Joseph Cathey for
more than 200 years. As profits increase, Reems Creek Nursery and
Landscaping will be able to boost employment beyond its current 25
employees while also continuing to preserve the rural quality of Reems
Creek Valley. With the help of the grant, Addison Vineyard, a part of
a fourth generation cattle farm in Leicester, will be on track to
reaching their goal of profitability by the eighth year of wine grape
production in 2016.

The grant projects help many of the grant recipients' achieve their
dreams of passing their farming operations to their children or
grandchildren. Rick Walker, who is building a poultry processing
facility in Cherokee County, named his farm after his four sons,
Ricky, Joseph, Daniel and Joshua, who are ages six and under. "4 Sons
Farm is the name I chose not only because I have four sons, but
because it is for my sons," Walker said. "I began farming to provide
wholesome food for our children, to teach them an ancient and
respected way of life, and to create a business legacy to hand down to
them."

N.C. Cooperative Extension implements the WNC AgOptions program and
works directly with farmers as they complete their projects. "As we
begin our ninth grant cycle, it is very rewarding to look back at all
the successful farm operations and creative enterprises that have
grown from the initial investments," said Ross Young, Madison County
Extension Director and WNC AgOptions steering committee leader. "The
farmers in western North Carolina are the most vital component of the
program. It is their ideas and their dedication to the success of
those ideas that make it all work."

In partnership with N.C. Cooperative Extension, the non-profit
organization WNC Communities administers WNC AgOptions grants. WNC
Communities is dedicated to providing a unique forum for leaders in
western North Carolina to carry out innovative programs to improve the
quality of life for rural communities and to enhance the agriculture
economy.

"WNC Communities is delighted to serve as fiscal agent in bringing
these funds to creative and innovative farmers throughout western
North Carolina," said L.T. Ward, Vice President of WNC Communities.
"We are extremely appreciative to N. C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
for their long standing and continuing commitment to WNC AgOptions and
the farmers of this region."

Members of the WNC AgOptions steering committee include:
representatives from N.C. Cooperative Extension, WNC Communities, N.C.
Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services–Marketing Division,
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project and other leaders in
agriculture. For more information, see the following: WNC Agricultural
Options: www.wncagoptions.org; N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers:
www.ces.ncsu.edu; N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission:
www.tobaccotrustfund.org; WNC Communities: www.wnccommunities.org.

FOR A FULL LIST OF RECIPIENTS SEE:
http://www.wncagoptions.org/index.php/about-the-project/61-2013-program/629-2012-program-background

WNC AgOptions Grants

Grants help mountain region's farms succeed

WNC AgOptions intent to apply deadline Oct. 12; application deadline Nov. 16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Program Contact: Jennifer Ferre, (828) 333-4277, admin@wncagoptions.org;
Or the local N.C. Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent

Media Contact: Megan Riley, (828) 333-4151, info@wncagoptions.org

MARSHALL — Mountain farms will soon benefit from N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission's recent funding of WNC Agricultural Options. With support from the Commission, WNC AgOptions will award area farmers a new round of $3,000 and $6,000 grants, for a total of $145,000. WNC AgOptions is accepting applications until November 16.

WNC AgOptions, a program of N.C. Cooperative Extension and WNC Communities, continues its nine-year history of helping farmers diversify their businesses. "I am excited that the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission funded this program again this year," said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director and WNC AgOptions steering committee leader. "There is no doubt that agriculture in Western North Carolina has become stronger because of WNC AgOptions and we expect the 2013 program to continue with outstanding applications from farmers hoping to keep their farms strong in these ever-changing times."
WNC AgOptions awards farmers who propose diversification projects that will help their businesses grow and succeed. The seed money offsets the risk of trying something new and gives farmers the chance to demonstrate new farming techniques and marketing tactics to the agricultural community.
Applications are available at www.wncagoptions.org and at local Cooperative Extension Centers. Interested applicants should contact their local Extension Agents by October 12 to notify them that they intend to apply. The application postmark deadline is November 16.

One recent WNC AgOptions recipient, Wildwood Herbal in Buncombe County, is harvesting tilapia from a new sustainably designed aquaponics system and will include fish in CSA shares this fall. Another 2012 recipient, David Hughes in Mitchell County, is transitioning entirely from tobacco to potatoes. He is thrilled with the results of his project, as soils in his county often produce at least twice the yield that is expected for potatoes. In part due to the publicity of her grant project, Donna Gains of High Mountain Meadows Farm in Clay County is already taking calls from customers requesting goat cheese even before the completion of her new creamery, due to open this fall.

"The innovative ideas which farmers undertake, the opportunity to showcase these ideas to whole communities, and the proven and continuing success of the WNC AgOptions program are key reasons why our board chose to fund this great project for another year," said Bill Teague, Chairman of the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.
Eligible farms are in: Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties as well as the Cherokee Indian Reservation. The WNC AgOptions steering committee strongly encourages eligible farmers who have never received grant funding to apply.

The administrator of WNC AgOptions is WNC Communities, a non-profit organization that has roots as far back as 1947 and hands in the development of such influential regional projects as the N.C. Arboretum, the WNC Agricultural Center, and, most recently, the WNC Regional Livestock Center. WNC Communities is dedicated to providing a unique forum for leaders in western North Carolina to carry out innovative programs to improve the quality of life for rural communities and to enhance the agriculture economy.

Members of the WNC AgOptions steering committee include: representatives from N.C. Cooperative Extension, N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services–Marketing Division, WNC Communities, Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project and other leaders in agribusiness. RAFI-USA's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund manages a similar grant program for farmers in the Piedmont, Central and Coastal regions of North Carolina.

For more information, see the following: 
WNC Agricultural Options: www.wncagoptions.org; 
N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers: www.ces.ncsu.edu; 
N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission: www.tobaccotrustfund.org; 
WNC Communities: www.wnccommunities.org.


 Pictured above: Seth Salmon at Wildwood Herbal in Buncombe County; David Hughes' potato farm in Mitchell County

USDA Announces Grants to Improve Housing for Farm Workers

The USDA
Sep. 10, 2012

The USDA is accepting applications for technical assistance grants to develop domestic and migrant farm labor housing.

The deadline for submitting applications is November 5, 2012.

.Advertisement.The USDA is accepting applications for technical assistance grants to develop domestic and migrant farm labor housing.

"These grants will help communities submit quality applications to increase their chances of getting funding to build much-needed affordable housing for farm workers," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Increasing the supply of affordable housing in rural communities not only helps the residents, it helps the entire community."

Grants are available to organizations that will help housing authorities, state and local governments, Indian tribes, non-profit organizations, and community- and faith-based groups apply for loans and grants to build farmworker housing. The purpose of the grants is to increase the number of high-quality applications USDA receives. Vilsack announced on July 18 the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for loans and grants to build or preserve affordable rental farm worker housing. This technical assistance funding is to organizations that assist potential borrowers under that NOFA.

Technical assistance grantees must have the knowledge, ability, expertise or practical experience necessary to develop and package farm labor housing loan and grant applications. They also will be required to submit a minimum number of applications to USDA, based on their location.

For additional information, see page 54877 of the September 6 Federal Register. The deadline for submitting applications is November 5, 2012.  Go to http://tinyurl.com/9yon3l8

Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Awards

The 2012 NC Tobacco Trust Fund Grant Award Winners have been announced.  19 projects have received funding, including the successful local project WNC AgOptions Grant Program.  The NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission conducts an annual grant application cycle.  Check back to the NC Tobacco Trust Fund website (http://www.tobaccotrustfund.org/grants/index.htm) to see the latest updates and to download an application and the guidelines when they become available.  The next cycle is expected to launch January, 2013.

To see the complete list of recipients, click here 

Congratulations to all recipients!

Grant Applications for the WNC AgOptions 2012 Cycle!

We are so excited and pleased to announce that WNC AgOptions Grant Program applications are now available!

Grants of $3,000 and $6,000 will be awarded to individual farmers proposing diversification projects that boost economic viability of their businesses. Awards of up to $10,000 will go to three farmer-led groups working to solve processing, packaging, marketing and other distribution needs of the local agriculture system.

Applications for the two grant opportunities are available at www.wncagoptions.org and at the local Cooperative Extension Centers. Interested applicants must contact their local Extension Agents by November 16 to notify them that they intend to apply. The application postmark deadline is December 1.

Eligible farms are in: Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties as well as the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

For more information, see the following: WNC Agricultural Options: www.wncagoptions.org; N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers: www.ces.ncsu.edu; N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission: www.tobaccotrustfund.org; WNC Communities: www.wnccommunities.org; Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, RAFI-USA: www.ncfarmgrants.org.

To read the full Press Release go here.

If you are a farmer in Henderson, Haywood or Buncombe Counties contact me as soon as possible so we can make sure you have the best and most complete application. sue_colucci@ncsu.edu

USDA Awards $46 Million to Specialty Crops Projects

The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded 29 grants across 19 states in Specialty Crops Research to develop and share science-based tools to address the needs of the specialty crop industry.

The entire list of awards and projects can be found here.

Some of the projects include:

• Developing an inexpensive, accurate, easy-to-use biosensor for the detection of Salmonella contamination of fresh globe fruits (tomatoes, cantaloupes and watermelons) - Auburn University

• Developing biorenewable and biodegradable containers as a greener alternative to the petroleum-based pots used in the container specialty crop industry - Iowa State University

• Identifying and developing improved basil varieties with resistance/tolerance to downy mildew, Fusarium wilt and chilling-injury - Rutgers University

• Advancing the productivity and profitability of U.S. fruiting vegetable enterprises by integrating grafting technologies into tomato and melon production systems - NC State University

• Improving the long-term viability of the fresh U.S. grown mushroom industry by marketing mushrooms as an excellent source of Vitamin D - St. Joseph's University

SARE Report: Breaking into Organic Hops with Blue Ridge Hops

Check out the report below on local, organic hops producers Rita and John from Blue Ridge Hops in Madison County. In 2009 the couple received a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant to help them with their 1/2 acre hops yard.

Breaking into Organic Hops Production

To learn more about Southern SARE grants click here.

Producer Grants Available for Sustainable Agriculture

GRIFFIN, Georgia – Calls for Proposals for the 2012 Producer Grants, intended for farmers/ranchers and farmer/rancher organizations throughout the Southern region, are now available from the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) program.

Proposal submission deadline is 11:59 Eastern Standard Time on Nov. 15, 2011. Announcement of grants will take place in February 2012.

Producer Grants are used to conduct projects that solve problems farmers face and to develop information on what works and what doesn’t so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same problems can benefit from the results of the funded project. The grants are not designed to pay a farmer to farm. They are designed to take some of the financial risk away from trying a solution.

Projects may be funded for up to two years for a project maximum of $10,000 for an individual producer or $15,000 for a producer organization. Producer organizations should be comprised primarily of farmers/ranchers and must have a majority farmer representation on their governing board.

Log on to http://www.southernsare.org/Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant to download the current Calls for Proposal. The Calls for Proposal includes application information, program priorities, use of funds, proposal submission instructions, and contact information. Be sure to carefully follow the information in the Calls for Proposals when submitting your grant. Failure to follow the submission guidelines may result in your proposal being rejected.

Focus areas for Producer Grants include beneficial insect habitat, alternative crops/livestock, organic agriculture, sustainable marketing products, sustainable grazing systems, soil organic matter, building/protection/management, increasing sustainability of existing farming practices, appropriate technology and agroforestry/water quality.

SARE is a competitive grants program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote research and education about sustainable agriculture. Southern SARE is administered by a host consortium consisting of the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Oklahoma.

For more information on Southern SARE, log on to http://www.southernsare.org, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/southernsare, or fan us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/southsare.

Grants support diverse agricultural ventures, build local agriculture system

NEWS RELEASE

MARSHALL — The WNC Agricultural Options program recently awarded six community groups and 47 farmers grants totaling $326,000 to assist them in farm diversification and joint marketing and distribution efforts.

This year's community grant recipients are creating cohesion, infrastructure and marketing for local products. Individual recipients are improving such diverse operations as a 75-acre kale, turnips and collards farm in Cherokee County, a new dairy in Madison County, a micro-greens venture in Watauga County, and a canned bamboo shoots business in McDowell County.

For a full list of recipients, see http://www.wncagoptions.org/home/424-2011-program-background

Since 2003, N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has supported WNC AgOptions, a N.C. Cooperative Extension program that provides resources directly to farmers diversifying or expanding their operations. "We have been a strong supporter of the WNC AgOptions program because we know western farmers appreciate the funding and know how to put it into action," said Bill Teague, NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission Acting Chairman. "These farmers have a wide variety of innovative ideas and we expect successful outcomes from which other farmers can learn."

The program has worked in partnership with RAFI-USA's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund since 2008. RAFI-USA was also included in the $18.4 million Family Farm Innovation Fund last summer, which provided an additional $100,000 for WNC farmers this year.

While WNC AgOptions has given 300 individual grants to farm businesses since 2004, the community grant program is still in its infancy. The WNC AgOptions steering committee established the program last summer to encourage groups of farmers to solve logistical challenges in the local agricultural system, which the committee identified as the main barrier in boosting farm income.

Community groups received varying amounts totaling $92,000. Grantees are: Avery County Farmers Tailgate Marketing Association, Jackson County Christmas Tree Association, Mountain Cattle Alliance, Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center, Watauga County Farmers Market and Southern Appalachian Family Farms.

The community group grantees, which collectively impact at least 3,500 farmers, will:

· Build a distribution center and retail center to serve farmers in at least six counties and consumers in four major metropolitan areas;

· Create energy, unity and awareness of local foods shopping, Christmas tree sales and cooperative farm marketing;

· Establish a system for small and medium-sized cattle farmers to use a portable corral unit, which will facilitate meeting Beef Quality Assurance program standards to increase profits;

· Secure a permanent site for the mountain region's oldest and largest tailgate market, opening up additional space for vendors and creative marketing and educational opportunities.

Three individual farm businesses received $9,000 grants, 25 received $6,000 and 19 received $3,000. Projects increase the economic sustainability of farm businesses as well as provide demonstration to other transitioning farmers. This year's recipients will:

· Continue their family's multiple-generation tradition of farming with such ventures as wine-grape vineyards and wineries;

· Transition a 75-acre greens operation from wholesale markets to direct sales to individuals and grocery stores with the purchase of a translicer;

· Diversify a meat and vegetable operation with the addition of a dairy for 50 head of Holstein and Jersey cattle;

· Sell goat milk under North Carolina Milk for Pet Food Use Guidelines with the addition of certified milking facilities/parlors;

· Expand or add unique poultry selections such as duck, turkey and quail to their farm operations with the purchase of processing equipment;

· Build a farm store to sell several farmers' products on a well-travelled highway in Weaverville where no stand currently exists;

· Revive foods traditional to the Cherokee Indian Reservation, including crawfish and canned wild greens;

· Improve a hydroponic farm's greenhouse heating and irrigation system, increasing the business' bottom line;

· Establish a Black Perigord and Burgundy truffle operation in inoculated Filbert and Oak trees, which are expected to eventually gross between $17,500 to $35,000 annually;

· Demonstrate a unique terraced growing system for raspberries.

The ultimate goal of WNC AgOptions is to protect mountain farmland by assisting the longevity of farm enterprises.

"The sustainability of the agricultural industry in Western North Carolina is dependent upon the innovation of farmers and their willingness to try new things," said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director and WNC AgOptions steering committee leader. "This region is a leader in agriculture innovation, and I believe that the WNC AgOptions program has played a very important role in providing farmers with educational tools and financial resources they have needed to take their wonderful ideas and turn them into reality."

For more information, see the following websites: N.C. Cooperative Extension Centers: www.ces.ncsu.edu; Family Farm Innovation Fund: www.ncruralcenter.org; Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, RAFI-USA: www.ncfarmgrants.org; N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission: www.tobaccotrustfund.org.

Contact:

Megan Riley, Media Relations Specialist, (828) 333-4151, info@wncagoptions.org;

Jennifer Ferre, Project Manager, (828) 333-4277, admin@wncagoptions.org

Cost-share grants for organic certification still available

RALEIGH -- Organic growers in North Carolina can still apply for partial reimbursement of the cost of becoming certified or recertified producers through a program offered by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“We still have about a third of the grant funds available, so I would encourage organic producers who have gone through the certification process to submit their application for reimbursement,” said Kevin Hardison, marketing specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “The deadline to apply is Sept. 30.”

Growers who are certified or recertified before Sept. 30, can apply for assistance. The program will pay 75 percent of the cost of certification, up to $750.

The program is funded through a $30,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To apply, growers must fill out an authorization form that can be found online at www.ncdaorganic.com. The completed form, a copy of the farm’s certification and a copy of the receipts from the certifying agency should be mailed to the NCDA&CS Division of Marketing, Attn. Kevin Hardison, 1020 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1020. The invoice must show the total cost of certification and the 75 percent portion that is eligible for reimbursement.

Growers with questions can call Hardison at (919) 733-7887.

“As consumer interest in certified products has grown, so has the number of organic producers statewide,” Hardison said. “North Carolina has more than 6,000 certified organic acres, and these farms produce a variety of vegetables, livestock, herbs and other products.”