The recent rains have provided a lot of relief for all of us. Those of us who live in the city are glad to receive rain for our lawns and flowers, but the farmers are especially glad to receive rain for their crops. Because of the drought we have experienced during the past several months, the crop yields will be lower than normal, but at least they will not be as bad as they would have been if we had not received the rains. Hopefully, we will continue to get occasional showers during the coming weeks.

As farmers and landowners enjoy at least some temporary relief from the drought, this is a time to start considering what can be done next year. Even though there are several months and much hard work remaining in this production year, we can always learn from our experiences, and we can always plan ahead to improve on what we are doing.

The challenges that many landowners and farmers in Robeson County are considering is how to generate additional income from their land or from their farming operation. I have shared information in this column many times about methods that are being used to generate additional income. Some of these are very simple and are widely used like fruit and vegetable production. But there is a limited local market for fresh fruits and vegetables, so anyone considering this alternative really needs to develop a marketing plan before planting the first seeds.

Other ideas I have shared are not as simple, and they are definitely not used very much in this area, but they still have potential. Because there is potential, I will continue to encourage people to consider them. But I will always caution people to gain as much information as possible and to develop a good business plan and marketing plan before starting.

One of the "hottest" alternative income projects for farmers this year is corn mazes. I have just received a list of most of those that are operating in the state this year, and there are over 15 of them. Many of them are in the mountains, but the rest are scattered across the state.

For those of you who are not familiar with corn mazes, this is the process of planting about 5 to 10 acres of corn very thickly. Then, often with the aid of Global Positioning Technology, walkways are cut through the corn field to form a maze. The pattern used to cut these walkways often forms a symbol representative of the farm where it is located or a symbol of the area.

Once constructed and when the corn is fully grown, admission ranging from $3 per person to $5 per person is charged to go through the corn maze. The price charged depends upon how intensive the maze is and other activities that are provided like adjoining petting zoos. Many of those who operated well-managed corn mazes last year reported as many as 75,000 visitors.

A 10-acre field of corn will normally return about $2,500 for the farmer, $250 per acre. If 75,000 people visit the maze and pay only $3 each, this would provide over $225,000 from that 10 acres of corn, and the farmer can still harvest the corn once the project is over. Just realize, much more management and labor would be needed.

What better location for a corn maze than the Lumberton area?

• Right beside Interstate 95 where thousands of tourists pass each day.
• Close to the restaurants where the tourists stop for lunch and dinner.
• Close to all the motels where they stop for the evening and look for something to do before bedtime.
• Close to thousands of school children who could be provided field trips.
• Right in the center of a county with a population of over 125,000.

I would like to provide a day trip for those farmers and landowners in the county interested in visiting successful operating corn mazes. We could possibly visit as many as 4 or 5 corn mazes in one day. This would provide an opportunity for interested persons to gather ideas and information they would need in order to properly prepare for next year.

The person with the determination and creativeness to make a success of a corn maze in this area may not be a farmer or a landowner. This person may need to develop an agreement with a farmer or landowner to rent or lease the proper field and assistance to get the crop planted and grown to maturity. Then this person could handle the marketing, management, and make arrangements for the labor that would be needed to operate the maze.

If anyone is interested, please call me at 910-671-3276. Based on the responses I receive, I will then arrange a field trip. In addition, to gathering and providing the production information that would be needed, members of my staff could also assist with other needs such as crop production, petting zoos, adjoining pumpkin patches, or anything else the operator would like to include.

There are many opportunities for alternative income such as hunting preserves, tournament fishing ponds, rural bed and breakfasts, rural vacations, and a large variety of nitch market crops. All that is needed is the people who are interested and willing to do something different. If that is you, please call your Extension Center and let's get something started.

I am fully convinced that we are overlooking great potential to develop a very impressive and profitable agritourism and ecotourism industry here in Robeson County. With the people, the heritage, the history, the large populations all around us, and the traffic routes through our county, all that is needed is people who want to get something started.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 8/6/02