Each year I talk to many landowners who are seeking information about what they can do with their farms to generate additional income. Some of these are currently farming, but they are generating too little income from traditional crops -- such as corn, soybeans, and wheat -- to pay the expenses of the farm or to generate enough income to make it worth their while. Others are not currently farming, but they own a small farm and are seeking ways to use the farm to generate income for their family.

I would like to encourage all landowners, whether currently farming or not, to look for opportunities that are quite different than the traditional agriculture that we are so familiar with here in Robeson County. Look for opportunities to develop something special on your farm. Something that no one else, or very few others, are doing.

I have mentioned many times before that one of the most valuable resources we have in this county is Interstate 95 and the network of other major highways that carry people north and south on their travels or back and forth to the beaches. I have been told that approximately 50,000 tourists pass through our county each day. Every one of them has money in their pockets or has their credit cards ready and is eager to pay someone for products or services not that they especially need but for products or services they want and can enjoy.

I have also heard that currently these tourists are spending about $100 million each year in our county, but virtually all of this money is for motel rooms, meals at restaurants, or gas and miscellaneous items at convenience stores. We need to be giving them many more opportunities to leave their money in our county.

I am not able to go into a lot of detail with the limited space I have in this column, but I urge each person reading this column who has land in the county and has any desire at all to generate additional income from that land to start thinking about the many ways they can use that land to attract outside dollars into our county.

There is still great potential for fruit and vegetable production in our county. But the greatest potential is for those who can and are willing to add value to the products they produce. Value added products can be sold to local people, but they can generate sales to those from adjoining counties as well which brings outside dollars into our county.

There is great potential for specialty crops or products. The greatest challenge is for the individual to determine what they really would like to do and what they can enjoy doing. No one wants to get into something they despise doing.

The next challenge for the individual is to determine if they are willing to do what is necessary to learn something new and if they are willing to devote the time and effort to make a new venture successful.

We are not limited to growing watermelons and tomatoes to sell to the tourist as they pass through our county. There are opportunities to provide rural vacations for tourists. Yes, they will pay big money for someone to provide them an interesting, educational, comfortable, and rewarding experience on a real farm.

There are opportunities for rural and small town bed and breakfast facilities for tourists. The number of tourists seeking experiences other than the chain motel is growing drastically, and those people are willing to pay for the experience.

Today more and more people live in urban environments. They want a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and the congestion within their neighborhoods. They are willing to pay for the opportunity to ride a horse through the woods, camp in a secluded site, or observe flowers and animals as they hike a nature trail. 2

The opportunities are out there. They are waiting for you. If you have an interest or an idea, please give me a call at 671-3276. Cooperative Extension may be able to provide you the information and assistance you need to get you started in the right way.

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 8/28/03