Today is the first day of spring. We have enjoyed a few spring showers during the past several days and spring flowers have been blooming for a couple of weeks. Let's hope that we can now enjoy spring weather, and not have to deal with another late freeze like we did last year.

When we think about spring many of us think about farming. It is the time of the year that farmers start planting their crops, and therefore a time of the year that those of us that are not farmers begin to see a lot of farm activity across the county.

When we think of farms, we usually think of large fields, large tractors, large combines, and a lot of workers harvesting a lot of farm products. When considering livestock farms, the tendency today is to think about the large confinement animal facilities and huge pastures with hundreds of cows.

About 15 percent of the farms in the United States are considered large farm operations and these farms produce about 85 percent of the agricultural products we consume. But the vast majority of the farms in the United States, about 85 percent of them, are considered small farms. Collectively they provide only about 15 percent of the farm products we consume.

It is hard to determine the exact definition of a small farm. Some try to define small farms by the amount of income they generate each year. Others place more emphasis on acres, while even others consider the amount of management time that is devoted to the farm operation.

Whatever definition is used, it is easy to understand that small farms play a very important role in American agriculture. Many of these farms maintain the tradition of family farms that so many of us remember. Many of them provide additional sources of income or a second income for a family. Some of them are virtually the only source of highly specialized products we enjoy that are not available anywhere else. And yes, some of them simply provide a "hobby" for the owner.

As in years past, Cooperative Extension will again lead the celebration of Small Farm Week in North Carolina. Small Farm Week activities this year will be held across the state from March 30 until April 5. This is a special opportunity for each of us to pay tribute to the many families in North Carolina who own and operate small farms. This special week also provides an opportunity to better acquaint the general consumer of the importance of small farms.

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service works with small and part-time farmers in many ways, and we celebrate their successes daily. Many of the organized efforts to recognize these farmers are coordinated by the Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. This year North Carolina A&T State University will coordinate a kick-off luncheon in Greensboro on Monday, March 31, and tours, workshops and forums will be held on campus throughout the week.

Nelson Brownlee, Farm Management Agent on our staff, coordinates the small farm activities for both Robeson and Bladen counties. If you want more information or would like to participate in some of the activities in Greensboro, please call Brownlee at 671-3276.

An afternoon tour on Thursday, April 3 is planned as a special activity to celebrate Small Farms Week in Robeson County. This tour will depart from the Extension Center at 1:00 pm. The Extension Center is located in the O. P. Owens Agriculture Center, which is located at 455 Caton Road, Highway 72 west, in Lumberton. The tour will visit three local farm operations that highlight successful small farmers, and will return to the Extension Center around 6 pm.

If you would like to participate in this tour you will have an opportunity to see a successful small farm operation using plastic mulch and drip irrigation, another small-scale organic livestock and beekeeping farm, and finally an intensive vegetable farm. Transportation and refreshments will be provided, so if you would like to participate in this tour please call Brownlee and let him know to expect you.

Since you are a consumer of agricultural products, I would like to encourage you to make a special effort some time during the coming week to express your appreciation to one of the small farmers in the county. Let them know you appreciate what they do to provide your food.

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 06/16/09