Grant Opportunities for Farm Diversification, Local Agriculture Groups

WNC Agricultural Options will award a total of $150,000 to approximately 35 farm businesses and farmer-led groups in 2012.  Funded exclusively by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, WNC AgOptions continues its eight-year history of advancing the mountain region’s diverse agriculture system.

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 $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, 2011 to notify them that they intend to apply. The application postmark deadline is December 1, 2011.

If you desire to apply or would like more information about this process, consider attending one of the following Tips for Writing WNC AG Option Grants.

What is WNC Ag Options?

“Successful farming in today’s environment requires taking on challenges,” said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director and WNC AgOptions steering committee leader. “New crops, new farming systems and new marketing strategies all increase the potential of a farm’s success but also increases risk. The WNC AgOptions program helps this region’s farmers balance that risk by providing financial assistance as well as hands-on guidance with a new venture. The goal of this program is to discover farming practices that are innovative and have the potential of helping other farmers in the future.”

Recent recipients of WNC AgOptions community grants created systems and undertook promotional campaigns to market produce and products directly to customers. Individual farm businesses responded to the growing demand for healthily raised poultry products, purchased equipment to receive Good Agricultural Practices certification, added crops to their vegetable operations to ensure steady income flow, built grade B inspected goat milk parlors, and expanded their vineyards and wineries. Several recipients used the grants to expand their businesses so they can become full-time farmers.

In partnership with West District of N.C. Cooperative Extension, WNC Communities will administer WNC AgOptions grants in 2012. 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 has a rich history of collaboration with N.C. Cooperative Extension and N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to serve local farmers by bringing these resources to them in support of their innovative farm practices,” said L.T. Ward, Vice President of WNC Communities. “The farmers’ successes will boost the local agriculture economy and increase the potential for success in farming in the mountain region.”

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, visit the following partners websites: 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.

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For More Information, contact:

Christy Bredenkamp, Extension Agent
Agriculture/Horticulture
586-4009 or 488-3848

Or visit the link below to download an application:

www.wncagoptions.org

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