2008 RMA proposal, Wayne County Outreach -1
Wayne County Farmers Outreach and Assistance:
2008 RMA Community Outreach and Assistance grant proposal
Project Summary: Wayne County Farmers Outreach and Assistance......
Project Description......
1.Circumstances......
1.1.Wayne County, North Carolina......
1.2.The Center for Environmental Farming Systems - CEFS......
1.3.Wayne Local, Sustainable Foods Initiative - WLSFI......
1.4.Proposals and Support......
2.Objectives......
Objective 1: Production and Economic Risk reduction EDUCATION......
objective 2: Training Practicum for Hands-On EXPERIENCE......
Objective 3: Producer/Public marketing and educational ENGAGMENT......
3.Implementation......
3.1.Implementing Objective 1: EDUCATION......
3.1.1.risk management workshops......
3.1.2.targeted farmer trainings......
3.2.Objective 2: Implementing EXPERIENCE......
3.2.1.the producers......
3.2.2.the sites......
3.3.Objective 3: Implementing ENGAGEMENT......
3.3.1.know your research, know your resources......
3.3.2.know your farmers, know your food system......
3.4.Staff......
3.4.1.Full time New Farmer Project Manager......
3.4.2.Contractual WLSFI coordination and project Evaluation and Dissemination......
4.Evaluation
4.1.Evaluation Description......
4.1.1.Communication:......
4.1.2.Numbers Impacted:......
4.1.3.The Stories:......
4.1.4.Dissemination and replicable materials:......
4.2.Project Logic Model......
Program Delivery Plan......
5.timeline......
Fall 08 – design and early implementation
Winter 08/09 – continuation and addition of programs
Spring 09 – continuation, accessment and future planning......
Summer 09 – last stage and future direction......
Fall 09......
Statements of Work......
6.tables......
6.1.Statements of Work – Objective 1......
6.2.Statements of Work – Objective 2......
6.3.Statements of Work – Objective 3......
6.4.Statements of Work – Documentation and Evaluation......
Budget: OMB Standard Form 424A......
Budget Justification......
6.5.Non-Financial Benefit:......
Key Personnel......
7.PD: Dr. Nancy Creamer......
7.1.c.v.
8.Co-PD: Steve Moore......
8.1.c.v.......
Collaborative Arrangements
9.Contractual Services for Stakeholder Coordination, Project Administration, Evaluation, and Dissemination.
9.1.Contractual justification......
9.1.1.Contractual Coordinator and Evaluator......
9.1.2.Contractual Coordinator: cv......
10.Letters of Support......
10.1.NC A&T SU Extension & FACT Program......
10.2.Wayne County Extension......
10.3.Heifer International......
10.4.Wayne Community College......
10.5.Mount Olive College......
10.6.CASTLES after-school Program......
10.7.Wayne County Public Library – Community Garden Program......
10.8.Goldsboro Chamber of Commerce, Travel & Tourism Division......
Current and Pending Support......
11.PD Current and Pending: Nancy Creamer......
12.Co-PD Current and Pending: Steve Moore......
OMB Standard Form LLL......
AD 1047......
AD 1049......
Appendices......
Appeendix A. FACT screening application......
Appendix B. CEFS unit flyers......
small farm unit......
Organic Research unit......
Alternative Swine unit......
Pasture-based Dairy unit......
Farming Systems Research unit......
Pasture-based Beef unit......
Appendix C. CEFS Fall Festival agenda 2007......
Project Summary: Wayne County Farmers Outreach and Assistance
Our goal is to increase the number of, and, production by, small, diversified, farmers in Wayne County, NC by addressing risk reduction through a replicable program that links innovative production training with creative direct marketing opportunities for limited resource, transitioning, and aspiring farmers. Laying the foundation for launching more economically sustainable small-scale farm enterprises requires promoting sound risk management solutions in both production and marketing, particularly to these traditionally underserved populations. For Wayne County and others in NC to establish a robust and economically accessible local food system, more land needs to come under cultivation, more trained people are needed to work that land, more distribution channels need to be created for locally grown food, and more community knowledge is needed to foster a commitment to small and local farmers. Through this project, we will develop a replicable model of how to build asset-based efforts that can be utilized and particularized by counties statewide.
Three major objectives form the core of our proposal:
1.) to provide accessible production and economic risk reduction education through an extensive production and marketing workshop series run by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, as well as additional business planning, tax assistance, and record keeping workshops offered in partnership with extension, local colleges and institutions and the assistance of RMA;
2.) to provide a training practicum for hands-on experience in diversified growing practices, risk management, farm development, and marketing through “lab” training program for student farmers enrolling in the new sustainable agriculture curriculum at Wayne Community College (a result of the WLSFI) and limited resource and other new or transitioning producers; and
3.) to build strong producer/public marketing and educational engagement through producer-to-producer and producer-to-consumer “twilight farm tours,” forging strong producer links to both agricultural research which offers sound production guidance, and also to consumers who’s knowledge and commitment to local foods builds steady market demand
Wayne Local Foods Initiative, a partnerships of public and private organizations and businesses, individuals and youths, farmers and Ag organizations, is collaborating to advance the availability and accessibility of local and sustainable foods to our entire population. This proposed, one year RMA project is vital to developing the producer component of that initiative: through the activities proposed here, CEFS and key partners will advance sound risk management strategies to current and aspiring farmers, as well as outreach that will foster consumer knowledge and strong markets. This project establishes the initial educational components essential to creating a corps of beginning farmers and burgeoning farming enterprises. In alignment with RMAs goals, our priorities are to reach producers of Priority Commodities, particularly Specialty Crops, and also to provide limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and other traditionally underserved producers, including aspiring farmers, with the training, opportunities, and assistance necessary to understand and implement economically viable farms through planning and practices that begin with sound Risk Management decisions. In doing so, we will develop a replicable model that will not only build a vibrant farming system in Wayne County, but will also provide a guide for other counties across NC and beyond as we collectively work to strengthen the equity and health of a locally based agricultural economy.
Project Description
1.Circumstances
1.1.Wayne County, North Carolina
Wayne County has a very strong agricultural history and a growing interest in the production and consumption of local sustainably produced foods. We have 25 commercial horticulture farms (includes vegetable, orchard, specialty herb and berry production), nearly 550 commercial animal or animal product farms (approximately 180 cattle producer, 100 goat producers, 250 hog producers, one goat cheese farm, and one honey producer), and nearly 150 farms dedicated to commercial commodity crops. However, Wayne County, and North Carolina as a whole, face significant challenges that can be met and resolved by rebuilding the diminishing agriculture system in Wayne County. In 2005, NC lost 1,000 farms, tying Florida and Tennessee for fist place in the nation (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Agriculture employs 17% of North Carolina’s workforce and contributes $68 billion to the economy (NC Agriculture Commission). In Wayne County, the agriculture and agribusiness food industry represents 21% of county revenues, approximately $648 million (Howard Scott, Wayne County Extension Director). Nearly 20% of Wayne County residents get their income from agriculture, and we rank third for total cash receipts (NCDA&CS, 2005). Our county is positioned fourth in the state for hog and pig production and third for turkey production (NCDA&CS, 2006). While agriculture is very important to the county, it is distressing to note that there isn’t currently even one farmers market enabling Wayne County residents can buy direct from producers.
Unfortunately, Wayne County is following the national trends of diminishing number of farms. The average of farmers in NC is now 57 years, and fewer young people are willing or able to take over family farm enterprises. Nationally, the number of entry-level farmers replacing retiring farmers dropped 30% in the last fifteen years (Center for Rural Affairs). In Wayne County, the average age of farmers is 54 and increasing. According to the 1987 Census of Agriculture, there were 971 farms in Wayne County. By the 2002 census, the number of farms dropped to 722. This census also reported that immigrants are the fastest growing sector of farmers today, and Hispanic farmers are the fastest growing demographic group of new farmers in the country. The number of Hispanic farmers increased by 50% between 1997 and 2002 (from 33,340 to 50,000) (US census, 2002). In Wayne County, 6.6% of residents are Hispanic, and many have come from agricultural backgrounds. While many may have experience in various aspects of agriculture, they face many challenges trying to become farmers and landowners in the US. These numbers support that farmers from traditionally underserved populations are repeatedly at greatest risk and seem least likely to retain family farms or choose farming as a career path.
In addition to farm and farmer losses, the city of Goldsboro and surrounding rural areas in Wayne County face significant general economic and social challenges. Approximately 51% of the population in Goldsboro is African American and 43% is Caucasian. The median family income is $34,000 (national average is $48,201) and only 38% of the population own the homes in which they live (versus a national average of 62.4%). Wayne County at large has a population of 114,000 and is 74% Caucasian and 26% African American. The median family income in the county is $39,500, and 65% of the population own the homes in which they live. Both Wayne County and the city of Goldsboro have poverty rates that are well above the national average: 19.2% for Goldsboro and 17.2% for Wayne County (U.S. Census Bureau).
1.2.The Center for Environmental Farming Systems - CEFS
Sited in the city of Goldsboro in the center of Wayne County, The Center for Environmental Farming Systems ( was established in 1994 by NC State University, NC A&T State University, the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, partnering with several area NGOs. Today, CEFS is one of the nation’s largest centers for the study of environmentally sustainable farming practices.CEFS works closely with state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations (including Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Rural Advancement Foundation International, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Farm Bureau, and others), farmers, and citizens to provide sustainable agriculture research, education, and outreach programming. The development of CEFS is a national model for partnership, innovation, and interdisciplinary cooperation. Its creation was in response to the recommendations of a statewide taskforce that determined the first priority for sustainable agriculture was to develop a dedicated research station that focused on integrated, long-term farming systems research, and sustainable agriculture extension programming. The CEFS facility itself is located on a 2000-acre research farm owned by the NC Department of Agriculture, and operated in partnership with NC State and NC A&T SU. This facility provides an exceptional working environment where individuals, often narrowly focused within departments, can come together and work as interdisciplinary teams on important agricultural issues. In response to the current critical agriculture needs, the CEFS team and associated NGOs are now working to promote community-based food systems across the state. These efforts simultaneously involve a state-wide initiative and county-based local initiative. CEFS is currently organizing a 2009 NC Food Systems Summit, gathering leaders from diverse sectors together to develop an action plan rebuilding the local food economy. Last year, CEFS launched its community-based, model program in Wayne County.
1.3.Wayne Local, Sustainable Foods Initiative - WLSFI
On November 2nd of 2007, CEFS organized a meeting in Goldsboro with twenty community leaders—from public and private, for profit and not-for-profit, organizations and entities—to discuss current food system issues in Wayne County. Out of this meeting the Wayne Local, Sustainable Foods Initiative (WLSFI) was formed and continues to meet regularly, now involving more than thirty individuals and entities in regular community meetings. As of the Feb 29th, 2008 meeting, the following summary document was developed.
Wayne Local, Sustainable Foods Initiative:
caring partners and youths, building a local, sustainable food system
Vision:
A healthy, knowledgeable, and engaged community that through collaborative efforts and active leadership makes nutritious and affordable food accessible to all, protects the natural world through sound environmental practices, and supports a strong and growing local farming and business economy.
History:
Aided a planning grant to the Center for Environmental Farming Systems from the office of extension and engagement at NCSU, diverse institutions and organizations, government and private, for-profit and nonprofit, began meeting in the fall of 2007 to develop a Wayne County Sustainable Local Foods Initiative.
Our Approach:
We are seeking involvement by our entire community as we coordinate a network of projects that will comprise a strategic plan to pursue our vision for Wayne County. This will require an extensive outreach and education effort, and at present our intent is for youth to be the ambassadors of this initiative.
By building on current successes—
those of the CASTLES community farm after-school, and
the Wayne County Public Library’s Community Garden and community programming—
as well as community resources—
such as the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, a 2000 acre facility that can offer hands-on youth and producer training opportunities;
the WAGES commercial kitchen;
The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce
The Wayne County Cooperative Extension Service
the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention work;
and the Wayne County Charitable Partnership Inc.;
and the county’s farmland preservation study—
we start from our own strengths.
Goals:
- Increase knowledge among consumers about links between food, agriculture, nutrition, health
- Increase sustainably produced food accessibility and affordability for the entire community
- Increase the number of economically viable, sustainable farmers, reaching out in particular to socially disadvantaged and limited resource new and existing farmer
- Increase value-added processing and distributing enterprises
- Facilitate the next generation of sustainable, local agriculture and community leaders
1.4.Proposals and Support
This RMA one-year project proposal by CEFS advances the WLSFI goals of supporting sustainable producers, increasing consumer knowledge and local foods demand, and facilitating the next generation of agricultural producers/leaders. It is designed to work in conjunction with a WLSFI direct marketing project led by the Waynee County Chamber of Commerece that innovatively links community food project efforts with local producers to create institutional marketing outlets, value-added markets, and lay the foundation for developing a farmers market. We additionally have three youth projects, one established and two in development: a 3 acre after school farm/garden entering its third year of production, plans for a youth driven web-based e-magazine on agriculture and food systems, and plans for a state and regional youth Aggie/Foodie network. With the support of RMA through this funding, our efforts will provide opportunities for new agricultural growth, thus strengthening the future local agricultural economy in Wayne County and support traditionally underserved producers and communities in their struggle for livelihood and health. CEFS’s capacity and agricultural expertise allows it to lead the WLSFI goal to increase the number of economically viable farms in the county and surrounding areas by providing outreach, education, experiential training, and support in various aspects of production and marketing risk reduction practices. We seek innovative tactics that will both aid socially disadvantaged farmers and encourage future generations of producers in creating and managing environmentally sound, socially just, and economically profitable farms that can successfully meet the growing demand for local, sustainably grown foods. We also see this project as a national and statewide model for county-based initiatives that can support and grow the number of local sustainable producers and markets.
2.Objectives
Objective 1: Production and Economic Risk reduction EDUCATION
To provide accessible production and economic risk reduction education through an extensive production and marketing workshop series run by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, as well as additional business planning, tax assistance, and record keeping workshops offered in partnership with extension, two local colleges, other institutions and the assistance of RMA
objective 2: Training Practicum for Hands-On EXPERIENCE
to provide a training practicum for hands-on experience in diversified growing practices, risk management, farm development, and marketing through “lab” training program forstudent farmers enrolling in the new sustainable agriculture curriculum at Wayne Community College (a result of the WLSFI) and limited resource and other new or transitioning producers
Objective 3: Producer/Public marketing and educational ENGAGMENT
to build strong producer/public marketing and educational engagementthrough produceere-to-producer and producer-to-consumer “twilight farm tours,” forging strong producer links to both agricultural research which offers sound production guidance, and also to consumers who’s knowledge and commitment to local foods builds steady market demand
3.Implementation
3.1.Implementing Objective 1: EDUCATION
3.1.1.risk management workshops
This workshop series is designed to provide practical knowledge and tools to both producers and Ag professionals. Within the established workshop series at CEFS, ten sessions will be specifically developed to target Risk Management practices. Sessions might include energy risks, irrigation and draught/flood water management, EQUIP application procedures, farm diversification, targeted sustainable and organic practices for specialty crops, and direct market development practices like farm-to-institution and CSAs. These workshops will not only offer a wide range of cutting edge information and materials to producers, but also create a forum for NC extension, land grant faculty, producers, and others agricultural and food systems professionals to exchange ideas, knowledge, and resources, strengthening relationships and fostering a community-based network. A strong network equates a supportive community where farmers can better forge collaborative relationships and more easily seek often under-used assistance. Limited resource and/or aspiring farmers will extend this networking through attendance at two conferences, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (North and South Carolina) and the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (13 states in the south), where they will be exposed to both information and peer connections, plus have the possibility of presenting their experiences at poster sessions and speak on workshop panels.