Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund
Aqua-culture
2011 Projects:
Thompson's Prawn Farm: Crop Security, Protection and Webpage Redesign
Joseph will be updating his prawn farm with camera security equipment to protect juvenile prawns in his nursery as well as his ponds and meters for constant monitoring of environmental changes and oxygen and ph levels. The grant will be used to purchase the cameras system and webpage to monitor visuals from cameras. www.thompsonprawnfarm.com
West Wind Prawn Farm
Jeffrey will be using tobacco equipment to start a prawn production enterprise in an area where the product is not currently being grown. This grant will be used to dig a pond and a catch basin for prawn production.
Low Amp Aeration
Philip rof the Carolina Fish Hatchery will be installing low amp aeration to 10 square acre fish ponds that will allow him to double yields in his ponds without having to overstock the ponds. This grant will be used for to purchase low amp aerators and labor to install these to ponds. www.carolinafishhatchery.com
2010 Projects:
Trout Farm Enhancement
Jim is installing a liquid-oxygen system that will allow him to raise twice the fish in the same raceways that he already has. This system would double his profit margin from the farm, and relieve him from the pressures of having to find and purchase fish off the farm to fill orders. (Information: 919-323-7587)
Pitt farming for Tomorrow,
The Pitt family is transitioning to new agricultural enterprises adding a pond for Prawn farming and a high tunnel to extend the season for growing vegetables. Prawn production is attractive because there is a high demand for locally cultivated prawn that is free of pesticides and chemicals. (Information: 919-259-4101)
Transfer Water System
Jacobs is a successful freshwater prawn producer in Sampson County. She plans to install a pumping system that will allow water to be moved more rapidly and efficiently when harvesting the prawn and will also provide the ability to conserve and recycle the water for next year’s production. (Information: 919-259-4101)
On-Site Holding of Freshwater Prawn
The Ipock’s will implement a new prawn holding tank design with cooling and fluidized beds that will hold live prawn for up to 30 days after harvest. The tanks will ensure proper purging and allow for more successful long term holding at the production facility awaiting pickup for live haul to market. (Information: 919-545-4847)
Managing prawn Survival Rate
To increase prawn survival rate the King Farm will renovate one pond with a concrete internal harvest basin which will prevent prawn from going down into sediment causing less waste, and in turn will assure a higher quality product to meet market demand. (Information: 919-545-4847)
1998
Catfish and Grapes
Columbus County
This project is designed to combine two enterprises, a fish-your-own catfish operation and a pick-your-own grape vineyard (irrigated by the fish ponds.) This famer also inends to market the catfish and grapes by order and will dress and clean the fish at the farm.
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