Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund

2003 DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

Producer Projects

Fishing Creek Flower Farm Expansion Project
Michael F. O’Brien – Edgecombe County
Mr. O’Brien is expanding the market of his cut-flower business by extending the season and expanding home delivery service. The project is a demonstration of direct marketing that could be useful to other producers and makes good use of idle tobacco greenhouses. He believes that there is potential for other farmers to mimic his marketing strategies with other crops.

Pasture-Based Beef Cattle Proposal
Larry Harris and Patrick Robinette – Edgecombe County
Mr. Harris and Mr. Robinette are raising organic beef cattle in order to meet a growing consumer demand and receive a premium price. Using intensive pasture management, Mr. Harris and Mr. Robinette hope to raise the herd solely on grass, eliminating input costs for supplemental feed. The project is receiving technical assistance from a wide range of sources including NCSU.

Bear Swamp Hunting Preserve Improvements
Ashley Patrick Mohorn – Halifax County
Mr. Mohorn is keeping his tobacco and row crop operation viable by supplementing farm income with revenue from hunting. The off-season income generated through operating a hunting preserve complements other farm operations, and hunting preserve is a good option for farmers from remote areas.

Pelletized Feed Ration for Ruminant Nutrition
Steve Bennett – Northampton County
Mr. Bennett in partnership with other farmers in the community is developing a quality ruminant feed from locally produced crops. Mr. Bennett is targeting meat goat producers and wildlife managers, especially local hunting preserves for his market. If successful, the feed will provide an additional market for local crops.

Gin Trash Recycling
David Grant – Northampton County
Mr. Grant is researching the feasibility of marketing gin trash. Current uses of cotton gin trash are limited, and the disposal of gin trash is a real problem for many gins. Mr. Grant is looking into the feed value and transportation requirements for the trash, so that it can be marketed and become an asset to cotton gins instead of a liability.

Sheep Production
Alan Souther – Alleghany County
Mr. Souther is supplementing tobacco income on his farm with sheep production on intensively grazed pastures. Historically, sheep production was a large part of the economy in Alleghany County, but declined over the years due to a number of factors. A new market exists to recently arrived ethnic and religious groups and the time has come to revitalize sheep production.

Sustainable Production of Alternative Crops
Bryan and Donald Davis – Alleghany County
This project is the conversion of a tobacco greenhouse for the production of edible landscaping plants, annuals, herbs, and native perennials. The alternative crop production will take place after the tobacco transplants are out of the greenhouse. There is a wide open market, and Alleghany County farmers could benefit from a demonstration project

Flint Hill Farm
Barry S. Maines and James F. Maines – Alleghany County
This project will supplement tobacco income through production of floral products and riparian species for stream bank restoration and wetland mitigation. Environmental regulations have created a real need for woody shrubs and hardwood tree production. The project will work closely with cooperative extension to help others in the area become involved.

Value in Value Added Crops
Barney and Janet Mahala – Ashe County
The Mahalas are diversifying their tobacco operation by growing traditional “mountain” crops like cabbage, pumpkins, and potatoes and such non-traditional crops as ornamental corn, gourds, and herbs. They produce value-added herbal vinegars and wreaths on their farm and market through local farmers markets and restaurants. The Mahalas are a good example of how to get the whole family and farming neighbors involved in the farm operation.

North Carolina Certified Foundation Strawberry Transplants
Keith Barlow and Jeffrey Hartzog – Ashe County
Mr. Barlow and Mr. Hartzog are going to produce certified disease free strawberry transplants for market to berry producers in other parts of North Carolina. Currently most strawberry plants come from Canada or California and are at high risk of carrying anthracnose. There is a huge demand for disease free strawberry plants in North Carolina, and this project is beginning to develop capacity to meet that demand.

Swamp Fox Mill
James Worley – Columbus County
Mr. Worley is installing a mill to process organic corn, wheat, and soybeans to market to natural foods grocery stores. By doing his own processing, he and his neighbors will get more value out of their crops. The project will improve the employment conditions for his current employees and could have widespread benefit to other local farmers.

Ward’s Nuts and Honey
William F. Ward and Rossie H. Ward – Columbus County
The Wards are developing on-farm processing facilities for adding value to pecans. By cracking, roasting, and sugar coating their pecans, the Wards can retain a much greater share of the value of their product. Markets exist in surrounding communities and the demand is great enough to allow the Wards to purchase pecans from neighboring farmers.

Boer Goats
W. Ronald Hayes – Columbus County
Mr. Hayes will be demonstrating the use of marginal farmlands for meat goat production. He is converting an old tobacco pack house to a kidding barn and making use of his less productive fields to raise goats. There is a lot of room for expansion of meat goat production in Columbus County and Mr. Hayes would like to see other farmers get involved. He is working closely with 4H and Future Farmers of America groups in order to educate them about goats and encourage the next generation of farmers.

Greenhouse Hydroponic Strawberries
Marc Cox – Columbus County
The project is to convert a vacant tobacco greenhouse to hydroponic production of off-season strawberries and lettuce. Mr. Cox produces tobacco transplants in his greenhouses for a number of local farmers. This project will make use of space no longer needed for tobacco and provide an off-season income. Mr. Cox is also looking into using a hydroponic set-up for greenhouse production of herbs, greens, and cucumbers. He plans to exploit the off-season market. “Who can turn down a red, juicy strawberry in December?”

Production and Marketing of Organic Blackberries, Figs, and Paw-Paws
Richard Ward – Columbus County
Mr. Ward is diversifying his tobacco operation by moving into organic fruit production. There is a market for these fruits both locally and in the tourist destinations of Myrtle Beach and Wilmington. Mr. Ward has been producing organic tobacco on contract for a few years and recognizes that high-value, organic production is a way for farmers to replace lost tobacco income.