2008 Farm Producer Projects
Click here to see projects listed by county
Click here to see projects arranged by topic
Fruits & Vegetables
Amy and Jack Moye—Fencing System for Organics
This project has assisted the Moye’s to integrate livestock into their organic vegetable and vineyard operation. The grant purchased fencing and cross-fencing materials that enable the Moye’s to control the location and timing of livestock. The goal is for the livestock to contribute to control of weeds and insects, and to improve soil fertility.
Mary Hubbard—Hubbard Berry Farm
Ms. Hubbard’s project was designed to scale up her infrastructure and planting of blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Ms. Hubbard has an impressive knowledge of berries from test plots that she and her husband have grown on their poultry farm. She plans on starting her marketing in the fall and preparing for her business to start in earnest next summer.
Ronald Carver—Nursery Improvement and Expansion
This project provided infrastructure that enabled Mr. Carver to add berry production to his nursery operation. The operation already produced strawberries and he added blueberries and blackberries as a complement to the strawberry production.
Glenn Griggs—Continuation of Griggs Century Farm
This grant was used for the development of a combination u-pick blueberry/bee keeping operation. The project gives Davidson County its first u-pick blueberry farm, and serves as a model for other farmers wishing to incorporate the beneficial farming technique of berries and honeybees.
Marillyn Conrad—Plantains at the Country Store
Ms. Conrad use the grant to establish an on-farm retail outlet and for the production of plantains for sale. The project incorporates agritourism and direct marketing while satisfying an ethnic market for plantains in Davidson County.
Mario DeLucca—Vineyard Establishment
The project is the establishment of a half-acre wine grape plot as a pilot project and demonstration plot in a region of the state where the industry is not established. The farmer is using the pilot plot to evaluate the potential for wine grapes in the area and has worked closely with extension to demonstrate the production techniques and profitability to others.
Sean and Tracey Harding—Southside Farms Blueberry Operation
This project allows this produce and strawberry farm to expand to include blueberries. A market opportunity has opened, because development has encroached on an existing blueberry business. The grant funds were used for establishment costs of the blueberry operation.
Grains & Hops
Tyler Griffen—Hay Storage
This project allows Mr. Griffen to market hay to small-scale cattle producers and horse owners who are unable to purchase large quantities due to a lack of storage. There is an increasing demand for this service in Jones County as land is increasingly subdivided, and more “horse” farms spring up. Mr. Griffen used the grant funds to purchase and re-locate an unused broiler house where he is storing hay.
Beekeeping
Lynwood Rains—Beekeeping for Our Future
This grant enabled the development of a pollination business to better fill market demand. Difficulties in the beekeeping industry, transition of tobacco farmers to vegetable production, and an increased awareness of the need for pollinators by farmers have led to a huge demand for pollinators. Currently there are not enough hives locally to meet the demand.
Glenn Griggs—Continuation of Griggs Century Farm
This grant was used for the development of a combination u-pick blueberry/bee keeping operation. The project gives Davidson County its first u-pick blueberry farm, and serves as a model for other farmers wishing to incorporate the beneficial farming technique of berries and honeybees.
David Suggs—Bee Nutty
This project combines an existing bee keeping business with a new pecan shelling operation creating a greater appeal for both farm products. The grant allowed for the purchase of equipment for the pecan shelling operation.
Livestock
Mary Betty and Ossie Kearney—Great Plains No-till Drill
This project has enabled the Kearney’s to cut feed costs by improving their ability to background their cattle on pasture. The Kearney’s manage a direct-market cattle operation. They have a pasture-based, grain finishing system. This project has allowed them to better manage pasture, providing specific cool season and warm season grass species, for improved year round growth of their herd.
Jackie Gerringer—Calico Farmstead Cheese Expansion
This project enabled the Gerringer’s to purchase equipment to diversify their cheese production operation. In the past, they specialized in production of Mexican cheeses, which they marketed in the Triad and across the state. The grant has enabled them to start producing different cheeses to diversify and expand their markets.
Tyler Griffen—Hay Storage
This project allows Mr. Griffen to market hay to small-scale cattle producers and horse owners who are unable to purchase large quantities due to a lack of storage. There is an increasing demand for this service in Jones County as land is increasingly subdivided, and more “horse” farms spring up. Mr. Griffen used the grant funds to purchase and re-locate an unused broiler house where he is storing hay.
Amy and Jack Moye—Fencing System for Organics
This project has assisted the Moye’s to integrate livestock into their organic vegetable and vineyard operation. The grant purchased fencing and cross-fencing materials that enable the Moye’s to control the location and timing of livestock. The goal is for the livestock to contribute to control of weeds and insects, and to improve soil fertility.
Ornamentals and Nursery Plants
Ronald Carver—Nursery Improvement and Expansion
This project provided infrastructure that enabled Mr. Carver to add berry production to his nursery operation. The operation already produced strawberries and he added blueberries and blackberries as a complement to the strawberry production.
Jeffrey Autry—Maples in Bags
This project enabled the further development of Mr. Autry’s high-value Japanese maple operation by helping him to invest in an innovative growing system that combines the advantages of pot grown and field grown systems. This enterprise is crucial to help supplement income from Mr. Autry’s row crop operation, and provides a future direction for the farm in a region where competitions for land is increasing due to development.
Crafts
No entry at this time.
Agritourism
Mary and Ray Jones—Agritourism-Direct Marketing
This family plans to market to schools through farm-to-school programs and to offer school field trips to the farm to supplement their income from a u-pick strawberry operation. They are planning educational activities at the farm, which will be continued in the cafeteria as children get to eat the products they saw growing in the field. The grant funds paid for cold storage facilities adequate to allow the farm to service the farm to school market.
Donald Blizzard—Hunting/Fishing Family Trips
Mr. Blizzard planted wildlife plots on the farm and renovated a small house to attract families for hunting/fishing trips. The project will provide income to the farm during the offseason, allowing the operation to employ their laborers year round.
H.R. Carver—Plot Pros
This project helped Mr. Carver start a wildlife plot planting business. The plots are attractive to hunters and wildlife enthusiast; few homeowners have the equipment necessary to plant and care for wildlife plots. The grant assisted Mr. Carver to purchase equipment to enable him to efficiently put in the plots.
Marillyn Conrad—Plantains at the Country Store
Ms. Conrad use the grant to establish an on-farm retail outlet and for the production of plantains for sale. The project incorporates agritourism and direct marketing while satisfying an ethnic market for plantains in Davidson County.
Greenhouses & Buildings
Ronnie Bowman—Farm Market Expansion
This project has enabled Mr. Bowman to make improvements on an old barn for use as a farm stand. He also used grant funds for advertising. The improvements to the farm stand have enabled Mr. Bowman to switch from wholesale sales to the better prices of a retail farm stand. His biggest problem has been that advertising drew in too many customers early, before he had an adequate supply of product.
Tyler Griffen—Hay Storage
This project allows Mr. Griffen to market hay to small-scale cattle producers and horse owners who are unable to purchase large quantities due to a lack of storage. There is an increasing demand for this service in Jones County as land is increasingly subdivided, and more “horse” farms spring up. Mr. Griffen used the grant funds to purchase and re-locate an unused broiler house where he is storing hay.
Tree Farms
Jeffrey Autry—Maples in Bags
This project enabled the further development of Mr. Autry’s high-value Japanese maple operation by helping him to invest in an innovative growing system that combines the advantages of pot grown and field grown systems. This enterprise is crucial to help supplement income from Mr. Autry’s row crop operation, and provides a future direction for the farm in a region where competitions for land is increasing due to development.
Markets & U-Pick
Ronnie Bowman—Farm Market Expansion
This project has enabled Mr. Bowman to make improvements on an old barn for use as a farm stand. He also used grant funds for advertising. The improvements to the farm stand have enabled Mr. Bowman to switch from wholesale sales to the better prices of a retail farm stand. His biggest problem has been that advertising drew in too many customers early, before he had an adequate supply of product.
Marillyn Conrad—Plantains at the Country Store
Ms. Conrad use the grant to establish an on-farm retail outlet and for the production of plantains for sale. The project incorporates agritourism and direct marketing while satisfying an ethnic market for plantains in Davidson County.
Glenn Griggs—Continuation of Griggs Century Farm
This grant was used for the development of a combination u-pick blueberry/bee keeping operation. The project gives Davidson County its first u-pick blueberry farm, and serves as a model for other farmers wishing to incorporate the beneficial farming technique of berries and honeybees.
Value-Added Processing
David Suggs—Bee Nutty
This project combines an existing bee keeping business with a new pecan shelling operation creating a greater appeal for both farm products. The grant allowed for the purchase of equipment for the pecan shelling operation.
Tyler Griffen—Hay Storage
This project allows Mr. Griffen to market hay to small-scale cattle producers and horse owners who are unable to purchase large quantities due to a lack of storage. There is an increasing demand for this service in Jones County as land is increasingly subdivided, and more “horse” farms spring up. Mr. Griffen used the grant funds to purchase and re-locate an unused broiler house where he is storing hay.
Extended Season
No entry at this time.
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Projects Listed by County
Alexander County
Mary Hubbard—Hubbard Berry Farm
Ms. Hubbard’s project was designed to scale up her infrastructure and planting of blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Ms. Hubbard has an impressive knowledge of berries from test plots that she and her husband have grown on their poultry farm. She plans on starting her marketing in the fall and preparing for her business to start in earnest next summer.
Beaufort
Sean and Tracey Harding—Southside Farms Blueberry Operation
This project allows this produce and strawberry farm to expand to include blueberries. A market opportunity has opened, because development has encroached on an existing blueberry business. The grant funds were used for establishment costs of the blueberry operation.
Caldwell
Ronnie Bowman—Farm Market Expansion
This project has enabled Mr. Bowman to make improvements on an old barn for use as a farm stand. He also used grant funds for advertising. The improvements to the farm stand have enabled Mr. Bowman to switch from wholesale sales to the better prices of a retail farm stand. His biggest problem has been that advertising drew in too many customers early, before he had an adequate supply of product.
Davidson
Glenn Griggs—Continuation of Griggs Century Farm
This grant was used for the development of a combination u-pick blueberry/bee keeping operation. The project gives Davidson County its first u-pick blueberry farm, and serves as a model for other farmers wishing to incorporate the beneficial farming technique of berries and honeybees.
Marillyn Conrad—Plantains at the Country Store
Ms. Conrad use the grant to establish an on-farm retail outlet and for the production of plantains for sale. The project incorporates agritourism and direct marketing while satisfying an ethnic market for plantains in Davidson County.
Greene
Mary and Ray Jones—Agritourism-Direct Marketing
This family plans to market to schools through farm-to-school programs and to offer school field trips to the farm to supplement their income from a u-pick strawberry operation. They are planning educational activities at the farm, which will be continued in the cafeteria as children get to eat the products they saw growing in the field. The grant funds paid for cold storage facilities adequate to allow the farm to service the farm to school market.
Guilford
Donald Blizzard—Hunting/Fishing Family Trips
Mr. Blizzard planted wildlife plots on the farm and renovated a small house to attract families for hunting/fishing trips. The project will provide income to the farm during the offseason, allowing the operation to employ their laborers year round.
Jackie Gerringer—Calico Farmstead Cheese Expansion
This project enabled the Gerringer’s to purchase equipment to diversify their cheese production operation. In the past, they specialized in production of Mexican cheeses, which they marketed in the Triad and across the state. The grant has enabled them to start producing different cheeses to diversify and expand their markets.
Harnett
Jeffrey Autry—Maples in Bags
This project enabled the further development of Mr. Autry’s high-value Japanese maple operation by helping him to invest in an innovative growing system that combines the advantages of pot grown and field grown systems. This enterprise is crucial to help supplement income from Mr. Autry’s row crop operation, and provides a future direction for the farm in a region where competitions for land is increasing due to development.
Johnston/Wayne
Lynwood Rains—Beekeeping for Our Future
This grant enabled the development of a pollination business to better fill market demand. Difficulties in the beekeeping industry, transition of tobacco farmers to vegetable production, and an increased awareness of the need for pollinators by farmers have led to a huge demand for pollinators. Currently there are not enough hives locally to meet the demand.
Jones
Tyler Griffen—Hay Storage
This project allows Mr. Griffen to market hay to small-scale cattle producers and horse owners who are unable to purchase large quantities due to a lack of storage. There is an increasing demand for this service in Jones County as land is increasingly subdivided, and more “horse” farms spring up. Mr. Griffen used the grant funds to purchase and re-locate an unused broiler house where he is storing hay.
Lenoir
David Suggs—Bee Nutty
This project combines an existing bee keeping business with a new pecan shelling operation creating a greater appeal for both farm products. The grant allowed for the purchase of equipment for the pecan shelling operation.
Amy and Jack Moye—Fencing System for Organics
This project has assisted the Moye’s to integrate livestock into their organic vegetable and vineyard operation. The grant purchased fencing and cross-fencing materials that enable the Moye’s to control the location and timing of livestock. The goal is for the livestock to contribute to control of weeds and insects, and to improve soil fertility.
McDowell
Mario DeLucca—Vineyard Establishment
The project is the establishment of a half-acre wine grape plot as a pilot project and demonstration plot in a region of the state where the industry is not established. The farmer is using the pilot plot to evaluate the potential for wine grapes in the area and has worked closely with extension to demonstrate the production techniques and profitability to others.
Person
Ronald Carver—Nursery Improvement and Expansion
This project provided infrastructure that enabled Mr. Carver to add berry production to his nursery operation. The operation already produced strawberries and he added blueberries and blackberries as a complement to the strawberry production.
H.R. Carver—Plot Pros
This project helped Mr. Carver start a wildlife plot planting business. The plots are attractive to hunters and wildlife enthusiast; few homeowners have the equipment necessary to plant and care for wildlife plots. The grant assisted Mr. Carver to purchase equipment to enable him to efficiently put in the plots.
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