Ag Option Grants

Grants totaling $225,000 are available to Western North Carolina farmers who are diversifying or expanding their operations in 2010. Managed by the NC Cooperative Extension County Centers in the West District, the WNC Ag Options Program works with producers who demonstrate ways to increase farm income to other transitioning farmers, particularly
tobacco growers. WNC Ag Options works in partnership with RAFI-USA’s Tobacco Communi-
ties Reinvestment Funds and the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission sponsors the program.
“This grant opportunity is an excellent resource to help offset the financial risk for farmers wanting to expand their operations or diversify into crops they may not be very familiar with,” said Ross Young, Madison County Extension Director. “The success of small family farms is the focus of this project. By providing financial assistance, this project is enabling farms to
create more sustainable farming enterprises, which will have a long-term effect on the economy as well as farmland preservation.” Interested applicants should see the agricultural agents at their local Cooperative Extension Center by Nov. 23, and can visit http://mitchell.ces.ncsu.edu/ to download an application. Projects should increase the sale of farm products and lead to the long-term sustainability of the farm business. The postmark deadline for applications is January 8, 2010.