Cooperative Extension Provides Research for Families Searching for Alternative Enterprises
go.ncsu.edu/readext?876252
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲Change is continuous in farming. Prices, farm programs, trade policies, technology, markets, and consumer preferences all change continuously, just to name some of the causes. Many farmers search for alternative enterprises and opportunities to help diversify their farm operations. Alternative enterprises consist of crops other than the traditional row crops of corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, and tobacco and livestock other than the large-scale swine and poultry operations. Some farm enterprises benefit from these changes and some are harmed, so the search for profitable alternatives is a continuous challenge.
Cooperative Extension, through North Carolina’s two land-grant institutions, North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University, provides the latest research findings on new and alternative enterprises to farmers through fact sheets, field days, and tours. On June 23, over 150 farmers, educators, and other agriculture professionals came to the N.C. A&T University Farm in Greensboro for the first time since 2019 to attend the 19tth Annual North Carolina A&T Small Farms Field Day. The past two years the field day was virtual due to the pandemic. They received information on the latest research and new technologies to help them become more profitable and sustainable. Some of the demonstrations included: Organic and Conventional High Tunnels; Organic Ginger in High Tunnels; High Tunnel Design; Bamboo Updates; and Pigmented and Degradable Mulch. Posters and displays included: Hemp Regulation in North Carolina; Ergonomic Tools; Avian Flu; Preventing Secondary Injuries In the Agriculture Workplace; High Tunnel Fruit Quality; Genetics of Parasite Resistance and Sustainable Small Ruminants; and Nutrition of Supporting Milk in Swine for Health of Neonates.
Locally, Cooperative Extension will schedule a High Tunnel Greenhouse Workshop in the fall to provide produce growers with the latest research-based information and the basics of high-tunnel production, and a plasticulture workshop next spring to show farmers the advantages of growing produce using plastic mulch. Look for more details on the workshops once plans are finalized.
Realize that enterprise selection is a complicated and demanding process. It should be considered no different than evaluating any other business opportunity. The amount of time and energy spent in research should be directly related to the amount of capital at risk and the potential rewards. All of this takes a lot of work, but it is well worth taking time to make sure the ideas you are considering will work and avoid problems or disappointments down the road.
For more information, please contact Nelson Brownlee, Extension Area Small Farms Agent, at 910-671-3276, by email at Nelson_Brownlee@ncsu.edu, or visit our website.