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Incubator farming brings new farmers to an aging table

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Larry Kent shows a concept plan for Onslow County Incubator Farm at N.C. Cooperative Extension in Richlands. The HELP Garden Fields are next to the Farmers Market and the Incubator Fields are next to that.

Don Bryan
By Daily News Staff
Published: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 17:15 PM.

 

As the average age of farmers in North Carolina rises and affordable farmland becomes harder to find, some in N.C. are working to give new farmers the tools they need to succeed in the industry.

The Onslow County Farmers’ Market and the Onslow County Cooperative Extension have entered into a partnership with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in a project called the Onslow Incubator Farm, according to Larry Kent, Program Assistant for the Onslow County Cooperative Extension.

Kent said that the purpose of the program is to grow new fruit and vegetable farmers in Eastern NC.

“We’re trying to meet the demand for local fresh fruits and vegetables,” Kent said. “We have them at the Farmers’ Market, but we don’t have as many produce vendors as we would like. We simply don’t have them in the state.”

Kent said that the program is also trying to meet the need of local institutions, like Onslow Memorial Hospital and Onslow County Schools, that want fresh fruits and vegetables.

Before people can sign up to be part of the Incubator Farm program, they need to take the Horticulture Entrepreneur Leadership Program (HELP) class which began on Feb. 1, however participants are still welcome to register.

Kent said the two-hour class is held every Friday evening starting at 5 p.m. The first hour will be classroom, and the second hour will be dedicated to hands-on field work.

Those interested in the class should call Kent at the Cooperative Extension at 910-455-5873 and leave their name and phone number. Participants need to show up for the class at 5 p.m. with the $75 fee to The Onslow County Cooperative Extension, 4042 Richlands Highway in Jacksonville.

Once the HELP class is finished, graduates have the opportunity to interview with the Incubator Farm steering committee to join the Incubator Farm program.

Joanna Lelekacs of CEFS said that incubator farms are important because the average age of farmers in the U.S. is 57.

“Incubator farming is one approach being tested to support new farmers,” she said. “Accessing land is a big challenge for new farmers in urban areas where the cost of land is more expensive.”

She said the program will train people in not only the production side of farming, but also the business aspects.

“This is like a business incubator that helps a new business get started, but it is focused on farms,” Lelekacs said. “Instead of shared faxes and computers, we have a shared tractor and walk-in cooler.”

Kent said the Incubator Farm begins in August.

“We furnish the land, the equipment and the training,” he said. “They furnish their own seed, fertilizer and labor. Before it is over with, they provide a farm plan and a financial plan. It is a very intensive program. We are trying to grow commercial growers in fruits and vegetables.”

Each participant gets a one-quarter acre of land the first year and one-half an acre of land in the second and third years. The land is located on the 12-acres next to the Cooperative Extension, donated by Danny Baysden, according to Kent.

The program will have 5-7 start-ups per year, so at the end of the three-year program, they hope to have 15-21 new farm startups, Kent said.

Gerald Harbinson, Onslow County District conservationalist for the NCRS and a member of the Incubator Farm steering committee, said he believes that bringing new farmers to North Carolina is important because of the need to the retain farmlands in Onslow County and statewide. Harbinson said that in addition to recharging the groundwater and serving as a habitat for several different types of wildlife, farmland also keeps property taxes down.

“We have a quote that says ‘cows don’t go to school,’” he said, meaning that the farmland provides property tax, but doesn’t need costly services like schools that are connected to urban growth.

The overall goal of the Incubator Farm project is to see new farmers successfully transition onto their own land and continue their business, Lelekacs said.

“There has been a long history of apprenticeships on farms,” she said. “Incubator farms are different because participants are actually starting their business at the Incubator Farm. They are not only learning farming skills, but also finding their market opportunity and building their market opportunity before they make a big investment on land and infrastructure.”

Lelekacs emphasized farming’s importance in North Carolina’s economy — and its heritage.

“With the growing age of farmers and no one to take over the land, it could be lost,” she said. “With a lot of farms selling into a wholesale market that may not come to the local level, new farmers may be able to find a niche and a sustainable business through selling to local markets.”

For more information about the Incubator Farm Program or the HELP Class, contact Larry Kent at 910-455-5873. 

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Incubator farming brings new farmers to an aging table By Daily News Staff
spacer
www.jdnews.com February 10, 2013 17:15

 

As the average age of farmers in North Carolina rises and affordable farmland becomes harder to find, some in N.C. are working to give new farmers the tools they need to succeed in the industry.

The Onslow County Farmers’ Market and the Onslow County Cooperative Extension have entered into a partnership with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in a project called the Onslow Incubator Farm, according to Larry Kent, Program Assistant for the Onslow County Cooperative Extension.

Kent said that the purpose of the program is to grow new fruit and vegetable farmers in Eastern NC.

“We’re trying to meet the demand for local fresh fruits and vegetables,” Kent said. “We have them at the Farmers’ Market, but we don’t have as many produce vendors as we would like. We simply don’t have them in the state.”

Kent said that the program is also trying to meet the need of local institutions, like Onslow Memorial Hospital and Onslow County Schools, that want fresh fruits and vegetables.

Before people can sign up to be part of the Incubator Farm program, they need to take the Horticulture Entrepreneur Leadership Program (HELP) class which began on Feb. 1, however participants are still welcome to register.

Kent said the two-hour class is held every Friday evening starting at 5 p.m. The first hour will be classroom, and the second hour will be dedicated to hands-on field work.

Those interested in the class should call Kent at the Cooperative Extension at 910-455-5873 and leave their name and phone number. Participants need to show up for the class at 5 p.m. with the $75 fee to The Onslow County Cooperative Extension, 4042 Richlands Highway in Jacksonville.

Once the HELP class is finished, graduates have the opportunity to interview with the Incubator Farm steering committee to join the Incubator Farm program.

Joanna Lelekacs of CEFS said that incubator farms are important because the average age of farmers in the U.S. is 57.

“Incubator farming is one approach being tested to support new farmers,” she said. “Accessing land is a big challenge for new farmers in urban areas where the cost of land is more expensive.”

She said the program will train people in not only the production side of farming, but also the business aspects.

“This is like a business incubator that helps a new business get started, but it is focused on farms,” Lelekacs said. “Instead of shared faxes and computers, we have a shared tractor and walk-in cooler.”

Kent said the Incubator Farm begins in August.

“We furnish the land, the equipment and the training,” he said. “They furnish their own seed, fertilizer and labor. Before it is over with, they provide a farm plan and a financial plan. It is a very intensive program. We are trying to grow commercial growers in fruits and vegetables.”

Each participant gets a one-quarter acre of land the first year and one-half an acre of land in the second and third years. The land is located on the 12-acres next to the Cooperative Extension, donated by Danny Baysden, according to Kent.

The program will have 5-7 start-ups per year, so at the end of the three-year program, they hope to have 15-21 new farm startups, Kent said.

Gerald Harbinson, Onslow County District conservationalist for the NCRS and a member of the Incubator Farm steering committee, said he believes that bringing new farmers to North Carolina is important because of the need to the retain farmlands in Onslow County and statewide. Harbinson said that in addition to recharging the groundwater and serving as a habitat for several different types of wildlife, farmland also keeps property taxes down.

“We have a quote that says ‘cows don’t go to school,’” he said, meaning that the farmland provides property tax, but doesn’t need costly services like schools that are connected to urban growth.

The overall goal of the Incubator Farm project is to see new farmers successfully transition onto their own land and continue their business, Lelekacs said.

“There has been a long history of apprenticeships on farms,” she said. “Incubator farms are different because participants are actually starting their business at the Incubator Farm. They are not only learning farming skills, but also finding their market opportunity and building their market opportunity before they make a big investment on land and infrastructure.”

Lelekacs emphasized farming’s importance in North Carolina’s economy — and its heritage.

“With the growing age of farmers and no one to take over the land, it could be lost,” she said. “With a lot of farms selling into a wholesale market that may not come to the local level, new farmers may be able to find a niche and a sustainable business through selling to local markets.”

For more information about the Incubator Farm Program or the HELP Class, contact Larry Kent at 910-455-5873. 

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