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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-19-2009 - 4dORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 19, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. 4 - d SUBJECT: Ratification of Submission of a Grant Proposal for the Farm Enterprise Incubator at the WC Breeze Family Farm Extension & Research Center DEPARTMENT: Economic Development & PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Cooperative Extension ATTACHMENT(S): Orange County Statement of Work INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Broadwell_ 245-2325 Noah Ranells 245-2330 Fletcher Barber, Jr. 245-2050 PURPOSE: To ratify the May 13, 2009 submission of a grant proposal for the Farm Enterprise Incubator at the WC Breeze Family Farm Extension & Research Center to NC A & T State University for inclusion in a grant proposal to the US Department of Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. BACKGROUND: The development of new farm enterprises and diversification of existing farm operations can be challenging and pose considerable financial risk. Yet there are many opportunities for production and marketing of farm products produced by local farmers. With critical County funding of $10,000 in FY 2007-08, the PLANT @ Breeze Farm Enterprise Incubator was initiated. An additional $10,000 was provided by the County in FY 2008-09 to help leverage additional grant funds. Through a strong effective interdepartmental collaboration, Cooperative Extension and Economic Development developed and implemented a series of eight Wednesday evening workshops in January and February of 2008, and repeated in 2009. With strong support from the local community, attendance was 45 to 70 aspiring farmers for each of .the workshops of the 8-week training series held each January and February. Local farmers were involved in presentation and discussion at each workshop, along with a local, regional, or state farm related specialist. Following the workshop series, participants who wanted to farm land at the Breeze Farm were required to complete a business plan. If approved, these participants were able to contract for prepared planting beds and grow their own crops. Seven farm enterprises participated in 2008 and 12 are participating in 2009. Given the success this past year, Cooperative Extension and EDC have identified the need for additional funds to support this project and expand the program activities. A grant subcontract was developed with NC A & T State University for submission to the US Department of Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program for $262,309. Funds may be used to provide for a mentor farmer, operating funds, and enhanced outreach to underrepresented groups. Additionally, new initiatives in permaculture as well as fruit and berry production may be facilitated with these funds. The PLANT @ Breeze Farm Enterprise Incubator is part of the concept plan for the WC Breeze Family Farm Extension and Research Center agreed to during a joint meeting of Orange County and NCSU CALS administrators in Fall 2006. Implementing the concept plan for the WC Breeze Family Farm Extension & Research Center is guided by the Breeze Planning Committee, composed of Cooperative Extension and Economic Development staff as well as three representatives from NC State University. There was a consensus from this committee to submit a grant proposal to further develop the Incubator Component of the Breeze Concept Plan. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact for submitting this grant proposal. Existing staff resources in Cooperative Extension and Economic Development will continue to be dedicated to guide activities at the Breeze Farm. The grant agency allows for indirect costs up to 22% of the total request. Because Orange County does not customarily charge for indirect costs, this amount may be designated `forfeited indirect cost' and allowed to be considered as part of the 25% matching funds required by the granting agency. There will be no `new' Orange County funds obligated by submission of this grant proposal. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends ratification of the grant submission. Orange County Nof•th Carolina .established 1752 Orange County Statement of Work for NC A & T State University's Farm Beginnings Project USDA CSREES Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 2009 RFA May 12, 2009 Statement of Worlt Orange County, NC (Orange) agrees to participate with North Carolina A&T State University in the project entitled `Farm Begiruiings.' The work to be performed by Orange is described below. It is anticipated that activities at that site will begin in 2010. In the winter of 2010, Orange County will recruit and employ a project coordinator (PC) that possesses working knowledge of Spanish who will collaborate with other program staff to develop and deliver curriculum for short course modules. The curriculum will guide small and limited resource fanners through the process of determining the feasibility of a new enterprise and developing a business plan for their farm. The PC will help recruit participants and assist them in developing a comprehensive business plan. Further development. of financial projections and implementation of the business plan will require follow-up and the provision of additional support. Participants will also develop a marketing plan. One-on-one guidance will be provided, as needed, by the PC with support from the Principle Investigators. The business planning module will also address USDA programs that contribute to best management practices on the farm, including environmental and risk management issues. They will introduce socially disadvantaged farmers to various insurance instruments that are available to provide risk management associated with production of fruits and vegetables; in particular the AGR Lite insurance program. The PC will utilize additional short course modules to condttet 5 day-long training sessions directed to limited-resource, underserved, beginning, and/or socially disadvantaged farmers. The sessions will be tailored to address the learning styles and proclivities of individuals with limited formal educational experience and translation services will be available. This training will also take place at the A&T University Farm, the Breeze Farm, and at SFU educational facilities, including the Orange County Cooperative Extension Center. Populations that have been identified as potential opportunities for participation include Asian and Latino immigrants working in agriculture and construction occupations. 200 S Cameron Street ~ PO Box 8181 ~ Hillsbor•otrgh, North Carolina 27278 Phone: (919) 2~5-2300 Fax: (919) 6~~-300 There will be enterprises demonstrated as part of the short course learning practicum, and an emphasis will be on demonstration of specialty crop production and livestock production opportunities. The educational sessions will provide all relevant information for production and marketing of individual specialty crops, including 1) enterprise planning, crop production, post- harvest handling, processing technologies, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and value-added opportunities. Sustainable production practices will be emphasized, and management recommendations will focus on a substitution of information and management for the traditional reliance on conventional production inputs. The Good Agricultural Practices session will include information production, harvesting, post-harvest handling, grading, and packaging practices related to food safety, a critical issue facing fairness. A washing /grading /packing facility at the Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Center in Hillsborough, NC can be utilized for #hese purposes. This is potentially the most important training session, because product quality and assurance is a critical factor in direct marketing systems. The PC, with the assistance of NRCS staff, will develop and install several EQIP cost share practices at the Breeze Farm to serve as demonstrations of the types of practices that NRCS and NC Soil and Water Conservation staff recommend for small-scale farming operations. Land management practices include, but are not limited to: 1) nutrient management; 2) manure management; 3) integrated pest management; 4) integrated crop management; 5} irrigation water management; 6) tillage or residue management; 7) strip-cropping; 8) contour farming; and 9) wildlife habitat management. Additional short courses will address the production of livestock and crops. Livestock are integral to small-scale agricultural systems, where diversification is important to total farm income. The new faculty will work with the Chairman and faculty of the Department of Animal Science to restructure and integrate academic classes offered in that department into small-scale agricultural coursework appropriate to a Beginning Farmer Program. Utilizing staff, land and resources available at the A&T Farm, the Breeze Farm and the SFU sites, the PC will implement associated enterprise demonstrations. Specifically; alternative . . enterprise production sessions will address specific production niches that offer potential for both new farmers and farmers seeking retraining in alternative enterprises, and could include organic, native plant, medicinal herb, and cut flower production. The focus of these sessions will be production technologies, management practices, pest identification and control, and trouble- shooting. Having training sessions when crops are actually being produced will be much more meaningful to and effective to participants than "how-to" sessions held indoors in winter months with slide presentation technologies. The PC will train participants in the use of farm equipment. Field trips will be organized by the PC so that participants have a chance to see for themselves how successful small-scale growers are producing farm goods for local marketplaces. The field trips will include visits to successful farm markets. The project coordinator and the program assistants will develop ongoing demonstration projects at the Breeze Farm that will provide models of successful farming enterprises and practices. Workshops and field days fvr socially disadvantaged and underserved beginning farmers will be held at these demonshations. With the assistance of the NRCS, permanent Best Management Practices demonstrations will be established at the Breeze Farm. 5 The PC will be responsible for a farm enterprise incubator program located at the WC Breeze Family Farm Agricultural Extension & Research Center, an NC State University owned property. The incubator is a site where participants who have successfully completed the training sessions described above can put what they have learned into practice. Parcels of production land in one quarter-acre increments will be provided. Basic equipment will be available to program participants. Equipment will include mechanized basic irrigation and land preparation equipment, as well as a variety of hand tools. A walk in cooler will also be available. All equipment options will be evaluated for energy efficiency and performance prior to purchase or rental. Equipment rental fees for use of equipment "owned" by the facility will be charged to participating farmers and will be part of the business plan. Mentor farmers from the region will provide farm tours as well as field walks at the PLANT @ Breeze Faun Enterprise Incubator. The PC will coordinate activities at the site, organizing short courses that take place there, as well as providing one-on-one instruction to participants. The PC will troubleshoot problems with the assistance of Orange County Cooperative Extension and Economic Development staff. The latter will be primary conduits of information and technical assistance provided in the short course cu~•xicula. The PC will also participate in the Administrative Council of the project, be a primary partner in recruiting participants, and collaborate on program development and implementation. Budget Direct Costs Breeze Farm Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Salaries Breeze $40,000 $41,200 $42,436 $123,636 Benefits Breeze $9,600 $9,888 $10,185 $29,673 Educational su lies $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $60,000 Educational a ui ment $40,000 $0 $0 $40,000 Other current services $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $9,000 Total direct costs Breeze Farm $112,600 $74 088 $75 621 $262,309 Indirect costs Breeze Farm $31,753 $20,892 $21,325 $73,971 Total costs Breeze Farm $144,353 $94,981 $96,946 $336,280 Budget Narrative An employee (program coordinator, PC) will be hired for three years. The initial salary is $40,000. Salary increases 3%per year. Salary for three years is $123,636. Fringe benefits are calculated at 24% and increase by 3%per year. Total benefits for three years are $29,673. Educational supplies for short courses and for implementation of pa~•ticipant incubator projects are calculated at $20,000 per year for three years and total $60,000. These costs include fertilizer, seed, soil amendments, pesticides, harvesting materials, and other related materials. Educational equipment is $40,000. This expenditure in the first year of the project is for small-scale farm equipment such as tractors, planters, and tillage implements. Other current services costs are to pay expenses incurred in the noinial course of business including power, water, leases, rents, facilities maintenance, and related costs. These expenses are calculated at $3,000 per year and total $9,000. Indirect costs are charged at 22% as per the RFA. Orange Co. recognizes that it will have to enter into a negotiated rate with the federal government if this project is funded. The multiplier used to calculated indirect costs from total project costs is 0.282 and the resulting indirect cost is $73,971. This indirect cost will be waived by Orange Co. and used as an offset cost share/match (toward the 25%) required by the RFA. The total cost of the collaborative agreement is $335,279.68. ~~~.-~ sl~al~ Laura Blackmon County Manager