GAIN - Agribusiness Resources by Agency
We have compiled a listing of resources on a variety of topics that might be relevant to your situation. Click on an agency below to go directly to a list of that agency's resources.
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/
Agribusiness Development: Whether yours is an existing agribusiness ready for expansion, or a new idea for a value-added agricultural product, our agribusiness developers can provide you with assistance in business planning or expansion, financing and site location. We partner with other agencies to provide you with a comprehensive approach to developing your business.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/agbizmarketing.htm
Ron Fish, Assistant Director
(919) 733-7887
ron.fish@ncagr.gov
Annette Dunlap, Agribusiness Developer, Eastern NC
(919) 733-7887
annette.dunlap@ncagr.gov
Robert Grooms, Agribusiness Developer, Western NC
(828) 670-7518
robert.grooms@ncagr.gov
Agritourism: Agritourism can generate additional revenue for small and medium-sized farms. Activities include a variety of on-farm activities, ranging from hunting and fishing to pick-your-own operations and hayrides. NCDA&CS provides you with tools to decide if agribusiness is right for you, and creates networking opportunities through membership the Agritourism Networking Association.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/agritourism/index.htm
Martha Glass, Manager
(919) 733-7887
martha.glass@ncagr.gov
Aquaculture: Aquaculture is the farming of fish and aquatic plants. NCDA&CS is the state’s lead agency to offer guidance and assistance in the development of aquaculture business.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/aquaculture/index.htm
Warm Water
Matt Parker (office in New Bern)
(252) 633-1477
matt.parker@ncagr.gov
Cold Water
Debra Sloan (office in Franklin)
(828) 524-1264
debra.sloan@ncmail.net
Dairy: North Carolina has embarked on a strategic plan to promote the development of dairies within the state. Find out about the state’s plan and determine whether or not it provides you with a potential business opportunity.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/commodit/dairy/index.htm
Scott Bissette, Dairy Specialist
(919) 733-7887
scott.bissette@ncagr.gov
Green Industry: The state’s green industry includes nursery, landscape, herbs, turfgrass and sod, and Christmas trees. NCDA&CS agribusiness development and green industry specialists can work with you to identify business opportunities in this agricultural area.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/commodit/horticul/greenind/index.htm
Horticulture Marketing
Ross Williams, Assistant Director
(919) 733-7125
ross.williams@ncagr.gov
Horticulture: Whether you are considering growing fruits and vegetables for the farmers market, looking for larger market opportunities or thinking about organic certification, NCDA&CS Horticulture Marketing Specialists can provide you with current information about fertility, crop selection and market information.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/commodit/horticul/index.htm
Ross Williams, Assistant Director
(919) 733-7125
ross.williams@ncagr.gov
Livestock: North Carolina offers many opportunities to develop a successful livestock business. NCDA&CS livestock specialists provide guidance on developing a dairy or beef cattle herd, or raising sheep, goats or swine. The Department’s Livestock Section has several resources available to help you make your business decisions.
http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/livestock/index.htm
Bruce Shankle, Manager
(919) 733-7136
bruce.shankle@ncagr.gov
Meat & Egg Marketing: Are you processing your animals and marketing meat or processed items? NCDA&CS can provide you with current information concerning the marketing of meat items.
Kim Decker, Marketing Specialist
(919) 733-7912
kim.decker@ncagr.gov
Small Farms: NCDA&CS provides assistance for owners of small farms. The Small Farms section offers expertise on crop selection, insurance options, and market opportunities.
James Davis, Small Farms Specialist
(919) 733-7125
james.davis@ncagr.gov
Legal Issues:
Ray Starling, Legal Affairs
(919) 733-7125
ray.starling@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University
Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture Program - www.ncvalueadded.org
The Program for Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture brings together multidisciplinary teams to address the needs, challenges and opportunities of North Carolina farmers. We develop and deliver educational programs and information resources that help farmers be successful. Our programs are designed to enhance and integrate farmers’ entrepreneurial, business, production, marketing and risk management skills. We work closely with North Carolina Cooperative Extension field faculty who work directly with farmers across the state.
Blake Brown, Director of the Value-Added Program Team
(704) 250-5404
blake_brown@ncsu.edu
Gary Bullen, Business Management Specialist - new enterprise evaluation, business skills development, direct marketing and financial management
(919) 515-6096
gary_bullen@ncsu.edu
Agricultural and Resource Economics - http://www.ag-econ.ncsu.edu/
The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics addresses important issues regarding the management of agricultural and related businesses, the functioning of agricultural markets, the protection and use of resources, the performance of government policies affecting agricultural and related industries, and the impacts of decisions made by consumers with respect to the purchase of food and fiber products.
Geoff Benson - dairy, beef, forages, management/marketing
(919) 515-5184
geoff_benson@ncsu.edu
Jon Brandt - price forecasting, policy
(919) 515-3107
jon_brandt@ncsu.edu
Blake Brown - peanuts, tobacco, cotton, policy and farm management
(704) 250-5404
blake_brown@ncsu.edu
Ed Estes - vegetable marketing/management, farmers' markets, alternative/specialty crops
(919) 515-4553
ed_estes@ncsu.edu
Ted Feitshans - agricultural and environmental law
(919) 515-5195
ted_feitshans@ncsu.edu
Arnie Oltmans - agricultural finance, farm/tax seminar
(919) 515-4546
arnie_oltmans@ncsu.edu
Nick Piggott - grain marketing and international trade
(919) 515-4668
nick_piggott@ncsu.edu
Rod Rejesus - applied production economics, crop insurance, and agricultural technology assessment
(919) 513-4605
rod_rejesus@ncsu.edu
Mitch Renkow - rural economic and community development, waste management
(919) 515-5179
mitch_renkow@ncsu.edu
Charles Safley - marketing/management for fruits, ornamentals, Christmas trees, turf/garden center retailing
(919) 515-4538
charles_safley@ncsu.edu
Guido Van der Hoeven - income taxes, agricultural finance, farm planning, farm information system
(919) 515-9071
guido_vdh@ncsu.edu
Tom Vukina - poultry industry organization/management/marketing, environmental/resource economics
(919) 515-5864
tom_vukina@ncsu.edu
Kelly Zering - swine management/marketing, waste management
(919) 515-6089
kelly_zering@ncsu.edu
OFF CAMPUS – John M. O’Sullivan - farm management, small farms
(336) 334-7957
johno@aurora.ncat.edu
Poultry Science Extension - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/
Mike Wineland, Department Extension Leader
(919) 515-5529
mike_wineland@ncsu.edu
Kathy Bunton, Area Specialized Poultry Agent, Wilkes County
(704) 878-3154
Kathy_bunton@ncsu.edu
Dan Campeau, Area Specialized Poultry Agent, Chatham County
(919) 542-8202
dan_campeau@ncsu.edu
Richard Goforth, Area Specialized Poultry Agent, Union County
(704) 283-3801
richard_goforth@ncsu.edu
James Parsons, Area Specialized Poultry Agent, Duplin County
(910) 296-2143
james_parsons@ncsu.edu
Tom Vukina, Poultry Economist
(919) 515-5864
tom_vukina@ncsu.edu
Aquaculture Extension - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/aquaculture/
Warm Water
Harry Daniels,
Extension Aquaculture Specialist
(919) 515-4589
harry_daniels@ncsu.edu
Mike Frinsko,
Area Aquaculture Agent,
Jones Co. NCCES Office
(252) 448-9621 x228
mike_frinsko@ncsu.edu
Steve Gabel,
Area Aquaculture Agent,
Chowan Co. NCCES Office
(252) 482-6585
steve_gabel@ncsu.edu
Steve Gabel's Web site
Cold Water
Jeff Hinshaw,
Extension Aquaculture Specialist,
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
(828) 684-3562
jeff_hinshaw@ncsu.edu
Skip Thompson,
Area Aquaculture Agent,
Haywood Co. NCCES Office
(828) 456-3575
skip_thompson@ncsu.edu
Trout Production in North Carolina
Molly Sandfoss,
Area Aquaculture Agent,
McDowell Co. NCCES Office
(828) 652-7121
molly_sandfoss@ncsu.edu
Recirculating Systems
Tom Losordo,
Extension Aquaculture Specialist
(919) 515-6784
tom_losordo@ncsu.edu
Dennis DeLong,
Extension Aquaculture Specialist
(919) 513-2106
dennis_delong@ncsu.edu
Dairy Extension - http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/dairy/Dairyh~1.htm
Lon Whitlow, Professor and Departmental Extension Leader
(919) 515-7602
Lon_Whitlow@ncsu.edu
Donald Pritchard, Extension Dairy Specialist
Phone: (919) 515-8805
donald_pritchard@ncsu.edu
Gary Cartwright, Pilot Plant Coordinator, Dairy Products Processing
(919) 513-2488
gcart@unity.ncsu.edu
Marti Day, Area Dairy Specialist, Guilford County
(919) 542-8202
marti_day@ncsu.edu
Geoff Benson - dairy, beef, forages, management/marketing
(919) 515-5184
geoff_benson@ncsu.edu
Horticulture
County Cooperative Extension Centers - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters
Livestock
County Cooperative Extension Centers - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters
Agritourism - http://www.ncsu.edu/tourismextension/stacytomas.html
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Stacy R. Tomas, Assistant Professor and Tourism Extension Specialist
(919) 513-7407
stacy_tomas@ncsu.edu
Samantha "Sam" Rozier, Assistant Professor and Tourism Extension Specialist
(919) 513-0351
samantha_rozier@ncsu.edu
Small Farms Development - Chatham County Extension
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/pasturedpoultry.html
Debbie Roos, Growing Small Farms
(919) 542-8202
debbie_roos@ncsu.edu
N.C. A&T State University
Alternative Enterprises - http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/programs/alt_ent.htm
This program provides extension educational resources to small-scale producers about the selection of and development of alternative enterprises. These enterprises are primarily horticultural but also include livestock, nursery and aquaculture.
Keith Baldwin, Horticulture Specialist
(336) 334-7957
Kbaldwin@ncat.edu
Community Supported Agriculture - http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/programs/comm_supported_ag.htm
Technical assistance to county-based extension personnel who work directly with growers who deal with planning and marketing issues associated with existing community supported agriculture (CSA) or subscription sales.
Farm Management for successful direct marketing - http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/programs/farm_mgmt.htm
This program provides educational resources to improve farm business management skills so that limited resource, small and part-time farmers can increase their income from direct marketing.
John O'Sullivan, Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator
(336) 334-7957
johno@ncat.edu
Farmers Adopting Computer Training (FACT) – http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/programs/fact.htm
This project is designed to train farm families one-on-one or in group settings how to use computers for their farming operations in order to become more competitive in the marketplace.
Marcie Joyner, Extension Associate
(336) 334-7956
joynerm@ncat.edu
Francis Walson, Extension Associate
(336) 334-7956
walson@ncat.edu
Small-Scale Production of Horticulture, Flowers and Fruits - http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/programs/small_scale.htm
This program provides extension educational resources to small-scale producers about production practices to improve small-scale production of horticultural vegetables, flowers and fruit.
Keith Baldwin, Horticulture Specialist
(336) 334-7957
Kbaldwin@ncat.edu
Successful Small Farming, Direct Marketing - http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/programs/direct_mkt.htm
This program offers educational resources through the North Carolina Cooperative Extension system to improve the direct marketing skills of limited-resource farmers.
John O'Sullivan, Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator
(336) 334-7957
johno@ncat.edu
N.C. Agricultural Finance Authority
Programs available include: Farmers having difficulty qualifying for conventional loans, Beginning Farmer Loan Program, Agricultural Development Bonds, Facilities Disaster Loans, Agribusiness Loans.
Frank Bordeaux, Executive Director
(919) 790-3949
frank.bordeaux@ncmail.net
USDA Farm Service Agency
The Farm Service Agency administers and manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster and loan programs as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state and county offices.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=nc&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing
USDA Rural Development
Provides loan guarantees and direct loans for expansions and preservation of jobs in rural areas, grants which provide funding for technical assistance, training, and planning activities; finance the development of small and emerging private business enterprises, for the development incubator projects, medical and training projects, and feasibility studies, services to assist rural residents in forming new cooperative businesses and improving the operations of existing cooperatives. Value-Added Program grants enable producers of agricultural commodities to participate in the value-added market. Renewable Energy Grants enable agricultural producers and small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy improvements to reduce the cost and consumption of the nation's energy needs.
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nc/
N.C. Community College System
http://www.cclinc.ncccs.cc.nc.us/
Career Counciling/Retraining/Job skills
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/studentSupportServices.htm
Small Business Development - http://www.sbcn.nc.gov/
Contact the Small Business Center at your local community college.
Rural Advancement Foundation International
The Rural Advancement Foundation International provides financial planning assistance and advocates for the farmer to lenders and other agencies.
http://www.rafiusa.org/
PO Box 640, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 542-1396
Fax: (919) 542-0069
Land Loss Prevention Project
The Land Loss Prevention Project was founded in 1982 by the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers to curtail epidemic losses of Black owned land in North Carolina. The LLPP was incorporated in the state of North Carolina in 1983. The organization broadened its mission in 1993 to provide legal support and assistance to all financially distressed and limited resource farmers and landowners in North Carolina.
http://www.landloss.org/
P.O. Box 179
Durham, NC 27702
1-800-672-5839 or (919) 682-5969
Fax: (919) 688-5596
Omari Wilson, Staff Attorney
omari@landloss.org
N.C. Farm Transition Network
The North Carolina Farm Transition Network partners with organizations and professionals toward the goal of keeping land in farm and forest production as it passes between generations or otherwise changes ownership.
http://www.ncftn.org
Andrew Branan, Executive Director
P.O. Box 443
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-7539
N.C. Home Protection Program and Loan Fund
The North Carolina Home Protection Program and Loan Fund helps workers who lose their jobs as the result of changing economic conditions avoid foreclosure of their homes. Created by the General Assembly in 2004 and operated by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the program was recently expanded to assist workers who have lost their jobs in all 100 counties.
http://www.nchfa.com/Homebuyers/HOhomeprotectionpilot.aspx
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
3508 Bush Street
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 877-5700
N.C. Division of Mental Health Services
The emotional impact of traumatic events can have devastating effects on the mental well-being of individuals of all ages. For many, it is easy to focus all energies on helping other people or on maintaining daily schedules and routines. Although these efforts deserve attention, it is important to remember to take care of yourself and to monitor your own emotions during difficult times.
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/MHDDSAS/lmedirectory.htm
N.C. Division of Social Services
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/local/
The Division of Social Services provides training, technical assistance, and consultation to the local staff who work in programs for families and children including Child Welfare, Family Support, Work First, Child Support, and Food and Nutrition Services.
Additional Resources for Exploring New Opportunities:
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Ames Iowa
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center is an electronic, national resource for producers interested in value-added agriculture.
1111 NSRIC
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-3310
1-866-277-5567
http://www.agmrc.org/
Business Link North Carolina
Business Link North Carolina can connect you to services and offering provided by state-supported agencies, many of which are free.
1-800-228-8443
http://www.blnc.gov/
N.C. Small Business & Technology Center
The Small Business & Technology Development Center is The University of North Carolina’s business and technology extension service. The SBTDC is administered by N.C. State University on behalf of The University of North Carolina System, and is operated in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
5 West Hargett Street, Suite 600
Rleigh, NC 27601-1348
Phone: (919) 715-7272 or toll-free in N.C. 1-800-258-0862
Fax: (919) 715-7777
http://www.sbtdc.org/services/start.asp
Page updated
June 8, 2009
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