GAIN - Agribusiness Resources by Topic
We have compiled a list of resources on a variety of topics that might relevant to your situation. Click on a topic name below to go directly to a list of resources associated with that topic.
- Alternative Market Information - Business Development | Agritourism | Aquaculture | Dairy | Green Industry | Horticulture | Livestock | Meat & Egg Marketing | Small Farms | Legal Issues
- Farm Financial Resources
- Financial Planning and Consulting
- Business Services
- Mental Health and Social Services
Alternative Market Information
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agribusiness Development - http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/agribiz
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.
Ron Fish, Assistant Director
(919) 707-3119
ron.fish@ncagr.gov
Annette Dunlap, Agribusiness Developer, Eastern NC
(919) 707-3117
annette.dunlap@ncagr.gov
Robert Grooms, Agribusiness Developer, Western NC
(828) 670-7518
robert.grooms@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University Plants for Human Health Extension Team - http://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/extension/overview
The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service houses a multidisciplinary group of professionals at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis as part of the Plants for Human Health Institute. Providing expertise in farm business management, communications and marketing, and fresh produce safety, these Cooperative Extension staff serve as an outreach component to complement the research conducted at the institute.
The N.C. Value-Added Cost Share Program also housed at the N.C. Research Campus provides assistance with feasibility studies, business structure and business planning as well as cost-share to agricultural producers and processors for equipment for adding or expanding value-added agriculture products. Learn more at http://www.ncvacs.org.
Jonathan Baros, Extension Economist
(704) 250-5458
jonathan_baros@ncsu.edu
Blake Brown, Extension Economist & Professor
(704) 250-5404
blake_brown@ncsu.edu
N.C. A&T State University Alternative Enterprises - http://www.ncat.edu/academics/schools-colleges1/saes/cooperative-extension/Programs/alternative-enterprises.html
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
Farm Management for Successful Direct Marketing - http://www.ncat.edu/academics/schools-colleges1/saes/cooperative-extension/Programs/farm-management.html
Successful Small Farming - Direct Marketing - http://www.ag.ncat.edu/extension/programs/direct_mkt.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.ncat.edu/academics/schools-colleges1/saes/cooperative-extension/Programs/fact.html
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.
Courtney T. Owens , Extension Associate
(336) 285-4623
ctowens@ncat.edu
Francis Walson, Extension Associate
(336) 334-7956
walson@ncat.edu
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/agritourism/index.htm
Annie Baggett, Agritourism Marketing Specialist
(919) 707-3120
annie.baggett@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
RM 3028 Biltmore Hall, Box 8004 NCSU, Raleigh NC 27695-8004
Phone: (919) 515-4260
Fax: (919) 515-3687
tourismextension@ncsu.edu
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/aquaculture/index.htm
Warm Water
Pete Anderson (office in New Bern)
(252) 633-1477
pete.anderson@ncagr.gov
Cold Water
Debra Sloan (office in Franklin)
(828) 524-1264
debra.sloan@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University 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
N.C. Department of Agiculture and Consumer Services - http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/commodit/dairy/index.htm
Steven C. Lathrop , Dairy Specialist
(336) 402-5817 or (919) 707-3130
steven.lathrop@ncagr.gov
N.C. Dairy Advantage -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burlington-NC/North-Carolina-Dairy-Advantage/170923959286?v=wall
Dairy farm business retention and recruitment; helping by providing business assessment teams and profit teams.
Malarie Robins, Dairy Development Coordinator
(919) 740-1762
info@ncdairyadvantage.com
http://www.ncdairyadvantage.com/
N.C. State University Dairy Extension - http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/dairy/Dairyh~1.htm
Steve Washburn, reproduction and management
(919) 515-7726
Fax: (919) 515-6884
Steve_Washburn@ncsu.edu
Shannon Davidson, Extension Dairy Animal Science Extension Specialist
Nutrition, forage and feeding management
(919) 515-4045
Fax: (919) 515-2152
shannon_davidson@ncsu.edu
Brinton A. Hopkins, Professor & Extension Dairy Specialist
Dairy cattle nutrition and feeding; dairy heifer growth and performance
(919) 515-7592
Fax: (919) 515-2152
Brinton_Hopkins@ncsu.edu
Lon Whitlow, Professor Emeritus
Dairy cattle nutrition and feeding management; toxicology and mycotoxins; nutritional disorders; program coordination
(919) 515-7602
Lon_Whitlow@ncsu.edu
Greg Bethard, Assistant Director, Dairy Records Management Systems
Provides leadership to dairy records management sysstems in dairy analytics and technology
(919) 661-6168
Fax: (919) 661-3145
greg_bethard@ncsu.edu
Martina Day, Area Dairy Specialist, Chatham County
(919) 542-8202
marti_day@ncsu.edu
Gary Cartwright, Pilot Plant Coordinator
Dairy Products Processing
919-513-2488
gcart@unity.ncsu.edu
Michael T. Roberts, Extension Associate, Dairy Production and Marketing
N.C. Research Campus
600 Laureate Way
Kannapolis, NC 28081
Phone: 704-250-5429
Fax: 704-250-5409
E-mail: mtrobert@ncsu.edu
N.C. Dairy Producers Association
Norman Jordan Jr., President
kjordan358@gmail.com
Cory Lutz , Vice President
(704)
735-1222
piedmontjerseys@charter.net
N.C. Farm Bureau
Chester Lowder, Livestock Director
(919) 788-1016
chester.lowder@ncfb.org
Carolina Farm Credit, Statesville
Franklin Rash
(704) 873-4542
frash@carolinafarmcredit.com
Maryland/Virginia Coop
Jim Howie
(704) 534-7958
jhowie@smadairy.com
SUDIA
Jim Williamson, Assistant Manager of Industry Relations
North Carolina Region
(336) 889-5420
jwilliamson@sedairy.org
Elizabeth Moretz
(828) 406-8482 or (828) 263-4682
emortz@sedairy.org
DFA Today Market Report
cehresman@dfamilk.com
CME Daily Dairy Reports
http://www.dailydairyreport.com/
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Nick Augostini , Assistant Director
(919) 707-3125
nick.augostini@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University Cooperative Extension Centers - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters
Nick Augostini , Assistant Director
(919) 707-3125
nick.augostini@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University Cooperative Extension Centers - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters
N.C. A&T State University
Keith Baldwin, Horticulture Specialist
(336) 334-7957
Kbaldwin@ncat.edu
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Neil Bowman , Manager
(919) 707-3146
neil.bowman@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University
Animal Science Extension - http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/swine
Dr. Todd See, Professor and Interim department head
(919) 515-8797
Todd_See@ncsu.edu
Cooperative Extension Centers
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Kim Decker, Marketing Specialist
(919) 707-3116
kim.decker@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University Department of Food Science
Dana Hanson, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
Meat Processing and Value-Added Products
(919) 515-2958
dana_hanson@ncsu.edu
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Cliff Sutton , Small Farms Specialist
(919) 707-3068
james.davis@ncagr.gov
Chatham County Cooperative Extension - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/
Debbie Roos, Growing Small Farms
(919) 542-8202
debbie_roos@ncsu.edu
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Tina Hlabse, Legal Affairs
(919) 707-3013
tina.hlabse@ncagr.gov
N.C. State University Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Ted Feitshans - agricultural and environmental law
(919) 515-5195
ted_feitshans@ncsu.edu
Land Loss Prevention Project - The nonprofit organization provides legal assistance and support throughout North Carolina to financially distressed and limited-resource farmers, landowners and homeowners seeking to protect their land and livelihoods and advance their farming businesses.
http://www.landloss.org/
P.O. Box 179
Durham, NC 27702
1-800-672-5839 or (919) 682-5969
Fax: (919) 688-5596
Farm Financial Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency - http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=nc&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing
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.
USDA Farm Service Agency
North Carolina Office
4407 Bland Road, Suite 175
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 875-4800
USDA Rural Development - http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nc/
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.
USDA Rural Development
North Carolina Office
4405 Bland Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 873-2000
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@ncagr.gov
Financial Planning and Consulting
Land Loss Prevention Project - The nonprofit organization provides legal assistance and support throughout North Carolina to financially distressed and limited-resource farmers, landowners and homeowners seeking to protect their land and livelihoods and advance their farming businesses.
http://www.landloss.org/
P.O. Box 179
Durham, NC 27702
1-800-672-5839 or (919) 682-5969
Fax: (919) 688-5596
N.C. Home Protection Program and Loan Fund - http://www.nchfa.com/Homebuyers/index.aspx
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.
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
3508 Bush Street
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 877-5700
Rural Advancement Foundation International -http://www.rafiusa.org/
The Rural Advancement Foundation International provides financial planning assistance and advocates for the farmer to lenders and other agencies.
PO Box 640, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Phone: (919) 542-1396
Fax: (919) 542-0069
Business Services
USDA Farm Service Agency - http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=nc&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing
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.
USDA Farm Service Agency
North Carolina Office
4407 Bland Road, Suite 175
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 875-4800
USDA Rural Development - http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nc/
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.
USDA Rural Development
North Carolina Office
4405 Bland Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 873-2000
N.C. State University Plants for Human Health Extension Team - http://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/extension/overview
The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service houses a multidisciplinary group of professionals at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis as part of the Plants for Human Health Institute. Providing expertise in farm business management, communications and marketing, and fresh produce safety, these Cooperative Extension staff serve as an outreach component to complement the research conducted at the institute.
The N.C. Value-Added Cost Share Program also housed at the N.C. Research Campus provides assistance with feasibility studies, business structure and business planning as well as cost-share to agricultural producers and processors for equipment for adding or expanding value-added agriculture products. Learn more at http://www.ncvacs.org.
Jonathan Baros, Extension Economist
(704) 250-5458
jonathan_baros@ncsu.edu
Blake Brown, Extension Economist & Professor
(704) 250-5404
blake_brown@ncsu.edu
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Ames Iowa - http://www.agmrc.org/
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
Business Link North Carolina - http://www.blnc.gov/
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
N.C. Small Business & Technology Center - http://www.sbtdc.org/services/start.asp
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
Mental Health and Social Services
N.C. Division of Mental Health Services - http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/MHDDSAS/lmedirectory.htm
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.
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.
Page updated January 25, 2016
