Exclusively funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
Farm Grants Aim to Strengthen Agribusinesses in WNC WNC AgOptions grantees use funding to support sustainable futures ASHEVILLE, N.C.— This year’s grant awards will support projects that improve farm efficiency, enabling growth and increasing income, which support the longevity of … View >>
This year’s grant awards will support projects that improve farm efficiency, enabling growth and increasing income, which support the longevity of their farm businesses. Over half of the awarded recipients will invest in equipment and processes that will significantly improve … View >>
The 2023 Year End Dinner took place on October 9th at Kestrel Herb Farm, located in beautiful Sandy Mush in Buncombe County. Over 40 attendees were treated to a farm tour by recipient Mike Adams. Seventeen of this year’s … View >>
Family-owned farm in Marion — and known internationally — gets grant for producing more foods With help from a grant, a family-owned and operated farm plans to increase its production of rice and other foods here in the fields of … View >>
2023 grant awards will support projects that improve efficiencies on the farm to increase income, allow for growth and provide additional benefits in the communities where the grantees farm. Over half of the awarded projects will be investing in equipment … View >>
WNC AgOptions grantees use funding to boost profits and support communities ASHEVILLE, N.C.— This year’s grant awards will support projects that improve efficiencies on the farm to increase income, allow for growth and provide additional benefits in the communities where … View >>
Michael Adams, Kestrel Herb Farm Batch Dryer Grant Award: $8,000 Michael is building a forced air “batch” dryer for herbs. Currently, he uses a shipping container with wire shelving powered by a heater and dehumidifier. The new building and herb … View >>
Billy Bryant, Bryant Farms Packing Shed Grant Award: $8,000 Billy has completed his packing shed including the concrete pad, construction block, electrical, framing, and metal doors. At the advice of the Carolina Farm Stewards Association Local Food Safety Coordinator, Billy … View >>
Lisa and Dennis Braswell, Braswell Mountain Farms Hay Storage Facility Grant Award: $8,000 Braswell Mountain Farms has added a hay storage facility to their current beef cattle operation to decrease loss and the quality of hay that occurs with weathering. … View >>
Alvin Blake Brown, Brown’s Farm Ridge Improving Performance of Grazing System Grant Award: $8,000 Brown’s Farm Ridge (BFR) invested in a no-till drill to reduce production costs by extending their grazing season to late December and to improve nutrition, reproductive … View >>
Nicole Coston, Bearwallow Valley Farms Wholesale and Process Improvement Plan Grant Award: $8,000 After four years of production, Nicole has identified needs for new multi-use equipment that will improve efficiency and production, as well as harvest and post-harvest handling processes. … View >>
Morgan Decker, Root Bottom Farm Gothic High Tunnel Grant Award: $8,000 Morgan has replaced three deteriorating wood and PVC hoop houses with a 24′ x 92′ metal-framed gothic-style high tunnel. He has equipped the tunnel with louver vents, end framing, … View >>
Chue and Tou Lee, Lee’s One Fortune Farm Rice Huller and Polisher Grant Award: $8,000 The Lee’s used their 2020 AgOptions grant to purchase a small-scale combine harvester, which allowed them to add an additional 6 acres to their family … View >>
Ruth McCloud, McCloud Farms Bulk Grain Bin Grant Award: $4,000 To increase efficiency in her cattle feeding operation, Ruth has installed a bulk grain bin and feed bunks on a new concrete pad. The grain bin will provide multiple benefits … View >>
Matthew Nichols, Nichols Beef Farm Working Facilities and Bulk Feed Trailer Grant Award: $8,000 To provide a safer and more efficient system for maintaining his herd of beef cattle, Matthew has purchased and installed livestock scales and a squeeze chute … View >>
Susan Owen, The Lily Patch Farm Sorting, Storage, and Cooling Shed for Pawpaw Grant Award: $8,000 With a 2017 AgOptions grant, Susan started a Pawpaw orchard with 30 trees (expanded to 60 trees in 2019), which are now bearing fruit … View >>