Enhancing the Economic Stability of Select Limited Resource Farms through the Establishment of Micropropagated Pecan Orchards Integrated with Crops and Animals

Enhancing the Economic Stability of Select Limited Resource Farms through the Establishment of Micropropagated Pecan Orchards Integrated with Crops and Animals

Summary

Limited resource farmers in Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia face significant production challenges due to the ever increasing cost of farm inputs. Hence, the goal of this project was to facilitate networking of research scientists and extension specialists to develop a grant proposal that target assisting these limited resource. The project PI and CoPI’s teamed up to develop a SARE research proposal to be submitted to SSARE for funding that will assist the target audience.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The main objective of this project was to facilitate networking of research scientists and extension specialists and to develop grant proposal that target assisting limited resource farmers in five states-Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia. The ultimate goal is to develop a low-cost, ecologically friendly system that integrates pecans, vegetable, forage crops and small ruminants for these farmers.

Accomplishments/Milestones

• During the first teleconference a tentative program plan was developed and timeframe drawn.

  Assignment of research and educational topics was accomplished during the second teleconference with collaborating researchers and extension educators.

  The team made preliminary steps in developing the research proposal to be submitted to SSARE Research and Education Program in 2013.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The program will lead to development of low-cost, ecologically friendly systems that integrates pecans, vegetable, forage crops and small ruminants for resource poor farmers in five states-Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia

Collaborators: