Farm to Fork: Regional Food Systems

Building a Sustainable Local Food Economy in North Carolina: From Farm-to-Fork

We are pleased to announce that over the next year, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) has been funded to reach out across the state and together with our partners ask: What will it take to build a sustainable local food economy in North Carolina?

From the mountains to the coast, various organizations are promoting and implementing exciting initiatives to support our state and communities through sustainable local agriculture. Examples include new farmer's markets, local food policy councils, comprehensive county- or region-based food initiatives, farm incubator programs, farm and/or garden youth educational programs, health and nutrition projects focused on local sustainable foods, procurement initiatives by large retail and institutional buyers and schools, and much more.

If each North Carolinian spent $0.25/day on local food (just 2.5% of the $3,600 that we spend on average on food consumption per year), it would mean $792 million for the state's economy. That money circulates here in the state so has a multiplier effect, rather than going to a corporate headquarters in another state.

Other benefits of a sustainable local food economy in NC include economic development, job creation within farming and food sectors, preservation of open space, decreased use of fossil fuel and associated carbon emissions, preservation and protection of the natural environment, increased consumer access to fresh and nutritious foods, and greater food security for all North Carolinians.

Over the next year, CEFS and its partners will be gathering information from across food system sectors: conducting regional meetings, targeted issues discussions, interviews, and hosting a statewide summit on March 2 and 3, 2009. Our desired result is a Statewide Action Plan for Building the Local Food Economy with specific steps (short- and long-term) that policy makers, Universities, government agencies, environmental organizations, businesses, funding agencies, social activists, NGO s and citizens can take to make this happen.

A regional meeting is to be held in:
Asheville, NC: November 12, 1:30-4:30 pm at the NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way.

The purpose of the regional meetings is to bring together those engaged in all aspects of the food system, to collect information and ideas that will the building blocks of discussion at the summitt and eventually the core components of the State Action Plan. We want to identify specific regional and local sustainable food systems model that are working and also regional challenges that can be addressed through policies, programs, and funding. These regional meetings will be facilitated listening sessions and provide important input into this process, so broad participation is encouraged.

The State Action Plan will:

1. describe key elements of our current food system and define key terms
2. identify the diversity of people, businesses, and organizations involved in and impacted by NC's food system;
3. highlight specific efforts and partnerships underway across our state and within different sectors of the food system to achieve greater "localness" in our food system; and
4. identify opportunities for action, and propose priorities, both in the short- and long-term, that will enable us to make progress toward a shared goal.

Please share this information with others who may be interested in Farm to Fork.

CEFS website

NC Farm Energy Efficiency Project

North Carolina Farm Bureau will host a series of meetings to discuss a new program to make your farm more energy efficient. Presentations will highlight the program and elaborate on how North Carolina Farm Bureau can provide extremely low cost farm energy assessments. Representatives from United States Department of Agriculture will be on hand to discuss how this program leads into their 9007 (REAP) program which provides grants and loan guarantees for energy improvements.

There will be six meetings across North Carolina to learn more about the Farm Energy Efficiency Project. You must RSVP at least 3 days in advance for meal planning. A dinner will be served.

Meeting Dates & Location

• Wednesday, Oct 29, 7:00 pm, Duplin County Agricultural Center, Kenansville
• Thursday, Oct 30, 7:00 pm, Martin County Farmers Market, Williamston
• Wednesday, Nov 5, 7:00 pm, Iredell County Agricultural Center, Statesville
• Thursday, Nov 6, 7:00 pm, Alamance County Agricultural Center, Burlington
• Monday, Nov 10, 7:00 pm, Robeson County Farm Bureau, Lumberton
• Tuesday, Nov 11, 7:00 pm, Mountain Research & Extension Center, Mills River

RSVP to Scott Welborn, 919-782-1705 x. 8209, scott.welborn@NCFB.org

www.ncfarmenergy.org

How Much Should I Treat?

How much should I treat with? That is often the first question one asks when a treatment is necessary. Fish diseases require different treatments at different rates. Identifying the fish disease is the first step. There are several North Carolina Department of Agriculture Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories across the state to help in identifying the disease problem.

Once the disease is identified, a treatment can be recommended. Applying the correct treatment at the required rate is necessary to remedy the fish disease. But the question still remains...how much should I treat with? This is because most pond owners do not know the size or the average depth of their pond.

Do you know the size of your pond? What is the average depth? There are methods to help to determine the surface acreage of your pond and the average depth.

Rectangular or square ponds can be measured by pacing or a tape measure. The length and width of the pond needs to be measured.

Surface area = length (feet) x width (feet) = area ft²
Area = ft²/43,560 ft² = surface acres

If the pond is circular, the circumference needs to be measured. The circumference is the distance around the shoreline.

Surface area = circumference (feet) x circumference (feet) = area ft²
Area ft²/547,390 = surface acres

Many ponds are irregularly-shaped. Approximate the pond shape as either square, rectangle, or circle by measuring the boundary lines that most nearly represent the actual shoreline. This pond shape can be approximated as a rectangle.



Surface area = length (feet) x width (feet) = area ft²
Area ft²/43,560 ft² = surface acres

If the pond is triangular, the base and the height should be measured. Multiply those two numbers, take half of the resulting amount, and divide by 43,560.

Surface area = width (feet) x height (feet)/2 = area ft²
Area ft²/43,560 ft² = surface acres

Average Depth Calculation

Average depth can be determined by taking uniformly-spaced soundings over the entire pond surface. This can be done from a boat. The measurements can be taken with a long pole, chain, or weighted rope marked off in feet. At least 15 measurements should be taken. Add the measurements and divide the number of measurements taken.

Frequency of Measurements

Pond measurements should be re-taken whenever there is an appreciable change in either surface area or average depth. Significant changes in surface area occur when existing ponds are enlarged. However, average depth changes very gradually over a period of years as a result of natural processes. Sediment inflow and the accumulation of decomposing vegetation will cause a pond to gradually become shallower. A pond that may have been 15 feet deep when it was constructed may only be 10 feet deep after several years. Average depth should be re-calculated every five years to account for gradual filling in of the pond. Soil disturbances in the watershed or excessive accumulation of decomposing vegetation in the pond will require more frequent measurement of the water depth.

Let's Make Some Pond Measurements

I would like to offer my assistance in making your pond measurements. We can have on record how big your pond is. When making treatments, you can start with a better estimate of how much to treat. All you need is a boat or canoe to take us over the pond surface. Please contact me to schedule an appointment.

Farm-raised Fish Included in New Supplemental Ag Disaster Assistance Program

On June 18, 2008, the 2008 Farm Bill was enacted into Public Law 110-246. In the process, five new disaster programs were developed, referred to as Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs. These are: Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), Livestock Indemnity Program* (LIP), Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program, and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). The US Department of Agriculture has produced a Fact Sheet, which states:

“To be eligible for these programs, producers must purchase at least catastrophic risk protection (CAT) level of crop insurance for all insurable crops and/or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for non-insurable crops. Therefore, for the 2008 crop year only, producers who were eligible to obtain at least CAT level crop insurance or NAP, but did not, can “buy-in” to be eligible to participate in the applicable Supplemental Agriculture Disaster Assistance programs by paying the administrative fee that would have been applicable if the producer had timely applied for CAT or NAP.”

Those that wish to be eligible for these programs in 2008 must meet the buy-in deadline of September 16, 2008.

For more information about these programs and a more complete explanation of buy-in fees, see the Fact Sheet.

Please contact your local Farm Service Agency office about this program. You may be eligible for drought assistance.

Stocking Hybrid Sunfish

In the fall of the year, many people decide to stock ponds. There are different options when stocking fish. You can find out what North Carolina recommends by looking at the NC State University Fisheries and Pond Management Extension website.

One of the options involves stocking hybrid sunfish. Stocking hybrids seems to be a popular option. But it is important to learn more about hybrids before making this choice. I have found a great resource from Mississippi State University that discusses Managing Hybrid Sunfish.

First, a hybrid sunfish can be a cross from several sunfish (bluegill, redear, green, warmouth) species. The most common hybrid in the Southeast is the male bluegill with the female green sunfish.

Some important things to consider when stocking hybrids:

• Hybrids do have a trait called hybrid vigor. This can be seen in rapid and superior growth. Weights exceeding 2-lbs are common. And some may actually get to 3-lbs are greater, but this is not common.
• Hybrids are not sterile. They general produce more males than females limiting the reproduction.
• To see the full potential of the hybrid, it is necessary to stock them in a new pond or a completely renovated pond with no other bream species present.
• Hybrids must be stocked with a predator like largemouth bass or catfish.
• Security from poachers is a must. Hybrids are aggressive and highly catchable.
  

Luke Rides in July...

There are a group of boys that ride their bikes all over the France countryside in July. There is one boy that rides his bike on Lakeside Drive. This July was extra special for me. My son Luke learned to ride his bike without training wheels. It was a grand occasion. I was so proud! I hope he learns to love the bike like I do. I would love to have a little riding partner! Look at that race face!

Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA) administers the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The NAP is a program that provides some insurance to producers of non-insurable crops like fish when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented plantings due to natural disasters.

Some eligible crops include:

• crops grown for food

• crops planted and grown for livestock consumption, including, but not limited to, grain and forage crops, including native forage;

• crops grown for fiber, such as cotton and flax (except for trees);

• crops grown under a controlled environment, such as mushrooms and floriculture;

• specialty crops, such as honey and maple sap;

• value loss crops, such as aquaculture, Christmas trees, ginseng, ornamental nursery and turfgrass sod;

• sea oats and sea grass; and

• seed crops where the propagation stock is produced for sale as seed stock for other eligible NAP crop production

The fee for the program is $100. The coverage runs from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. The deadline to file for the program is September 1, 2008. Contact your local FSA office to find out more about the program. You can also learn more about the program from the FSA website.
FSA NAP Factsheet