Community Supported Agricultural Diversification Research Project
Golden
Sands Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council, Inc.
August, 2000
Mission
The
mission of this project is facilitate the creation of local markets for
sustainable agricultural crops that can be grown locally and profitably and with
a minimum amount of fertilizer and pesticide inputs, thus protecting groundwater
(our drinking water) through the development of large scale community supported
"green" agriculture.
Objectives
The objectives of this project are to:
1)
help interested farmers learn more about environmentally-friendly crops that are
profitable and suited to this climate,
2) connect farmers with the technical resources necessary to grow them,
3) bring the economic development and lending entities together with the farmers
to create local markets for their products,
4) develop agro-ecosystem diversification plans with 10 area farmers, and
5) foster one model partnership between farmers, lenders and economic
development personnel.
Project Summary
This
project will assist innovative Wisconsin farmers interested in developing and
operating diverse, sustainable, environmentally-friendly farming systems.
With the volatility of today’s dairy and commodity markets, farmers who
invest in diverse agricultural systems are much more able to withstand the
market strain and remain profitable. With
its infrastructure, irrigation capabilities and proximity to the Stevens
Point/Wausau/Wisconsin Rapids economic growth corridor, Central Wisconsin
agriculture has the opportunity to diversify.
This project will address the need expressed by area farmers for
technical information on the profitability and market feasibility of alternative
crops such as medicinal herbs, oil and seed crops like soybeans or canola,
growing alfalfa for pelletization, perennial flowers and groundcovers, prairie
plants, ornamentals, or how to add
value to co-existing crop communities, like grazing sheep between rows of
Christmas trees.
Serving
as a liaison between the opportunities, resources and ideas for innovative
agricultural systems, Golden Sands RC&D will address the need of interested
farmers by linking them with the marketing skills and economic development
resources necessary to make their diversification plans become reality.
This project will build and expand on partnerships between the area’s
economic development personnel and farmers looking for creating local markets
for the crops grown in their diversified farming systems.
The result will be the creation of one model partnership between local
economic development entities and farmers interested in producing the raw
materials.
In
addition, this project will accurately assess the interest of the local
Consolidated Papers and Nekoosa Edwards paper companies in the feasibility of
using industrial hemp in their paper making industry. There is a growing interest among Wisconsin farmers for the
de-criminalization of this fiber crop and it is felt that an accurate evaluation
of its feasibility for infusion into today’s paper making processes would be
helpful.
Results
The
results will be a groundwater-friendly communication and agro-economic
development network that involves area farmers. The creation of a partnership between farmers, cities and
businesses to receive and market low input, value added alternative crops will
help agriculture become compatible with safe groundwater.
Golden
Sands RC&D is a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization, working to improve
Wisconsin’s economy while conserving its natural resources since 1972.
Golden Sands RC&D receives funding from private, local, state and
federal sources and typically operates within a $100,000 - $200,000.00 annual
budget.
For more information contact: