ENHANCING FARMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE AMERICANS AND VETERAN BEGINNING FARMERS IN NORTH CAROLINA

The long-term goal of this project is to equip Native American and Veteran Beginning Farmers (NAVBF) in North Carolina with the knowledge and skills needed for them to make informed decisions in starting, improving, and operating successful farm businesses, with expected results of an enhanced economic opportunities and an improved quality of life for these farmers, their families and communities. The supporting objectives to this goal are to: 1) Increase awareness of NAVBR on USDA and NC State farm programs and to recruit participants for the project; 2) Improve the knowledge of NAVBF farm estate planning, financial planning and management; 3) Enhance the skills and abilities of NAVBF to implement alternative, high value, and profitable farm enterprises; 4) Improve marketing strategies of NAVBF to market bee- byproducts and vegetables and connect then to existing markets.