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Alternative Crops to Tobacco
| Name | Robert E. Bett | | Situation | The farmer in Marion County depends on tobacco for his primary source of income. The other crops he grows are a low profit enterprise and in some cases his net is a negative number. He plants his corn, soybeans, and wheat, for rotational purposes. This is an important practice, but nets him only a small amount of profit directly from these crops. Concerning tobacco, the number of acres he can grow has been cut by more than half in the last 5 years. If he nets $800 per acre and 5 years ago was growing 100 acres, he netted $80,000. Now that has dropped to less than $40,000. This presents a real financial hardship to the tobacco grower and his family. | | Response | I collaborated with Jae Espey, Extension Associate at the Sandhill REC, to hold a workshop in Marion County. The workshop was held with key tobacco growers. The purpose was to: 1). Evaluate and brainstorm possible alternatives to growing tobacco; and 2). get some of those who attended to start growing an alternative crop to help their total profit picture. We had 37 growers attend the workshop. The expenses of the workshop were covered by a grant that Jae Espey obtained. | | Impact | After participating in this Extension program, three growers started alternative enterprises. One grower has seeded sod to sell to the turf industry. Another is utilizing his excess greenhouse space to grow bedding plants to sell at the beach to be utilized at golf courses, motels, office buildings etc. And the third grower is growing 15 acres of watermelons. We are in the start-up phase of these projects and will know how much profit was earned at the end of this season. Off to a great start!
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Last update4/24/2008
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