Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says “We’re trying to teach farmers to look for alternative crops, high-end marketing"



Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says “We’re trying to teach farmers to look for alternative crops, high-end marketing"

Farmers forced to find alternatives to traditional crops for livelihood

By LINDA MCNATT, The Virginian-Pilot
© March 23, 2005

FRANKLIN — Virginia and North Carolina farmers are struggling as two of their major cash crops – tobacco and peanuts – disappear from the landscape due to declining markets and low prices.

And they aren’t alone, said Margaret Krome, policy program director for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, Wis.

Kentucky farmers are quickly losing tobacco, too. Farmers in south Texas are coping with a drought that has gone on for years. Even Wisconsin dairy farmers are having a hard time dealing with fluctuating milk prices, Krome said.

What do they do?

Look for alternatives, said Krome, who conducts workshops across the country on using federal programs to support sustainable agriculture. On Tuesday, Krome was in Franklin .

There is money out there to help farmers cope with the changing atmosphere , both from the federal government and private foundations.

“We’re trying to teach farmers to look for alternative crops, high-end marketing,” Krome said. “If you can get your operating profits up, and you don’t have to go into housing developments, you’re protecting the land for future farmers.”

It’s already happening across Virginia, said Andy Hankins, an alternative agriculture specialist at Virginia State University, who also spoke at Tuesday’s workshop on funding opportunities.

A catfish farmer in Sussex County is experimenting with agritourism – a way of promoting farms as tourism destinations – and testing catfish fillets in three markets thanks to a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tobacco farmers in western Virginia are growing seedless, organic watermelons and snapdragons in greenhouses that were once used to grow tobacco seedlings.

“There is increasing demand for certified organic food products, organic egg production,” Hankins said.

There’s money available to help with start-up or with change, he said. All it takes is a business plan, a proposal, a realistic time line and the people and other resources necessary to accomplish a goal.

Krome, a native of Norfolk, agreed. She works for the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute touring the country and offering guidance on available funding programs, and tips on grant writing . She also coordinates an annual grass-roots campaign to fund federal programs geared toward supporting agriculture.

The institute is a public, non profit facility that seeks to “revitalize farming with research, education, technical assistance and public policy,” according to its Web site.

At Tuesday’s workshop, Krome distributed copies of “Building Better Rural Places,” a guide published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on available federal programs for agriculture, forestry, conservation and community development.

Anne Baker, a strawberry farmer in Pungo, said she and her husband have watched farm land they used to rent being turned into housing developments.

“We’re trying to figure a way to diversify,” she said. “It gets harder and harder where we are.”

Jenny McPherson, the wife of a Chesapeake farmer who works for the city of Virginia Beach, said that many farmers are looking for different marketing opportunities.

“Just knowing what opportunities are out there helps,” she said.

Knowing what’s there often means knowing where to look, Krome said.

“Know what you want to do and find help in getting it done,” she said.

Reach Linda McNatt at 222-5561 or linda.mcnatt@pilotonline.com.

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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March 19, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News New Jersey RPCVs host exhibit in Maplewood on April 2 20 Mar Maryland RPCVs eat crab cakes in Annapolis 17 Mar Illinois RPCVs present "Life on the Big Red Island" 13 Mar San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar Connecticut RPCVs held fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

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