Alternative Agriculture Opportunities

1. Alternative Agriculture Opportunities Vaughn Hammond Extension Educator University of Nebraska-Lincoln Kimmel Education & Research Center Nebraska City, NE vhammond2@unl.edu

2. Grapes

4. Vineyards • Pruning • Canopy Management • Harvest • Vineyard floor management

5. Table Grapes

6. Farmers Markets

7. Organic and Not

10. Market Vegetable

11. CSA

12. CSACommunity Supported Agriculture • A socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution • Community of individuals that pledge support to a farming operation • Growers and consumers share the risks and benefits of food production • Also known as “subscription farming”

13. Farmers Market

14. Nebraska Statistics • 63 communities have a registered Farmers Market • Over 70 different markets • Early 2000’s 666,184 households in Nebraska • If each spent $10.00---6.7 million $ • If each spent 10.00 once a month for 3 months---20.1 million$

15. High Tunnel

19. Fruits

20. Historically • 1931 Nebraska Unicameral passed a law ordering the removal of cedar trees to slow the damaging affects of Cedar Apple Rust on area apple orchards • Brownville Orchard Company announced their 100 acre peach orchard was bearing crop for the first time. Averaged 500 bushel in sales a day.

21. Tree Fruits • Apple • Peach • Pear • Plum • Apricot • Tart Cherry

22. Why Opportunity Now? • Trend toward families buying more fresh food • Rising fruit and vegetable cost • Increased awareness of food safety and nutrition • Local Foods • Urban Agriculture

23. Small Fruits Most Common • Raspberries • Blackberries • Strawberries

24. Less Common • Elderberry • Currants • Gooseberries

25. Even Less Common • Sea Buckthorn • Saskatoon • Sand Cherries

26. Woody Florals

27. Woody Florals • Woody florals include any woody plant species that has a colorful or unusually shaped stem, persistent bud, flower, fruit or leaf.

28. Marketing • Direct Sales to Florist • Farmers Markets • Nebraska Woody Florals Coop

29. Education

31. Economic Returns2 Year Average per 1000’ of Row • Scarlet Curls Willow $2991.00 • Corkscrew Willow $2035.00 • Pussy Willow $2982.00 • Bailey Dogwood $2257.00 • Yellow Twig Dogwood $1063.00

32. Aronia

33. Aronia • Has traditionally been a landscape plant generally used for wildlife and bird habitat. • Native plant in Missouri and may stretch into Southeast Nebraska. • Native Americans used the berry as a dye as well as a food source. • Extremely high in Vitamin C and antioxidants which makes it attractive to homeopathic practitioners. • Midwest Aronia Growers Association

34. Antioxidant Levels

35. Very cold hardy • Late blooming—avoids frost problems • Jams, jellies, juice, syrup, wine • Stable red food coloring

36. Yield Potentials • Approximately 700 plants per acre • 700 x 38 (yield potential)= 26,600 pounds • 26,600 x $2.00 = 53,200.00 • Certified organic---3.50/lb.

38. Hazelnuts

39. Hazelnut Research In Nebraska

40. Flowers

42. Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.