2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Growing crops on plastic mulch has been proven to increase yield, reduce chemical weed control inputs, and increase profitability of small farms. Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) trains farmers and agents in plasticulture (plastic mulch and drip irrigation) as a production method. To expand the adoption of plasticulture among North Carolina’s small scale farmers, NC A&T transformed an existing plasticulture program to increase opportunities for farmers to try plasticulture. Previously an Extension Associate traveled the state, training farmers in plasticulture and assisting with laying plastic mulch. This took vast amounts of the Associate’s time and generated a culture of dependency among farmers who relied on NC A&T to provide them with free labor. NC A&T sought improvements to the program and created the Plasticulture Equipment Rental/Cash Back Program for N.C. Small Farmers. Six plasticulture equipment rental locations were established around the state, placing plasticulture equipment within two hours’ drive of most NC small farmers. Locations were equipped with a plastic layer small enough for high tunnel use, a larger plastic layer for field use, and a plastic mulch lifter to facilitate removal at the end of the growing season. A rental fee of $50 per day was established, of which 50% is refundable to the farmer upon the return of the equipment clean and undamaged. These fees will serve to generate a dedicated pool of funds at each location for maintenance and repair of the equipment. The anticipated result of this program will be increased adoption of plasticulture as a production method among small farmers. The resulting increases in yield and profits will lead many small farmers to eventually purchase their own plasticulture equipment.