Aug. 2, 2007

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NACOGDOCHES – Some people might call them "piecemeal" farms: small operations of 50 acres or less.

But small acreage operations are not just thrown-together farms. They are more often highly diverse operations and compose about 33 percent of all farms and ranches in Texas, said a Texas Cooperative Extension agent.

"What is piecemeal is the usual availability of educational opportunities for these smaller operations," said Chad Gulley, Extension agent for agriculture in Nacogdoches County.

For small farmers, who need information on financing, managing labor, liability and finding specific info for alternative crops, getting all the information they need is like assembling a jig-saw puzzle from different boxes, Gulley said.

Gulley and his colleague, Cary Sims, Extension agent in Angelina County, hope to bring a lot of the needed pieces together. Their new six-week Extension program, "Making Small Acreage Profitable in East Texas" is set to encore Sept. 6.

Gulley and Sims have enlisted cooperation from an number of agencies, including the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Farm Bureau of Angelina and Nacogdoches counties, the Heritage Land Bank, Agriland Services, Angelina College Small Business Development Center, and Stephen F. Austin State University, Gulley said.

"There's an economy of scale that makes it hard for these operations to produce traditional ag communities at a profit," Sims said.

Usually, 50 acres or less is too small to support the most common agriculture ventures in East Texas, which are cow/calf production and growing timber, he said.

"They tend to do better growing specialized crops – from berries to vegetables – or raising small livestock like sheep and goats that may be marketed through direct-to-the consumer channels," Sims said.

The course will meet from 6-8 p.m. once a week, Sept. 6-Oct. 11. Meeting places will alternate between Lufkin and Nacogdoches each week. Cost of the course will be $50 per person, with a $10 fee per each additional family member. The registration deadline is Aug. 31.

According a 2002 U.S. Department of Agriculture census, there are more than 111,000 small farm operations of 50 acres and smaller in Texas.

"And they're highly diverse. About 38,000 of those are operations managed by women," Gulley said.

Also, the small operations typically have a negative net cash farm income, he said.

"This program will also allow small-acreage landowners to be able to network and meet new people to find out what types of agricultural enterprises will best fit their situation," Sims said.

To register or for more information contact Sims at 936-632-8239 or Gulley at 936-560-7711.

Anyone with a disability and needing special consideration should note so when registering, Sims said.