TVA Developing Small Farm Agriculture

 The Tennessee Valley Authority has sponsored several assistance

projects to small farms, including the program "Developing Small

Farm Agriculture." This program, sponsored jointly by TVA and the

Cooperative Extension Service in the seven Tennessee Valley states,

places primary emphasis on more productive use of farm family labor

in various livestock or horticultural enterprises.

 This joint TVA-Extension program has piloted the use of small

farm agricultural aides for several years. In general, TVA pro-

vides limited financial assistance to participants for obtaining

fertilizer, seeds, and plants, or in developing marketing outlets.

Extension provides the educational assistance through the program

aides. In FY 1978, there were 526 participating small-scale farmers

in the program. Plans are being made for significantly expanding

this program if future resources are available.

Allegheny Highlands

 This nine-county project, centered in Elkins, West Virginia, was

initiated in 1970 by the Rockefeller Foundation and West Virginia

University as a two-county demonstration of direct assistance to small-

scale farmers. 1/ As Rockefeller funding phased out, the University

of West Virginia assumed full responsibility for the demonstration.

 The project works with about 60 small-scale farmer "cooperators"

who are provided a package of management, agronomy, animal science,

and animal health educational materials.


13/ Barton S. Baker, Marvin R. Fausett, Paul E. Lewis, and E. Keith
 Inskeep, "Progress Report on the Allegheny Highlands Project:
 Agriculture, January-December 1978," College of Agriculture and
 Forestry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia,