Statewide Projects

	New Hampshire Agricultural Innovation Program: USDA Rural Development awarded the North Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, Inc. a $155,400 Rural Business Enterprise Grant in September 2004 to provide technical assistance to the participating membership of Beginner Farmers of NH. Known as the “NH Agricultural Innovation Program (NHAIP),” and working in collaboration with the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, the University of NH Cooperative Extension, the NH Farm Bureau Federations, the Southern NH Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, Inc. and the NH Small Business Development Center, the project goals were to develop Business Assistance Teams that would provide on-going 1:1 training for beginning farmers to help them develop a business plan over the first year, provide follow-up assistance for implementation over the course of the second year, and to encourage participants to serve as mentors for other beginner farmers thereafter. The technical assistance targets start-up, entry level, transitioning and expanding agricultural operations in rural areas throughout NH that have fewer than 5 owners/employees and annual gross revenues of less than $200,000. The project objective was to nurture the expansion of small-scale agriculture in NH to expand the industry and to create a greater critical mass and supportive infrastructure. For a summary of the accomplishments of the project, please read the NHAIP Case Study booklet.
	Beginner Farmers of NH                                                       Membership in the Beginner Farmers of NH Initiative is on the rise.  This is evidence of the importance of  this program that serves a  growing number of entry level farmers.   BFNH continues to expand its activities and services such as a mobile poultry processing unit and creation of many collaborative ventures such as organizing a NH meat goat project as well as several bulk supply purchases. North Country RC&D submitted 3 grant proposals on behalf of BFNH to help expand educational programming, equipment resources, organizational development and staff support.  For more information, check out their website at: http://www.beginnerfarmers.org
	Rural Fire Initiative: Click here to learn more.  New Hampshire Rural Fire Protection Initiative
	Modern Timber Bridge Promotion:  Approximately half of the bridges in New Hampshire  are listed as being structurally deficient, functionally obsolete or red listed.   Timber bridges are  a proven cost effective and reliable alternative for bridge replacement and/or rehabilitation.   Thanks to new technology timber bridges have a long life cycle with fewer maintenance requirements, are not susceptible to salt corrosion,  and are aesthetically pleasing.   In an effort to support our rural environment and  heritage, as well as the wood products industry, NH RC&Ds promote the use of timber in bridge construction. Click here to read the September 2005 Timber Bridge Report and to view the power point presentation.

North Country RC&D Projects

Southern NH RC&D Projects