$13,000 in Next Step Grants Awarded to Local Farmers
Grant funding from Bread Riot will help the owners of Jones Family Acres, Farmer’s Daughter Organics and Downing Farms expand their production and reach.
As part of our mission to provide support to local farmers, Bread Riot has awarded $13,000 in Next Step Farm Grants to three small farmers in Rowan County. Members from the Bread Riot board of directors presented checks to Jerrad and Sara Jones of Jones Family Acres, Brittany and Jason Chester of Farmer’s Daughter Organics and Tim Downing of Downing Farms at the Salisbury Rowan Farmers Market on April 27.
The Next Step Farm Grant program is intended to grow small farms and increase the variety of farm produce and products available in Rowan County. The grants are awarded annually. Applicants are asked to describe what the “next step” might be for their farm, providing details about their current operation and their future goals. The three 2024 grant recipients, who all sell their goods at the Salisbury market, will use the funding to expand their production and reach.
Jerrad and Sara Jones, owners of Jones Family Acres in Salisbury, plan to install high-tensile electric perimeter fencing that will allow them to divide their pastureland into smaller paddocks and rotate their livestock more efficiently. Rotational grazing is a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, improving soil health, increasing forage productivity and enhancing carbon sequestration. The Jones family currently raises beef cattle, pigs and poultry on pasture, and would like to add grass-fed lamb in the future.
Brittany and Jason Chester, owners of Farmer’s Daughter Organics in Mount Ulla, will purchase a low-tunnel kit to protect their produce from insect damage. The netting-covered tunnel can be installed quickly and will allow them to harvest quality vegetable crops without the use of chemicals. The Chesters grow a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables and also offer eggs and other farm products.
Tim and Jill Downing, owners of Downing Farms in Salisbury, plan to expand the 40-foot greenhouse they built using a 2022 Next Step Grant. The 2024 funding will allow them to add up to 30 feet to the structure plus install electrical outlets and upgrade a harvest-handling area. With the expanded greenhouse area, they hope to grow additional produce during the winter months. The Downings sell various vegetables throughout the year as well as pastured chicken and eggs.
