Alternative Agriculture
Opportunities
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Vaughn Hammond
Extension Educator
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kimmel Education & Research Center
Nebraska City, NE
vhammond2@unl.edu
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Grapes
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Vineyards
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Pruning
Canopy Management
Harvest
Vineyard floor management
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Table Grapes
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Farmers Markets
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Organic and Not
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Market Vegetable
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CSA
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CSA
Community Supported Agriculture
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A socio-economic model of agriculture and food
distribution
Community of individuals that pledge support to a
farming operation
Growers and consumers share the risks and benefits
of food production
Also known as “subscription farming”
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Farmers Market
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Nebraska Statistics
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63 communities have a registered Farmers Market
Over 70 different markets
Early 2000’s 666,184 households in Nebraska
 If each spent $10.00---6.7 million $
 If each spent 10.00 once a month for 3
months---20.1 million$
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High Tunnel
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Fruits
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Historically
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1931 Nebraska Unicameral passed a law ordering the
removal of cedar trees to slow the damaging affects
of Cedar Apple Rust on area apple orchards
Brownville Orchard Company announced their 100
acre peach orchard was bearing crop for the first
time. Averaged 500 bushel in sales a day.
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Tree Fruits
 Apple
 Peach
 Pear
 Plum
 Apricot
 Tart Cherry
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Why Opportunity Now?
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Trend toward families buying more fresh food
Rising fruit and vegetable cost
Increased awareness of food safety and nutrition
Local Foods
Urban Agriculture
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Small Fruits
Most Common
 Raspberries
 Blackberries
 Strawberries
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Less Common
 Elderberry
 Currants
 Gooseberries
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Even Less Common
 Sea Buckthorn
 Saskatoon
 Sand Cherries
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Woody Florals
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Woody Florals
 Woody florals include any woody plant
species that has a colorful or unusually
shaped stem, persistent bud, flower,
fruit or leaf.
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Marketing
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Direct Sales to Florist
Farmers Markets
Nebraska Woody Florals Coop
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Education
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Economic Returns
2 Year Average per 1000’ of Row
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Scarlet Curls Willow
Corkscrew Willow
Pussy Willow
Bailey Dogwood
Yellow Twig Dogwood
$2991.00
$2035.00
$2982.00
$2257.00
$1063.00
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Aronia
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Aronia
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Has traditionally been a landscape plant generally used for
wildlife and bird habitat.
Native plant in Missouri and may stretch into Southeast
Nebraska.
Native Americans used the berry as a dye as well as a food
source.
Extremely high in Vitamin C and antioxidants which makes it
attractive to homeopathic practitioners.
Midwest Aronia Growers Association
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Antioxidant Levels
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Very cold hardy
Late blooming—avoids frost problems
Jams, jellies, juice, syrup, wine
Stable red food coloring
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Yield Potentials
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Approximately 700 plants per acre
700 x 38 (yield potential)= 26,600 pounds
26,600 x $2.00 = 53,200.00
Certified organic---3.50/lb.
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Hazelnuts
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Hazelnut Research In Nebraska
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Flowers
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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture
and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–
Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United
States Department of Agriculture.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational
programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of
the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United
States Department of Agriculture.