The small family farm in West Central Missouri is economically depressed. Numerous studies have been made on the decline of the family farm, the aging population, and migration from the family farm. When a farm family leaves the farm, many people from the small town are without a social function so they too migrate. The purpose of this project is to research with farm families alternatives to this migration by showing them other crops or enterprises which will yield the necessary income through which they can maintain an acceptable standard of living and continue to live on the farm and help to arrest the decline of the rural community. The Cooperative proposes to identify, develop, and demonstrate new opportunities for its member farmers who have expressed a willingness to invest their money, time and labor in order to be successful. The four crops identified are Shiitake mushrooms, Marigolds, Catfish, and Amaranth. Phase I proposes to test production in a sixteen-county area by interested producers to determine feasibility from the standpoint of suitability to the area, resources required, and market potential.Applications:The research from this project can be utilized not only in rural communities throughout the United States, but some of the crops and enterprises will have applicability to suburban and metropolitan areas.
