FAQ Categories

General

Click here to learn more about how to start farming and the resources that are available

Soil test kits are available outside our office 24/7.  Learn more in this news story.

YOU and your "tribe" have to answer that question. What types of animals do you enjoy? How much land do you have? What is your market? Here is a link to a great hand-out to help you decide what animals might work best for the amount of land that you have. 

Call the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 919-707-3180 to request an inspection of your freezer.

You may find it helpful to read their Frequently Asked Questions before calling at https://www.ncagr.gov/meat-poultry-inspection/meathandlers

 There are very few grants to help you start farming. There are a few to help you expand an existing farm operation. This article sums it up nicely. https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/are-there-grants-for-farmers/


Here is a link to Government Funds for Farming and Information about Farm Numbers https://ncfarmlink.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/08/government-funds-for-farming-resource-page/


Carolina Farm Stewards lists financial resources.

https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/financial-resources-for-farmers/f=



Poultry

City residents are allowed to keep up to five hens and must follow other guidelines as listed on the city's website https://www.cityofws.org/3215/Keeping-chickens-in-Winston-Salem


View the Winston-Salem City Limits by visiting https://www.cityofws.org/406/Maps and scrolling down to Winston-Salem City Limits Map.


Learn about keeping farm animals in Rural Hall at https://www.ruralhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Animal-Ordinance-1.pdf.

The N.C. Cooperative Extension, Stokes County Center has a Mobile Poultry Processing Unit that you can rent for a small fee if you're interested in processing them yourself. https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-livestock-forage/mobile-poultry-processing-unit/
Find a list of on-farm poultry processors at https://cefs.ncsu.edu/food-system-initiatives/nc-choices/on-farm-poultry-processing-and-mobile-poultry-processing-equipment-for-rent/
Poultry must remain on your property. Read the exact law here.
Farmers can sell less than 30 dozen eggs per week from their homes, but the carton should be labeled with the farmer's name, address, and the words "ungraded eggs". Learn more at: https://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-meatandeggs/

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