Dr. Susan T. Kohler

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Rural Enterprise and Alternative Agricultural
Development An Illinois Initiative
Dr. Susan T. Kohler Dunn-Richmond Economic
Development Center and Dr. Christopher C.
Kohler Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture
Center Southern Illinois University
Carbondale April 9, 2003
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Over one million workers are employed in
Illinois food and fiber system
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Over nine billion dollars annually is generated
by the marketing of Illinois agricultural
commodities
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An increasing number of farm families are
dependent on off-farm income to make ends meet
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Low commodity prices, along with domestic and
foreign competition, have made it difficult for
many Illinois farmers to remain profitable
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Administered by
Dunn-Richmond Economic Development
Center Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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In Partnership With
Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture
Center Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Economic Development ApproachesEnterprise
AttractionEnterprise DevelopmentEnterprise
Retention and Expansion
Approaches
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Based on the premise that attracting new
businesses to a community will add employment
and income.
Enterprise Attraction Approach
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Focuses on business creation or formation to
add jobs and income. (Lenzi 1995)
Enterprise Development Approach
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Stresses technical assistance to enterprises in
the areas of business planning, marketing and
financial analysis.
Enterprise Development Approach
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Focuses on existing businesses and promotes job
growth by helping enterprises identify conditions
that affect production or threaten viability.
(Morse 1990)
Enterprise Retention Expansion Approach
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Enterprise DevelopmentandEnterprise
Retention ExpansionApproachesin Concert
withResearch and Technical Assistance
READI Model
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Goal
To expand income and job opportunities in rural
alternative agricultural enterprises.
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SECTORS
Aquaculture
Viticulture/Wineries
Specialty Crops
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Goal of the Aquaculture Component
To promote and facilitate the development
and expansion of sustainable aquaculture
enterprises in Illinois.

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Strategy

• Business Component
• Feasibility Studies
• Marketing Studies
• Business Plans
• Technical Assistance
• Fact Sheets
• Seminars/Workshops

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Strategy

• Production Component
• Research Projects
• Demonstration Projects
• Technical Assistance
• Fact Sheets
• Seminars/Workshops

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TEAM

• Researchers
• Students
• Technical Experts
• Business
• Production

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Business Plans and Feasibility Studies
Guyot Fish Service - Hauling Crim Family Fish
Farm-Catfish Lusk Fish Farm- Hybrid Striped
Bass Illinois Fish Farmers Coop Totals to
date 14 Business Plans 11 Feasibility
Marketing Studies

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Workshops

• Starting a Small Business
• Business Structure
• Taxation
• Record Keeping
• Production Costs

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Publications

• Fish Farm Business Plan Workbook
• Southern Illinois Festival Markets for Freshwater
  Prawns
• Organizational Structures Available to Agriculture

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RD--Responding to the Needs of the Industry

• Surface coal mine lakes cage culture
• Blue x channel catfish hybrid
• Hybrid striped bass
• Freshwater prawn industry
• Recirculating aquaculture systems

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Demonstration Projects
Culture of Freshwater Prawns in Southern
Illinois Hybrid Striped Bass Phases I, II III
in Open Ponds Tilapia Production Using Indoor
Water Reuse Systems
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Technical Assistance

• Phone contacts with the aquaculture specialist
  
• 2,415
• Informational mailings
• 913
• Site Visits
• 237
• Conferences/workshops
• 49
• Presentations
• 68

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Aquaculture Fact Sheets

• Aquaculture in the United States An Introduction
  to the Industry
• Aeration and Water Quality
• Airlift Devices
• A Production Method for Freshwater Prawns in
  Illinois Ponds
• Wetlands and Illinois Aquaculture

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Communications Strategy

• Web Site
• www.siu.edu/readi

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Technical Assistancein the Business and
Production Aspects of Aquaculture
READI Model
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Measures of Success in Aquaculture

• Acreage in aquaculture production has
  increased
• 50 from 603 acres to
• 925.
• The number of farmers has quadrupled (12 to
  50).
• Fourteen business plans were developed of
  which six received funding.
• 42 enterprises were started/expanded.

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