Ted Cope and his sons Edwin and Aaron of Rogersville, Tenn., believe the key to finding an alternative to tobacco is to look at the alternative's cash-flow. They want their farm income to be spread over a longer period of time than with tobacco or to come at different times of the year. Cope says the one-payday aspect of tobacco is the toughest management problem he has faced. It runs out. So we are looking at other things to give us cash-flow at different times of the year.
Farm labor is an important consideration.
We are aiming at having an operation that requires no labor other than what we can do with family members. Last spring, the Copes built four broiler houses. Our money will turn over much more often than with tobacco. And we won't need nearly as much labor. On a smaller scale, several other new activities should supplement the farm's cash-flow.