UT Institute of Agriculture to Co-Host Farm Bill Information Sessions

The Agricultural Act of 2014, more commonly known as the Farm Bill, contains many changes that will affect producers. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture along with Farm Credit Mid-America, Tennessee Soybean Association and Tennessee Farm Bureau will host a series of Farm Bill Information Sessions to help producers navigate through the complexities of the new legislation and make informed decisions for their farming operations.

A total of four sessions will be held across the state. University experts will cover Title 1 program options, deadlines and requirements. They’ll also address tools available in the marketplace.

Meeting dates and locations are as follows:

August 18, 2014 – 7 p.m. CDT, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, 605 Airways Boulevard, Jackson, Tennessee 38301

August 19, 2014 – 7 p.m. CDT, Tennessee Tractor, LLC, 500 Community Park Drive, Dyersburg, Tennessee 38024

August 20, 2014 – 2 p.m. CDT, Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 1003 Hedgemont Avenue, Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334

August 21, 2014 – 7 p.m. EDT, Plant Biotechnology Building, 2505 E. J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Information presented at the sessions is of paramount importance to producers. As part of the new bill, spending for Title I, or commodity programs, was reduced and more money was allocated to crop insurance. In addition, Title I programs shifted significantly from direct and counter-cyclical payments to a risk management safety net requiring farmers to make individualized decisions for their farms. The program options chosen by producers will remain in place for the life of the farm bill, which is five years.

Session attendees are asked to pre-register by Friday, August 8. Online registration is available at http://www.e-farmcredit.com/FarmBill2014. You many also register by contacting your local Farm Credit Mid-America office at 1-800-444-FARM or by contacting the UT Extension office in your county.

Additional meetings are scheduled in Kentucky and Indiana. Full details on all scheduled events can be found at the registration link.

The UT Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers, and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.