Agriculture Commissioner: The Food Supply Chain Remains Strong in Tennessee
Farmers, foresters, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers ensure community access to safe and abundant food, fuel, fiber, and wood products. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers are still raising livestock and planting and harvesting crops. At this time, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) sees no evidence of agricultural shortages in Tennessee. “The Department is monitoring supply […]
‘Winters’ During Spring?
Anyone who has lived in East Tennessee for any amount of time knows that once spring arrives, winter isn’t necessarily finished playing its tricks. According to folklore and old wives tales, East Tennesseans receives a visit by five or six different cold snaps, or “winters” as the locals call them. The early arrival of spring […]
New Rules for Tennessee’s Hemp Program
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is announcing rule changes for the state’s hemp program to better serve hemp producers. “Farmers have been growing and researching this crop in Tennessee since the program began in 2015 as a pilot program,” Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. “The hemp industry and federal laws have changed in […]
Strawberry Season Is Here and Farmers Are Ready
Despite the wet start to spring, sweet and juicy strawberries are prime for picking in most areas of Tennessee. If you are looking for the freshest berries, you need to go straight to the farm. “We are seeing more ripe strawberries by the day.” Mitchell Hyde of Hyde Farms in Loudon County said. “The more […]
Jefferson County FSA is Accepting Emergency Conservation Program Applications for Flood Damage
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director James L Giffin in Jefferson County today announced that Jefferson County is approved to accept applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from flooding. ECP sign-up will begin on April 22, 2019 and end on May 24, 2019. According to Giffin: […]
Higher Limits Now Available for USDA Farm Loans
Higher limits are now available for borrowers interested in USDA’s farm loans, which help agricultural producers purchase farms or cover operating expenses. The 2018 Farm Bill increased the amount that producers can borrow through direct and guaranteed loans available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and made changes to other loans, such as microloans and […]
Livestock Indemnity Program Benefits Available to Jefferson County Producers
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director James L. Giffin in Jefferson County today announced that producers who suffered qualifying livestock losses due to natural disasters, including wolves and avian predators, could be eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). LIP benefits are available for livestock death losses in excess of […]
When it Comes to Monarchs, Fall Migration Matters
Scientists studying monarch butterflies have traditionally focused on two sources for their decline – winter habitat loss in Mexico and fewer milkweed plants in the Midwest. New research conducted by Michigan State University and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, however, shows that a critical piece of the butterfly’s annual cycle was missing […]
Flood Damage Assistance Available for Farmers
The Jefferson/Sevier/Cocke Farm Service Agency county committee has requested assistance for damage suffered due to flooding for Cocke County farmers, through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). “If ECP is approved for Jefferson County, then the county office will hold a signup period for producers to request assistance through ECP”, according to James Giffin, County Executive […]
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Responds to Flood Damage
Following the rains and flooding that led to a State of Emergency in Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is coordinating with partners to assess damage, monitor food and fuel supplies, and assist farmers as floodwaters recede. “Under Governor Lee’s direction, we have been coordinating responses with TEMA and other agencies to address the […]
These 10 Plants Shaped Tennessee
Whether walking through fields of high cotton or “sangin’ in the hills,” Tennesseans know plants are the state’s lifeblood. Two experts with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recently led a project choosing the 10 plants that most shaped the state: American chestnut, beans (several varieties), corn, cotton, dogwood, ginseng, grasses (prairie and turf), tobacco, white […]
Farmers Offered New Cost Share Opportunity for Certification Program
Tennessee farmers looking to expand their markets and increase food safety by becoming Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified now have the opportunity to receive financial assistance from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). GAP certification allows producers to sell directly to more businesses and institutions with stringent food safety requirements, such as grocery stores or […]
Garden Spotlight!
Rain! Rain! Go away and come again another day! Find yourself saying this? Trust me, I don’t blame you. The rain has been plentiful through fall and early winter, but we will likely find ourselves begging for it at some point throughout this growing season. Until the rain does slow, there is plenty to do […]
Tennessee’s Farmer Veterans Serve Twice
This Veteran’s Day, we will honor the brave men and women who have served our country, but did you know that some Tennessee veterans are now serving by producing the food we eat and the fiber we use? Tennessee has more than 400 farmer veterans. One of them is Dennis Scales, owner of Running Hog […]
It’s Apple Pickin’ Time in Tennessee
It’s apple picking time once again, and bushels of apples are available for those who want to enjoy a farm fresh treat. Local producers are saying that now is the perfect time to take an autumn adventure and visit an orchard for fresh Tennessee apples. “Depending on the variety of apple, Labor Day to Halloween […]