Tennessee Home & Farm Radio

No doubt challenging times for our farmers here at harvest time as they continue to battle high input costs like fuel, equipment and labor.  And that’s part of the reason USDA officials, working through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, coordinated a fly-in to the nation’s capitol this week for a diverse group of farmers across the state to share their insights both at USDA and even at the White House.

Sumner County’s Haley Brazel has been named the Excellence in Agriculture winner for Tennessee Young Farmers & Ranchers.

Deer cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage to nurseries each year. Eric Hildreth of Warren County estimates that he loses between $10,000 and $20,000 annually due to deer damage. He hopes a solution can be found to address a problem that is having a significant impact on his livelihood.

UTIA’s Ag Day is being celebrated with the university celebrating our most important industry.

Tennemo Rice of Dyer County, Tennessee, was recently named the “Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee” by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. The award was determined through a public vote, highlighting the community’s support for Tennemo Rice and its Tennessee-made product.

Obion County’s very own Stephen Vaden is now into his second year as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at USDA.

Diesel prices continue climbing, leaving farmers wondering how long this will continue. Chad Smith looks for the answers.

For many farmers, the pressures of agriculture don’t end when the workday does. The financial uncertainty, long hours, isolation and constant demands of farming can take a serious toll on mental health—and farmers are among the occupational groups with some of the nation’s highest suicide rates. Dr. Ariella Barry, a One Health veterinarian with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, is working to change that conversation. She is encouraging farmers to recognize that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but an important part of taking care of themselves, their families and their farms.

USDA recently moved to streamline the farm loan process, but it’s only one piece of the farm economy puzzle. Chad Smith has the details.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation are hosting the first-ever Southeast Farm & Forest Land Summit. The summit will bring together farmers, landowners, agricultural leaders, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders for open and honest conversations about the loss of farmland and forest land across the Southeast.