Yearly Archives: 2015
Give Winter Some Time
ALTHOUGH WE’RE SEEING RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NATION THIS CHRISTMAS WEEK, THAT’S SURE TO CHANGE COME JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
Rural America at a Glance
THE LATEST EDITION OF AN ANNUAL USDA STUDY SHOWS SOME OF THE ECONOMIC AND POPULATION TRENDS FOUND IN RURAL AMERICA.
A Country Ham for Christmas
SANDRA BAKER OF SUMNER COUNTY WAS EXCITED TO WIN THE STATE FAIR GRAND CHAMPION COUNTRY HAM FOR CHRISTMAS.
Tenn’s Outstanding Young Woman
AT THE FARM BUREAU CONVENTION HELD EARLY IN DECEMBER JOSEY MILLER FROM LOUDON COUNTY WAS NAMED THE YOUNG FARMER AND RANCHER OUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMAN.
GAO Says EPA Illegally Promoted WOTUS
A LEGAL OPINION BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE FINDS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY BROKE THE LAW WHILE PROMOTING THE WATERS OF THE...
Last Minute Garden Gifts
IS THERE AN ARDENT GARDENER ON YOUR GIFT LIST? IF SO, THIS REPORT MAY HELP YOU FIND JUST THE RIGHT LAST MINUTE GIFT.
A Passion for Ag
32 YEAR OLD ROBERT ELLIOTT OF ROBERTSON COUNTY WAS RECENTLY ELECTED TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF TN’S YOUNG FARMER AND RANCHERS’ STATE COMMITTEE.
New Garden Grants
WELL NOT MUCH GROWING OUTSIDE THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT COME NEXT SPRING, TENN. ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT...
New Leadership for Farm Bureau
NEW LEADERSHIP SELECTED TO FOR THE TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU FEDERATION.
Jeff Aiken Becomes 8th President of Tenn. Farm Bureau
WASHINGTON COUNTY FARMER JEFF AIKEN WAS SELECTED BY VOTING DELEGATES AS THE 8TH PRESIDENT OF THE TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU FEDERATION.
Tenn. Farm Bureau 94th Convention
FARM LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE GATHER IN FRANKLIN FOR THE FARM BUREAU’S 94TH CONVENTION AS THEY HEAR FROM DEPUTY SEC. OF AGRICULTURE KRYSTA...
Tenn. Farm Bureau 94th Convention
PRESIDENT LACY UPCHURCH PRESIDES OVER HIS FINAL ANNUAL MEETING OF THE TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU FEDERATION IN FRANKLIN.
Trade Interest in Cuba
ITS JUST 90 MILES OFF THE FLORIDA COAST, BUT CUBA STILL REMAINS MUCH FURTHER AWAY FROM FARMERS AND OTHER BUSINESS LEADERS IN TENNESSEE THAT...
Growing the Herd
A BEEF HEIFER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HAS STARTED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TENN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, THE TENN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND...
Farm Income Projections
AS 2015 WINDS DOWN, USDA ANALYSTS HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF JUST WHAT KIND OF INCOME FARMERS WILL HAVE GENERATED.
Time Running Short on Renewing Expired Tax Provisions
TIME IS RUNNING SHORT FOR CONGRESS TO PASS TAX PROVISIONS IMPORTANT TO AGRICULTURE BEFORE THE END OF THIS SESSION.
A Gift From the Last Frontier
THERE ARE MANY FIRST ASSOCIATED WITH THE US CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE HAILING FROM THE STATE CALLED “THE LAST FRONTIER” – ALASKA.
Buy Local for the Holidays
AS CHRISTMAS REALLY GETS INTO FULL SWING, DON’T FORGET THE BEST GIFT MIGHT JUST COME FROM A LOCAL FARM NEAR YOU THIS YEAR.
Thanksgiving on the Farm
A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR FOR OUR FARMERS AND ALL OF US AS WE STOP TO REFLECT ON THE BLESSINGS FROM THE YEAR.
Thankful Farmers
THANKSGIVING IS A SPECIAL HOLIDAY FOR ALL OF US, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR FARMERS.
Thanksgiving Fact or Fiction
HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING HISTORY? A FEW THINGS WE THINK WE KNOW MAY NOT BE TRUE.
Puttin’ On the Turkey
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY AND COOK A FROZEN TURKEY THIS THANKSGIVING, YOU SHOULD ALLOW PLENT OF TIME.
Cost of Thanksgiving Meal Up Just a Tad
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU’S 30TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER COST SURVEY SHOWED A SLIGHT OVERALL INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF THE HOLIDAY MEAL.
National Champion Tenn. 4-H Team
A PROUD GROUP OF TENNESSEE 4-HERS ARE BACK HOME AFTER WINNING THE NATIONAL 4-H LIVESTOCK SKILLATHON CONTEST HELD AT THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK...
Ag Literacy Week
YOUNG KIDS ALL ACROSS TN ARE BENEFITING FROM AG LITERACY WEEK AS TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE TAKING TIME OUT TO TALK ABOUT OUR MOST...
Havana Trade
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK MADE AN HISTORIC VISIT TO CUBA TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF U.S. AG EXPORTS GOING THERE.
Hog Wild
TENN’S WILD HOG PROBLEM CONTINUES ACROSS THE STATE, AS FARMERS CONTINUE REPORTING DAMAGE TO THEIR CROPS AND PROPERTY.
Precision Tools for Bio Crops
GENERA ENERGY HAS PARTNERED WITH PRECSION HAWK TO DEVELOP NEW ANALYSIS ALGORITHMS SPECIFIC TO GROWING BETTER BIOMASS CROPS SUCH AS SWITCHGRASS.
Ag Literacy Week Nov. 15-21
NEXT WEEK MARKS THE SECOND YEAR TENNESSEE WILL CELEBRATE AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND THERE ARE HIGH HOPES FOR A BIG IMPACT.
Local Honey a Win, Win
DURING THE BUSY FALL SEASON, HONEY ISN’T SOMETHING THAT POPS INTO YOUR HEAD RIGHT AWAY, BUT LOTS OF FARMS IN TENNESSEE SELL THIS PURELY...
Veterans in Ag
THOUSANDS OF MILITARY PEOPLE ARE BEING RELEASED FROM SERVICE AND SOME MAY SOMEDAY BE GROWING OUR FOOD.
The Smokey Experience
JUNIOR JARED BRUHIN IS AN ANIMAL SCIENCE AND AG BUSINESS MAJOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE IN KNOXVILLE, AND HE IS ONE OF THE HANDLERS OF...
Zippy Seeking AFBF Presidency
GEORGIA FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT ZIPPY DUVALL IS SEEKING TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION.
Cleaning Up the Act
YESTERDAY THE SENATE FAILED TO PASS A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PUT A STOP TO THE EPA’S WATERS OF THE U.S. RULE, BUT THEY...
Three In A Row for TN FFA
TENNESSEE’S NICK BAKER, REPRESENTING THE BAXTER FFA CHAPTER, WAS NAMED ONE OF SIX NATIONAL FFA OFFICERS THIS PAST WEEK DURING THE 88TH NATIONAL FFA...
FFA Amplified in Louisville
THE 88TH NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY AND MORE THAN 1000 TENNESSEE FFA MEMBERS ARE THERE TO COMPETE...
Red Meat Still Important to Diet
While the World Health Organization has classified processed meats as a carcinogen and red meats as a probable carcinogen, they can still be part...
High Cotton
TN COTTON FARMERS HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS ON HARVEST OF ANOTHER GREAT CROP.
88th National FFA Convention
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY IS HOSTING THE NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION ONE LAST TIME BEFORE IT SHIFTS TO INDIANAPOLIS FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND MORE THAN 60,000...
Judging the Land
THE 2015 STATE LAND JUDGING COMPETITIONS ARE OVER FOR 4-H AND FFA, WITH THE TOP TWO TEAMS IN EACH GROUP GOING TO COMPETE IN...
Amplify FFA
THE NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION BEGINS NEXT WEEK WITH MORE THAN 60,000 FFA MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION EXPECTED TO DECEND ON LOUISVILLE.
Growing the Herd
ONE OF THE STRONGEST ASSETS OF TENNESSEE’S OVERALL AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IS BEEF CATTLE. AND NOW A UNIQUE PROGRAM HAS STARTED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE...
Rural Roots Leads to Business Success
FINAL FLIGHT OUTFITTERS OF UNION CITY HAS BEEN NAMED TENNESSEE’S FAMILY OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AND THAT SUCCESS COMES FROM THE FARM.
On Track
TN ROW CROP FARMERS STILL ENJOYING THE PERFECT HARVEST WEATHER.
Getting to the Head of the Class
TENNESSEE’S AG IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BRING STUDENTS CLOSER TO OUR MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE.
Ag Leadership Forum
THE 4TH ANNUAL AG LEADERSHIP FORUM, SPONSORED BY FARM CREDIT, COBANK AND THE TN DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, BRINGS TOGETHER SEVERAL GROUPS OF FARM ORGANIZATIONS AND...
The Buzz Getting Louder
WHAT’S BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST GATHERING FOR THE ANNUAL TENN. BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE WAS HELD RECENTLY IN COOKEVILLE.
WOTUS Ditched for Now
THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT HAS ISSUED A TEMPORARY STAY OF THE EPA AND CORPS OF ENGINEERS ‘WATERS OF THE...
Wampler’s Sausage Sustainability
WAMPLER’S FARM SAUSAGE COMPANY CONTINUES TO IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS.
2016 Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge
TWO WEST TENNESSEANS HAVE BEEN NAMED FINALIST IN FARM BUREAU’S RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE FOR THEIR FLEXIBLE CRIMPER ROLLER.
Seed Your Lawn in the Fall
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,FALL IS USUALLY A BETTER TIME THAN SPRING TO PLANT NEW GRASS.
Cotton-Picking Time
ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR FOR TENNESSEE FARMERS AS HARVEST SEASON CONTINUES. WITH THE CORN CROP NOW NEARING COMPLETION FOR MANY,...
The Orange Glow
TENN’S PUMPKIN CROP HAS TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD THIS YEAR, CONSIDERING ALL THE DIFFERENT WEATHER CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
Time-Honored Success
ALLEN BENTON OF BENTON COUNTRY HAMS IN MADISONVILLE HAS BEEN CURING COUNTRY HAMS AND BACON SINCE THE MID 70S.
Farming the Sun
LAUDERDALE COUNTY ROW CROP FARMER BILL PARKER INSTALLED HIS NEW SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM THIS YEAR TO BASICALLY POWER HIS GRAIN BIN FACILITY.
Getting Home Heating System Ready for Winter
ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT TURNS COLD AND YOU LOOK TO TURN UP THE HEAT.
Excellence in Ag
JIMMY AND LYDIA MCALISTER OF GREENE COUNTY HAVE BEEN NAMED THE TENN. FARM BUREAU’S EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE WINNERS FOR 2015.
Agritourism Season
WITH THE FALL SEASON, IT’S TIME TO VISIT THE FARM. AND FROM ONE END OF THE STATE TO THE OTHER, THERE ARE MANY, MANY...
Harvest Season in Full Throttle
THE 2015 HARVEST SEASON IS GOING STRONG NOW ALL ACROSS THE STATE AS FARMERS REAP THE REWARDS OF THEIR EFFORTS.
Staying Alert on the Road
WHAT CAN YOU DO, AS A DRIVER, TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH FARM EQUIPMENT MOVING ON THE SAME ROADWAY AS YOU?
Farm Safety
Farm equipment-vehicle accidents have increased in recent years. But farmers can do their part to avoid these collisions by using safety tips.
Sheep Popularity
THE SHEEP EVENTS AT THE STATE FAIR. AND THE NUMBERS REFLECT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE FOLKS GETTING BACK INTO THE SHEEP BUSINESS.
Labor Reform Critical for Agriculture
With more than one million undocumented farm workers, agriculture needs labor reform that provides a quality workforce.
Legislative Showdown
TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS BATTLE IN THE 2015 LEGISLATIVE LIVESTOCK SHOWDOWN AT THE STATE FAIR.
Tennessee Valley Fair ‘Farm Day’
KIDS LEARNING ALL ABOUT THE FARM THIS WEEK AT THE TENNESSEE VALLEY FAIR IN KNOXVILLE. IT’S FARM DAY COORDINATED BY THE UT EXTENSION SERVICE.
Ham-It Up for the FFA
THE INNAUGURAL FFA HAM BREAKFAST WAS HELD DURING THE STATE FAIR AND A LOT OF MONEY WAS RAISED FOR FFA FROM TWO OF THE PRIZED...
Backyard Birds
WITH THE APPROACHING FALL AND WINTER, STATE OFFICIALS ARE URGING POULTRY PRODUCERS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE A JUST A FEW BACK YARD BIRDS TO...
State Fair Opens
THE TENN. STATE FAIR IS OFF AND RUNNING AS MANAGER SCOTT JONES SAYS THIS YEARS FAIR IS GOING TO BE SPECIAL.
Trying to Stay Positive
RHEA COUNTY’S CLINT JEWELL AND OTHER DAIRY FARMERS RIDE A ROLLERCOASTER OF PRICES.
Best Field Trip of the Year
OBION COUNTY 4TH GRADERS TOOK THEIR FAVORITE FIELD TRIP OF THE YEAR TO “FARM DAY.”
Ag Groups Push House to act on Transportation
A COALITION OF AGRICULTURE GROUPS INCLUDING THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU IS URGING THE U.S. HOUSE TO PASS A SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
Prices and Income
LOWER CROP PRICES AND LOWER FARM INCOMES WILL TRIGGER HIGHER THAN EXPECTED GOVERNMENT FARM PROGRAM PAYMENTS.
Farming the Sun
LAUDERDALE COUNTY ROW CROP FARMER BILL PARKER HAS PUT IN A NEW SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM THIS YEAR TO BASICALLY POWER HIS GRAIN BIN FACILITY.
2015 Net Farm Income Estimates
RECENT NUMBERS PUT OUT BY USDA SHOW A DROP IN NET FARM INCOME FOR 2015.
Corn Harvest Picking Up
THE HARVEST SEASON IS DEFINITELY HERE FOR TENN FARMERS, AND THE CORN CROP IS FRONT AND CENTER.
Let ‘Em Walk
EXCITEMENT IS STILL BUILDING IN THE TOWN OF SHELBYVILLE WHERE THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE NATIONAL CELEBRATION IS BEING HELD FOR THE 77TH YEAR.
Farm Computer Use Growing Steadily
FARMERS’ USE OF COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET IS GROWING STEADILY, BUT STILL LAGS BEHIND THE GENERAL POPULATION.
Rural Roots Leads to Business Success
FINAL FLIGHT OUTFITTERS OF UNION CITY HAS BEEN NAMED TENNESSEE’S FAMILY OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AND THAT SUCCESS COMES FROM THE FARM.
Cattle Talk Down Under
NIGEL SIMMONS AND A GROUP OF AUSSIE CATTLE PRODUCERS THAT ARE PART OF GENETICS AUSTRAILA ARE TRAVELING THIS SUMMER IN AMERICA AND THEY MADE...
Commodity Market Reaction to Global Selloff
THE GLOBAL MARKET ROLLERCOASTER CONTINUES BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AGRICULTURE?
Wet and Very Chilly
FARMERS ALMANAC EDITOR PETER GEIGER SHARING THE WINTER PREDICITIONS OF THE 2016 EDITION OF THIS STORIED PUBLICATION.
AG Launch
THE TN DEPT OF AGRICULTURE AND USDA’S RURAL DEVELOPMENT HAVE COMBINED RESOURCES TO PROVIDE SOME $220,000 SEED MONEY TO HELP FUND AGRI-TECH INNOVATION AND...
Anti-GMO Activists Reverses Position
AFTER YEARS OF BEING ONE OF THE LEAD ACTIVIST IN THE ANTI GMO CAMPAIGN, MARK LYNAS, THE BRITISH ENVIRONMENTALIST SAYS SCIENCE REVERSED HIS LONG-HELD...
Protecting the Flock
TN COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE JULIUS JOHNSON THAT AVIAN INFLUENZA HAS BEEN THE MOST COSTLY ANIMAL HEALTH DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. STATE OFFICIALS ARE CONTINUING TO...
August Crop Report
WITH NEW SURVEY AND OBSERVATION-BASED INFORMATION, USDA REVISED SPRING CROP PRODUCTION ESTIMATES IN ITS AUGUST REPORTS.
Getting to KNOW GMO
ROB SAIK IS THE CEO OF THE AGRI TREND GROUP OF COMPANIES AND A PROFESSIONAL AGROLOGIST AND A CERTIFIED AGRICUTURAL CONSULTANT AND FOR MORE...
Standing Up for her Farmers
6TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN DIANNE BLACK SAYS ITS IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM AND MEET WITH FARMERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR ISSUES.
75th Tennessee Farm Bureau Presidents Conference
TN FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT LACY UPCHURCH SAYS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTS CONFERENCE WAS HELD THIS WEEK IN FRANKLIN, AS FARM BUREAU LEADERS FROM ALL ACROSS...
75th Tennessee Farm Bureau Presidents Conference
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 75TH TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU PRESIDENTS CONFERENCE
The Race is On
DON VILWOCK, THE INDIANA FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT, IS SEEKING TO BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION.
Major Crop Report Out This Week
HOW BIG WILL THIS SEASON’S HARVESTS BE AND HOW STRONG WILL DEMAND BE FOR THOSE CROPS? USDA’S CROP REPORT WILL GIVE A BETTER IDEA.
Top Dollar for Top Cattle
LAWRENCE COUNTY CATTLE PRODUCER KENNY SPRINGER RECENTLY SOLD HIS FIRST CALVES THROUGH THE TENNESSEE BEEF ALLIANCE, A PROGRAM THAT STARTED WELL OVER A DECADE AGO...
EPA Rule-making Process in Question
A cache of internal memos that federal regulators intended to keep private reveals a culture of secrecy, falsehood and dysfunction that permeated the Waters...
Field to Field
FORMER NFL STAR CENTER JASON BROWN IS NOW A STAR FARMER. IN 2012 HE TRADED IN HIS CLETES AND A $37 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT...
Beef Cycle Finally Turning to Expansion
AFTER ALMOST A DECADE OF SEEING THE U.S. BEEF CATTLE HERD SHRINKING, THERE IS FINALLY A CHANGE IN DIRECTION. GARY CRAWFORD HAS MORE.
Technology Progressed Agriculture
IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT FARMERS RELY ON THE INNOVATION OF TECHNOLOGY. THESE YOUNG FARMER’S SHARE WITH US HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPACTED THEIR OPERATIONS.
Future Farming
YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE FUTURE OF THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY. MANY YOUNG FARMERS GOT THEIR START MANY...
Discovery Park
TENNESSEE HAS RECENTLY OPENED UP A ONE-OF-A-KIND PARK IN UNION CITY THAT HAS A DRAW FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY.
Farm and Forest
WHEN ALABAMA FARM BOY NICK PATTERSON ARRIVED IN CLAY COUNTY A FEW YEARS AGO TO START HIS VETERINARY PRACTICE, HE WASN’T THINKING MUCH ABOUT...
Montgomery County’s Jay Head Young Farmer of the Year
JAY HEAD OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS BEEN NAMED THE TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU’S YF&R ACHIEVEMENT WINNER FOR 2015.