Yearly Archives: 2015
El Nino Impact on Weather
WEATHER FORECASTERS CAN NORMALLY TELL US FAIRLY CONFIDENTLY WHAT AN EL NINO WILL BRING US, BUT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL YEAR.
Safe and Accurate
THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED PASSAGE OF THE SAFE AND ACCURATE FOOD LABELING ACT OF 2015 BY AN OVERWHELMINGLY BI-PARTSIAN SUPPORT.
Black Vultures
TN’S 4TH DIST CONGRESSMAN DR. SCOTT DESJARLAIS TOOK ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BRING UP THE PROBLEMS THAT LIVESTOCK FARMERS ARE HAVING WITH BLACK VULTURES TO THE...
Ag View From Washington Reporter
CBS NEWS CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT MAJOR GARRETT DISCUSSES AG ISSUES.
Water Rights
FORTUNATLEY THIS SUMMER, TENN. FARMERS HAVE NOT HAD TO IRRIGATE THEIR CROPS AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE IN PAST YEARS. BUT THERE ARE STILL...
Junior Sheep Expo
THE TENNESSEE JUNIOR LIVESTOCK EXPO SHEEP EVENTS WERE HELD LAST WEEK IN COOKEVILLE, TN ON THE CAMPUS OF TENNESSEE TECH UNIVERSITY.
Fed & State Officials Prepare for Bird Flu
IF BIRD FLU RETURNS THIS FALL AND HITS YOUR POULTRY HOUSE, THERE ARE PLANS TO HELP.
The Challenges for Young Farmers
THE TENN. FARM BUREAU SPONSORS A YOUNG FARMER AND RANCHER PROGRAM THAT’S MADE UP OF YOUNG FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE BETWEEN THE AGES OF...
AITC Summer Workshops
TN’S AG IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM HELPED ORGANIZE SEVERAL WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE STATE THIS SUMMER TO HELP TEACHERS INCORPORATE THE PROGRAM INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.
Family Tradition
HAYLEE FERGUSON OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY RECENTLY EXHIBITED CATTLE AT THE 2015 TENNESSEE JUNIOR BEEF EXPO IN MURFREESBORO. FERGUSON HAS A STRONG PASSION FOR SHOWING...
Kids Grow With Expo
THE 44TH ANNUAL TENNESSEE JUNIOR LIVESTOCK EXPOSISTION BEEF EVENTS WERE HELD THIS WEEK IN MURFREESBORO, TN.
West TN Farmers Still Flooding
IT HAS BEEN AN UNUSUAL YEAR FOR GROWING CROPS SO FAR IN 2015 AND WEST TENNESSEE FARMERS ARE FACING FLOODING IN JULY FROM THE...
From 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...
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...
2015 Summer Cookout Prices Down
The American Farm Bureau’s annual Summer Cookout survey showed a slight overall decline in price of the items in the survey.
Flood Waters for West TN Farmers
WEST TN FARMERS ARE FACING FLOOD WATERS ONCE AGAIN ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI, OBION AND FORKED DEER RIVERS.
YF&R Program Builds Leaders
TENNESSEE FARM BUREAU’S YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CREATING LEADERS FOR THE PAST 71 YEARS AND THOSE INVOLVED ARE PROUD TO BE...
A Tennessee FFA Tradition
FFA Camp Clements has been a Tennessee FFA tradition since 1928 and is still training leaders today.
Farm Women Gather at TN Farm Bureau Headquarters
Each summer Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committees gather in Columbia for their summer conference and this year promises to be a great one.
Helping Our Bees
Efforts to make people aware of declines in bee populations are coming to fruition.
Keep Your Lawnmower Running Right All Summer
A few maintenance tips will help keep your lawn mower, no matter what kind of mower, in tip top shape.
New Farmer Academy
Tennessee State Unversity has launched a program, now in its second year, for people interested in farming to be able to learn about how...
Trade Promotion Authority Moves Through
For more than 30 years, Congress has passed TPA laws to guide both Democratic and Republican Administrations in pursuing trade agreements that support U.S....
Still High Hopes for UAV’s
THERE’S STILL LOTS OF INTEREST FROM THE AG COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES, BUT FAA HAS THE FINAL SAY.
Ag View From Washington Reporter
CBS NEWS CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT MAJOR GARRETT DISCUSSES AG ISSUES.
Cattle Talk Down Under
A GROUP OF CATTLE PRODUCERS THAT ARE PART OF GENETICS AUSTRAILA ARE TRAVELING THIS SUMMER IN AMERICA AND THEY MADE STOPS IN TENNESSEE.
Analyzing the WOTUS Rule
THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU HAS JUST FINSIHED ANALYSIS OF THE EPA’S FINALIZED WATERS OF THE US RULE AND IT SHOWS THE FINAL RULE IS...
National Leadership Forum
FOR SOME 200 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LIKE HEATH QUICK OF SHELBY COUNTY, THEY’VE BEEN SPENDING THE WEEK AT THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FORUM SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN...
Ag Education for Teachers
THE ANNUAL AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM WORKSHOPS RECENTLY TOOK PLACE ACROSS THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM IS GEARED TOWARDS TEACHING PRE-K ...
Preparing for Animal Health Alerts
THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS PLANS IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH ANIMAL HEALTH ALERTS LIKE AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) H5.
State of the Farm Economy
IN JUST TWO YEARS THE FARM ECONOMY HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY. USDA’S GARY CRAWFORD REPORTS ON WHERE THE ECONOMY IS NOW AND WHERE IT COULD...
Little Lamb Camp
DYERSBURG FFA CHAPTER HOSTS A LITTLE LAMB CAMP EACH YEAR FOR KIDS AGES 4-9.
Ag In The Classroom Workshops
WHILE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THE SUMMER, MANY TENN. TEACHERS WILL TAKE PART IN WORKSHOPS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UTILIZING AG IN...
Summer Forecast
IT’S ALWAYS HARD FOR WEATHER FORECASTERS TO TELL US WHAT THE SUMMER WILL BRING, BUT THIS YEAR IT’S EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
East Tenn. Farmers Need More Rain
UNLIKE THE WET WEATHER FARMERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN WEST AND MIDDLE TENN, FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, ITS BEEN JUST THE OPPOSITE...
Great American Milk Drive
JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH IN TENNESSEE AND A BESIDES THE SPECIAL PROMOTIONS TO ENCOURAGE MORE AWARENESS OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY, 4-H’ERS ACROSS THE STATE...
Celebrating June Dairy Month
TENN 4-H JUNE DAIRY MONTH CHAIRMEN IN SEVERAL COUNTIES WILL BE WORKING TO PROMOTE THE BENEFITS OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY TO THE STATE ECONOMY...
The Buffer Zone
THE TENN DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND OTHER AG ASSOCIATIONS ARE ENCOURAGING RURAL AND URBAN LANDOWNERS TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONES TO HELP PROTECT...
Canola Interest
TENNESSEE FARMERS ARE READY TO HARVEST CANOLA.
From the Garden to the Capitol
TYLER BROWN IS THE EXECUTIVE CHEF OF THE CAPITOL GRILLE AT THE FAMOUS HERMITAGE HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, AND HE’S COOKING UP PRODUCE AND...
Summer Grilling
THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY IS A REMINDER TO REMEMBER THOSE VETERANS WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OF COURSE IT’S SYNONYMOUS...
The Best Field Trip of the Year
CLAIBORNE COUNTY 5TH GRADERS HAD THEIR BEST FIELD TRIP OF THE YEAR AT THE ANNUAL FARM CITY DAY. SPONSORED BY THE CLAIBORNE COUNTY FARM...
The Numbers of Agriculture
THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE SURVEYS FARMERS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO GET A SNAPSHOT OF JUST WHAT IS AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. AND A NEW REPORT...
Tenn. Residence Garden Wins International Award
THE TENN. EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE KITCHEN AND CUTTING GARDEN HAS BEEN NAMED FIRST PLACE IN THIS YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION IN...
UAV Use in Ag
THE AGRICULTURAL USE OF UAV’S OR DRONES WILL DO MORE THAN JUST GATHER FARM DATA.
Rural Life Festival
THE HISTORIC RURAL LIFE FESTIVAL IS HELD AT THE ELLINGTON AGRCICULTURAL CENTER AND IS GEARED TOWARD STUDENTS 1ST THROUGH 5TH GRADE.
Future Ag Leaders Go All Out
NEW LEADERS WERE RECENTLY ELECTED TO SERVE THE TENNESSEE FFA FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND THEY HAVE SOME LOFTY GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH.
High Demand for Ag Grads
ONE OF THE BEST CAREERCHOICES FOR NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES IS THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
A Blend of Success
SINCE THE FIRST GRIND OF CORN IN NOVERMBER OF 2009, GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY IN OBION, TN HAS CONTINUED ITS PATH OF SUCCESS.
Taking What’s Given
TENNESSEE ROW CROP FARMERS HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS PLANTING THEIR CORN, COTTON AND SOYBEANS. BUT NOW THEY NEED SOME MOISTURE IN THE GROUND.
Better Late than Never
FRANKLIN COUNTY FARMER MIKE ROBINSON SAYS THE PAST TWO WEEKS WERE JUST WHAT HE’S NEEDED TO TRY AND CATCH UP WITH SPRING PLANTING.
Better Late than Never
FRANKLIN COUNTY FARMER MIKE ROBINSON SAYS THE PAST TWO WEEKS WERE JUST WHAT HE’S NEEDED TO TRY AND CATCH UP WITH SPRING PLANTING.
Women in Ag Speak Out
The American Farm Bureau recently released its Women in Ag Survey. All women in agriculture, not just Farm Bureau members, were invited to participate,...
New Tennessee 4-H Leader
FOR JUST ABOUT HIS ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER. DR. RICHARD CLARK HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME ASPECT OF 4-H. AND NOW HE’S THE NEW LEADER...
Rural Development for Rural Communities
TENN. DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISISIONER RANDY BOYD IS BUSY TRAVELING THE STATE AND ELSEWHERE LOOKING TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO HELP MAKE...
Strawberry Season
NOTHING MUCH BETTER THAN A FRESH TENN. STRAWBERRY. AND NOW’S THE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SEASON. AFTER MONTHS OF CARING FOR THE...
Safeguarding From Bird Flu
SINCE LAST DECEMBER, USDA HAS CONFIRMED SEVERAL CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA H5 IN THE PACIFIC, CENTRAL AND MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS.
Mother’s Day Farmers
PERHAPS NOTHING SAYS MOTHERS DAY MORE THAN THE GIFT OF FLOWERS. AND FFA STUDENTS ALL ACROSS TENN. MAYBE UNDERSTAND THAT MORE THESE DAYS, BECAUSE...
Canola Interest
A FEW TENNESSEE FARMERS SCATTERED ABOUT THE STATE ARE GETTING READY TO HARVEST THEIR CANOLA CROP
Corn Planters Finally Rolling
TN CORN FARMERS ARE HAVING THEIR BEST PLANTING DAYS OF THE SEASON. UNTIL THE PAST FEW DAYS, THEY’VE BEEN RAINED OUT, BUT NOW THEY’RE...
Strawberry Time
IT’S FINALLY HERE. STRAWBERRY SEASON THAT IS. IT’S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR MANY GROWERS, BATTLING THE LONG, COLD WINTER AND A LOT OF...
AgriScience Star
DURING THE STATE FFA CONVENTION HELD IN GATLINBURG STUDENTS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR SUPERVISED AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS AND THE CREAM OF THE CROP VIE...
Too Much, Too Little
TENNESSEE FARMERS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR DRIER DAYS SO THAT THEY COULD BEGIN PLANTING THIS YEAR’S CORN CROP, WHILE CALIFORNIA FARMERS STILL FACE HISTORIC...
Nursery Time
THIS TIME OF YEAR, A LOT OF CONSIDERATION FOR WHAT TO PLANT IN YOUR GARDEN, AND FOR MANY STOPPING BY HOLDENS NURSERY IN MASCOT, TN,...
Budgets Matter
TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS HAVE ALL BUT WRAPPED UP THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 109TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WITH IT A 33.8 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET THAT...
Foodkeeper
A NEW APP CALLED FOODKEEPER CAN HELP US SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SAFE FOOD GOING TO LANDFILLS.
4-H Camp Returns to West Tennessee
THE TN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED THE STATE BUDGET FOR 2015-16 AND INCLUDED IN THE $33.8 BILLION DOLLAR DOCUMENT IS FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE...
FFA Star Power
THE FFA IS STILL AN AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION AT HEART, AND RECENTLY AT THE STATE FFA CONVENTION, THEY NAMED THEIR STAR FARMER AND STAR IN...
FFA Developing Winners
AT THE STATE FFA CONVENTION, WINNERS WERE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT TENNESSEE AT THE NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION IN OCTOBER. ONE OF THOSE WINNERS WAS STATE...
The Plain Untruths about Tornadoes
The 2015 tornado season has started slowly, but deadly. Knowing the truths about these storms could save your life.
A Blend of Success
SINCE THE FIRST GRIND OF CORN IN NOVERMBER OF 2009, GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY IN OBION, TN HAS CONTINUED ITS PATH OF SUCCESS.
Executive Gardening
TENNESSEE’S EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE CHEF STEVEN WARD LOVES HIS JOB OF PREPARING FOOD FOR TENN’S FIRST FAMILY.
National FFA Southern Regional VP Comes Home
National FFA Southern Region Vice President Stephen McBride, Tennessee and Coffee County native, came home to Tennessee for the Tennessee State FFA Convention.
Corn Planters Still Waiting on Drier Weather
ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS FOR TY MCCONNEL TO DO IS RAISING CORN. AND OF COURSE THIS TIME OF YEAR IS WHEN HE’S USUALLY...
Modest Increase in Spring Picnic Basket
HIGHER RETAIL PRICES FOR SEVERAL FOODS RESULTED IN A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU’S SPRING PICNIC MARKETBASKET SURVEY.
USDA Healthy Meals
SCHOOLS ARE GETTING A FINANCIAL BOOST FROM USDA GRANTS TO PREPARE HEALTHIER MEALS.
87th Tennessee FFA Convention
NEW TENNESSEE FFA STATE OFFICERS NAMED
87th Tennessee FFA Convention
Coverage from the 87th Tennessee FFA Convention.
87th Tennessee FFA Convention
Coverage from the 87th Tennessee FFA Convention.
87th Tennessee FFA Convention
LINCOLN COUNTY FFA ADVISOR BRAD PARTIN IS KEEPING WATCH OVER SOME 20 OF HIS FFA STUDENTS THIS WEEK IN GATLINBURG.
Farm Bill Sign-up Deadline Nears
USDA’S FARM SERVICE AGENCY IS REMINDING FARMERS THAT THE DEADLINE FOR UPDATING CROP YIELD HISTORY AND REALLOCATING BASE ACRES IS FAST APPROACHING.
Red Tractors Paint the Capitol
CASE IH’S TIM MILLS WAS ALL SMILES THIS WEEK AS HIS COMPANY DELIVERED THREE BRAND NEW CASE IH FARMALL TRACTORS TO TENN’S NATIONAL YOUNG...
Shelling for Ag
MEMBERS OF THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CELEBRATED THEIR VICTORY OVER THE SENATE IN THE 2015 AG DAY ON THE HILL CORN SHELLING CONTEST.
Young Farmers Remain Optimistic
According to the 2015 American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Young Farmers and Ranchers outlook survey, about one-third of young farmers and ranchers surveyed, ages...
Ag Day on the Hill
TODAY AND TOMORROW TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS ON CAPITOL HILL WILL GET A HEAVY DOSE OF INFO ON THE STATE’S MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY, AS FARMERS AND...
Omelet Cook-Off Promotes Ag Industry
AS PART OF THIS WEEK’S CELEBRATION OF TENNESSEE AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE, THE FARM AND FOREST FAMILIES OF TENN HELD AN OMELET COOK-OFF AT THE...
Family Farm Numbers
THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE WITH THE US. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE HAS A NEW REPORT OUT THAT VERIFYS THE NUMBER OF FAMILY FARMS ALL ACROSS...
Rutherford Co. Farmer Testifying in Congress
ITS NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY, AND ONE OF TENNESSEE’S TOP RECOGNIZED YOUNG FARMERS, BRANDON WHITT OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY, IS ON CAPITOL HILL IN WASHINGTON D.C....
Farmer Perspective on National Ag Week
ITS NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK, A WEEK SET ASIDE FOR ALL AMERICANS TO EMBRACE THE INDUSTRY THAT FEEDS AND CLOTHES US, PROVIDES FUEL AND SHELTER...
National Agriculture Week
TENNESSEE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE JULIUS JOHNSON AND FARMERS AND THE AG INDUSTRY ACROSS THE STATE ARE CELEBRATING OUR MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY THIS WEEK.
Farmer’s Friend in Nashville
REP. JOHN MARK WINDLE OF LIVINGSTON REPRESENTS THE 41ST DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES THE RURAL AREAS OF THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU OF MORGAN JACKSON, OVERTON AND...
Dan Wheeler Recognized
FORMER TN COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, DAN WHEELER, WAS GIVEN A SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD RECENTLY FROM THE TENNESSEE COUNCIL OF COOPERATIVES.
What Lawmakers think of Contacts
MOST TN LAWMAKERS WILL TELL YOU THE MORE CONTACTS THEY GET, THE BETTER. ESPECIALLY FOR RURAL ISSUES.
Reality of Waters of the U.S Rule Comments
The comment period for the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule ended in November, and well over 1 million comments were submitted.
Cooperative Leadership
DURING THE TENNESSEE YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE, YOUNG FOLKS GOT A GOOD DOSE OF HOW AND WHAT TO EXPECT TO BECOME A GOOD LEADER, INCLUDING...
Winter Lingers for Livestock Farmers
LIVESTOCK FARMERS ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US, WHEN WILL THE SNOW AND ICE GET OUT OF HERE.
Walmart’s Commitment to Fresh Produce
WALMART IS ON TRACK TO REACH ITS GOAL OF DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF FRESH PRODUCE IT BUYS FROM LOCAL FARMERS BY THE END OF...
Farm Bureau Leaders on the Hill
SEVERAL HUNDRED FARM BUREAU LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE MADE VISITS TO THEIR LAWMAKERS ON CAPITOL HILL IN NASHVILLE.
Young Leaders Leading Now
MORE THAN 300 ATTENDED THE TENNESSEE YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE TENNESSEE COUNCIL OF COOPERATIVES AND FARM BUREAU’S YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
FFA International
TENNESSEE FFA OFFICERS TAKE PART IN AN INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SEMINAR