Tennessee Home & Farm Radio

Farm to table starts with understanding where our food comes from! Farm Bureaus across Tennessee host Farm Days to give elementary students a hands-on look at agriculture and the important role it plays in our everyday lives. Earlier this week, Maury County Farm Bureau welcomed more than 1,100 fourth graders for a day of learning, exploration, and agricultural discovery.

A group of 35 delegates from Vietnam recently visited West Tennessee to tour grain farms and elevators, seeking new opportunities to purchase Tennessee-grown grain for export to Vietnam.

The Tennessee Farm Bureau Foundation is expanding its Meat the Need initiative to help fight childhood hunger across Tennessee. Through the program, donated beef cattle and hogs are processed into shelf-stable meat sticks that children can take home through county backpack programs. By providing a convenient, protein-rich snack, the initiative helps ensure children have access to the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

The West Tennessee State Fair is off and running at the Chester County Fairgrounds in Henderson.  Fair board president Scott Woolfolk says the fair exists to celebrate agriculture, community spirit and family tradition.

Law enforcement officers encounter livestock-related calls regularly, yet many have little to no training or experience handling these situations. That’s why the Farm Animal Care Coalition hosts the annual FACCT 911 training, helping officers build the knowledge and skills they need to handle livestock encounters safely and effectively.

Folks in East Tennessee are beginning to have an even bigger problem with Black bear encounters, particularly along the edge of the Cherokee National Forest.

The American Farm Bureau Federation submitted comments on the EPAs proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule. Chad Smith tells us farmers believe the proposed rule is a step in the right direction.

The Tennessee Farm Bureau and UT Extension hosted the first-ever Southeast Farm & Forest Land Summit in Columbia. Attendees from across Tennessee and the Southeast gathered to discuss strategies for preserving farmland.

Tennessee’s dairy industry has seen a decline in the number of farms over the past several years, but the interest among young people continues as they show and compete in various dairy projects.  That was evident this past week in Lebanon at the state dairy expo.

Tennessee soybean farmers have been going strong the past few weeks with harvest of more than 1.5 million acres across the state.

October is Pork Month in Tennessee and there’s no better time to enjoy a Tennessee-grown product that’s a great, economical source of protein.

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.

Alyssa Clements of Clay County is enjoying her new hay conditioner, which she received as part of her prize for finishing second in the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Competition! Alyssa says she is so grateful to Case IH for their sponsorship and support of the competition and for helping provide this incredible prize.

For more than a decade the Shooting Hunger Events has helped feed hungry Tennesseans. More than two million meals have been provided through the initiative.

As we usher in a new Fall season, we’re hopeful for more fall-like weather.  As we all know this late summer heatwave has been one to linger longer than anyone wanted, but while there have been some records, its not that unusual.

The Senate Ag Committee finally moved its farm bill through to the full Senate for a vote. Chad Smith has more on what’s next.

Farmers and ranchers are in Washington, DC this week, urging senators to pass the farm bill. Chad Smith tells us farmers are targeting all 100 senate offices.

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.

Combines are running hard in fields across Tennessee as farmers work around the clock to shell corn. And in most places, you’ll see big smiles on farmers’ faces, as yields are looking really good. The Brooksher family in Robertson County says this is the best corn crop they’ve ever produced.

USDA estimates that farmers will spend more money on interest payments in 2026, after adjusting for inflation, than at any other time on record. Stephanie Hoff learns more.

Tennessee’s Agricultural Crime Unit has been working the past 25 years to help protect our state’s most important industry against crime.

For Cannon County’s T. Wayne Williams, he’s been living out his dream over the past year.  Last October he was elected as one of the six national officers for the Future Farmers of America organization and this experience has been one to remember.

It’s still unclear if a new farm bill will be passed this year. AFBF Vice President of Public Policy, John Newton, says there is still some hope that something could come together in the coming weeks.

Ruby’s Happy Farm in Robertson County has been named Tennessee State University’s Small Farmer of the Year.

New farm income projections say the farm economy is still tough, as we hear in this report from Chad Smith.

Just outside of downtown Nashville , Tennessee State University’s Agriculture Research and Education Center continues to benefit students, industry partners and farmers.

German television producer Claudia Bates and her team have been in Middle Tennessee this week interviewing farmers to better understand rural America as part of a documentary for German Public Television on the upcoming mid-term elections.

For years, farmers have said deer and other wildlife are causing significant damage to their crops. A new study from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) backs up those concerns, estimating that wildlife causes about $75 million in crop damage across Tennessee each year.

Folks in East Tennessee are beginning to have an even bigger problem with Black bear encounters, particularly along the edge of the Cherokee National Forest.

Without a doubt, this isn’t your grandfather’s, or even your father’s farm anymore.  Just like with the rest of society, technology has changed everything on the farm.

Rob and Leah Holman of Obion County are enjoying a new Kubota tractor on their farm after finishing second in the Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award competition. As part of their award, the Holmans were presented with the tractor for one year or up to 250 hours of use.