Number of Tennessee farms declining

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Story from WSMV news in Nashville...

According to new census numbers, the number of farms in Tennessee is in serious decline, forcing farmers to look to produce different crops.

Figures show the number of farms in Tennessee has shrunk by 9 percent during a five-year census study.

Farmer Bob Strasser isn't surprised by the figures because the workdays are long, tough and dealing with unpredictable weather is risky business.

Agriculture officials said many farms have closed as part of tobacco settlements. The drought, rising costs and urban sprawl also played a part in the decline.

Farmers today are now looking to the future. What is food today could be fuel tomorrow.
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Read the entire story at WSMV.

The University of Tennessee creates an organic farming initiative

This story was written by Chloe White
As U.S. organic food production is increasing at a steady pace of about 20 percent a year, UT has launched an organic farming initiative to "jump-start organics in Tennessee" and "help keep family farms in the family," said Annette Wszelaki, UT Extension commercial vegetable specialist.

Organic production can increase profits by reducing the use of off-farm inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, she said.

There are currently 21 acres under cultivation at the 90-acre organic research farm at UT's Agricultural Research and Education Center off of John Sevier Highway. Fourteen acres are under transition to organic farming. It typically takes three years for a plot of land to be certified suitable for organic production, Wszelaki said.

The organic research farm was dedicated to organic crop production in fall 2007, and crops tested have been mainly vegetable crops, including carrots, beets, peppers, tomatoes, squash and watermelon.

"Nothing has been unsuccessful," Wszelaki said, noting that the first year was low-disease, which is "unusual for any farm system."

Meanwhile, the Organic and Sustainable Crop Production program is a statewide initiative aimed at involving more Tennessee farmers in organic production.

Read the entire story in the Knoxville News Sentinal.

Tennessee Agriculture and Farms win awards

Winners of the Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award, Discussion Meet, and Excellence in Agriculture competitions were announced at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 90th annual meeting in San Antonio.

Young farmers from around the United States competed for the awards by demonstrating knowledge of and achievement in agriculture, as well as commitment to promoting the agriculture industry.

Donald and Alicia Blankenship of Tennessee won the Achievement Award. They are the winners of a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck, courtesy of Dodge, and a $1,000 product voucher from Valvoline. They also received free registration to the 2009 AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif.

Dan and Cara June Strasser of Tennessee won the Excellence in Agriculture Award. They received a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck and free registration to the YF&R Leadership Conference.

Read the entire news HERE.

Fuel cell tractor by New Holland could change the farming industry

Already awarded with a show Gold Medal, the tractor is dubbed the NH2. The result of development work between the Fiat Group and Iveco, although the full details remain under wraps the diesel engine has been replaced by the fuel cell.

The chemical reaction that takes place here is converted into electric power, which is then stored in one of three lithium ion batteries. This electrical energy is then quite probably used to drive an electric transmission.

Read the rest of the story in the Farmers Guardian.

Tenn. officials say 2008 harvest deemed a good one

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Despite lingering drought conditions in some parts of the state, Tennessee agricultural officials say 2008 is a good year for the harvest.

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Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens said the rain that fell during the growing season was timely, if not abundant, and the weather wasn't overly hot when corn was pollinating.

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Read more in Forbes. Article written by Randall Dickerson

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Farm subsidies are going to universities and institutions

As the sun prepares to set over the ridge that borders his Speedwell farm, Freddie Wells quickly wraps up afternoon chores. It's the same set of tasks his grandfather did before his father did.

Dairy farming is not only a living for Wells, it's his way of life.

"Freedom," he said. "I like the freedom. Not having to answer to someone."

In East Tennessee and the country, he's become part of a dying breed. According to the University of Tennessee, dairy farmers are getting rid of their operations like spoiled milk.

In 1995, there were about 1300 dairy farms in the Volunteer State. Today, there are fewer than 600.

"The guy looks at it like, 'Man, I could sell the property and have a whole lot more money than I'm going to make,'" Wells said.

Read the rest of the story at WBIR.

Agri-Tourism in Tennessee? Hmm...

By Jim Beller

How to make more money on your farm was the basic thrust of an "agri-tourism" meeting held Tuesday at US Bank by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

"You're not going to make it in tobacco anymore," said Ken Givens, Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture and longtime farmer. "You're going to have to have diversity to make things go. It's time for something like agri-tourism."

Agri-tourism is a state initiative to help farmers increase their income by adding tourist-attracting programs and to expand tourist income within rural communities.

Letting people pick their own produce or work the fields, enjoy hay rides, corn and hay mazes, music festivals, pumpkin patches and petting zoos are some of the things farmers do to get those visitors. "Anything that brings people to the farm to experience agriculture," said Pam Bartholomew, Agri-Tourism Coordinator for Tennessee.

Those reasons could be a desire for peace and tranquility, interest in the natural environment, nostalgia for rural heritage, rural recreation and inexpensive getaways. For example, Ritter Farms, located between Bean Station and Rutledge, is hosting one of its many music festivals.

"Bluegrass on the Farm" on July 28 will feature musical guests Larry Sparks, The Seldom Scene, Blue Highway and Walk Softly.

Read the full article in the Rogersville Review newspaper

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Sow & Tell

Agri-tourism takes root in Dickson County as farmers branch out

The tourism aspect of agriculture has played a vital role in maintaining the industry’s bottom line.

When Dickson County farmer Steve Shafer told his wife he wanted to turn their Three Creeks Farm into a tourist destination, she was skeptical.

“My reaction,” says Beth Collier, “was, ‘Yeah right, who’s going to pay to go to a farm?’ ”

But after hearing more, Collier was convinced, and in 2005, the couple began offering tours of their 56-acre farm seven miles north of Dickson.

At Three Creeks Farm, visitors can touch and feed the animals, which include exhibition chickens and pheasants, Cashmere goats and registered Icelandic and Shetland sheep.

They also can learn about blacksmithing, demonstrated by Shafer, and spinning, demonstrated by Collier. During such heritage tours, the couple dresses in 19th-century costumes and allows visitors to hammer on the forge or spin with a hand spindle.

Read the entire article in Images of Dickson

Governor seeks statewide natural disaster designation for Tennessee agriculture

To help Tennessee farmers who have suffered crop and livestock losses as a result of extreme drought conditions, Governor Phil Bredesen has requested a federal designation of natural disaster for agriculture for all 95 counties in the state. A designation from the United States Department of Agriculture would allow farmers to apply for low-interest emergency loans that could help them manage losses and plan for next year.

Collecting damage estimates on a county by county basis is the first step in obtaining a federal designation of natural disaster, which could take several days or weeks. Once a county is approved, eligible farmers can apply for low-interest loans and other possible assistance through their local USDA Service Center.

According to a press release from the Governor, Bredesen made the request in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.

"Tennessee farmers have been hit hard twice already this growing season with the deep freeze in April and now with one of the worst droughts on record for this time of year," said Bredesen. "It's obvious even at this early stage that crop and livestock losses will be heavy. We want to ensure that our state's farmers have access to all of the emergency assistance available to them to help them recover from this agricultural disaster."

Read more in the Tri-Cities Times New