Tennessee Home & Farm Radio

The Senate Ag Committee released a draft version of farm bill text this week.

Recent changes to the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit could benefit farmers and ranchers in the future.

The newly drawn Tennessee congressional districts has shaken up the upcoming August primary. To help rural voters hear straight from the candidates the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, and Tennessee Electric CO-OP held candidate forums in the 5th, 6th, and 9th congressional districts.

More than 30 high school students have spent the past few weeks at the University of Tennessee at Martin for Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences.

Members of the state 4-H council are traveling the Volunteer State this week on 4-H’s annual ambassador tour.

The FIFA World Cup has officially started and the 2026 event is being held in Canada, Mexico and the United States. For the past 5 years, the turfgrass team at the University of Tennessee has been working to ensure optimal playing conditions for each of the 16 stadiums.

Robertson County farmer Willis Jepson was named the Tennessee Farmer of The Year at The Tennessee Farm Bureau’s Harvesting Hope Gala in Franklin. Jepson says it’s an honor to be named to this top honor.

Farmers who participate in safety net programs like ARC and PLC will soon be able increase their base acres, which means a bigger payout in tough times. State FSA Executive Director Mike Mayfield explains what this means for row crop farmers now.

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Mayfield, State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Tennessee, to discuss his background in agriculture and his journey to serving farmers across the state. Mike shares insights from his years in the agricultural industry and explains the mission of the Farm Service Agency and the important role it plays in supporting producers.

This year’s inaugural class for the Tennessee Agricultural and Forestry Leadership Program (TAFLP) is in the nation’s capitol this week learning about history and the workings of the federal government, but also meeting with elected officials.

With several concerns facing the nation’s cotton industry in recent years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a four pillar plan designed to improve U.S. cotton production, consumption, trade and markets.

Additional Cases of New World Screwworm in the U.S. have drawn a reaction from Canada, one of America's top trading partners. American Farm Bureau's Chad Smith has more.

This year’s Shooting Hunger events have officially kicked off with the first being held recently in East Tennessee at Kodak’s Iron Mountain Sporting Clays.

Teachers in Middle Tennessee got the chance to tour farms through the Tennessee Farm Bureau Ag In The Classroom workshop. The hope is they take what they learn and incorporate it into their curriculum in the classroom.

A case of new world screworm has been detected in Texas for the first time in decades. USDA Secretary Brokk Rollins says they’ve been preparing for this for a year now and are ready to combat a wide spread of the pest.

Some of the best and brightest high school students across Tennessee are on UT Knoxville campus this week for the Tennessee Leadership Summit. The conference is geared towards students who have an interest in agriculture.

A group of women from Tennessee are at the American Farm Bureau ACE Summit in Washington DC. The Three day event is highlighting the international year of the woman farmer.

Angela Bright-White has been a teacher for more than 30 years and now teaches agriculture at Philadelphia Elementary in Loudon County. As a consultant for the Tennessee Farm Bureau's Ag in the classroom program, she uses innovative coursework and experiences to teach agriculture to students in 1-8th grade. 

Tennessee's dairy industry has seen a lot of changes over the years. But the Lee family in McMinn County has persevered despite the many challenges they've faced year after year.

There's no doubt the number of dairy farms in Tennessee has declined dramatically in the last two decades, but the importance and the passion of those still producing milk is a vital part of our ag industry.

For many of us our teachers have had a lasting impact. This has definitely been the case for many students of Bill Newsom. After 50 years in the classroom, this long time educator has officially retired from the Munford FFA Chapter.

This Spring hundreds of young adults are entering the workforce after graduating with various degrees from colleges and universities.

Farmers across Tennessee have been looking to harvest their hay crop this spring but unfortunately, it's been really dry until the past week or so and its causing concerns over the yield and quality.

As most of us are celebrating this Memorial Day holiday with friends and family, its so important that as Americans we never forget those that lost their lives while serving in the armed forces to protect our freedoms.

Enjoying outdoor cookouts in the summer should include food safety considerations for backyard chefs. Rod Bain Has all the tips and tricks to make sure you and your family stay safe.

The state's poultry industry has been quite an economic impact in Tennessee for many years now, and it just seems to keep getting stronger.

As the summer grilling season kicks off, consumers are finding higher prices at the meat counter. As Chad Smith shares, those prices are not reducing demand.

From trade missions across the globe to meetings with international buyers, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is working to create new opportunities for Tennessee products. Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Holt and Dr. Andrew Mohammad with UT Extention says the goal is simple — expand markets, increase demand, and help Tennessee farmers strengthen their bottom line.

John Hilemon III and his family have spent the past year and a half recovering after Hurricane Helene devastated their farm in Unicoi County. After months of work reseeding their hay fields, they are finally baling hay again for the first time, thanks in part to seed donations through the Seeds of Hope program from the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

Thanks to votes by Tennessee congressmen John Rose and Matt Van Epps, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives and now awaits Senate action.  President Trump has signaled his support of the legislation which would allow for year-round sales of fuels blended with 15% ethanol, known as E15.

Always a great field trip when you're a kid and you get to go to a farm.  And that's what thousands of elementary kids have gotten to do this spring as many counties host farm days.

Everyone is feeling the pressure of higher fuel prices, especially since the start of the conflict in Iran, but along with fuel, you can add the rising cost of fertilizer that our farmers are dealing with.  And this week, the U.S. Senate Ag Committee held a full hearing on the issue with several industry representatives including Kentucky Farm Bureau president Eddie Melton testifying with perspectives from his row crop and beef cattle operation.

James “Bubba” Roberson grew up on the farm in Wayne County and after retiring from a structural engineering career, he's now back on the farm in Fayette County where he and his family are earning a name for themselves called the Fancy Cow.

We all know what this Sunday is, or most of us should know that its Mother’s Day.  And Grainger County's Zalen Williams says he knows all too well what time of year it is because that's when his business is blooming.

The challenges facing farmers and ranchers can take a toll on mental health and well-being. Chad Smith has more on how to weather the storm.

Communities across Tennessee are facing the challenge of managing rapid growth while also protecting valuable farmland. Josh Suddath, Executive Director of the University of Tennessee Center for Local Government, is working to support these communities by providing guidance and resources to help them plan more effectively for the future.

Local primaries are taking place across the state today, as 52 of Tennessee's 95 counties are holding local primary elections. Tennessee Farm Bureau's Shelby Vannoy reminds voters of the importance of taking part in all elections.

Folks around Wilson County have appreciated long-time servant leader Stratton Bone and now thanks to the folks with the Wilson County and Tennessee State Fair, his legacy lives forever with the renaming of the Made in Tennessee Building to the Stratton Bone Made in Tennessee Building.

The Farm Bill passed the United States House of Representatives on Thursday in a 224–200 vote. Tennessee Farm Bureau President Eric Mayberry explains why this is a significant win for farmers and what comes next to get it across the finish line.

Farmers are feeling the pinch from sky-high fertilizer prices amid the conflict in Iran. Dr. Andrew Muhammad with UT Extension breaks down the latest developments in the fertilizer trade and explains why these elevated prices are likely to stick around, at least in the short term.

Farm Bureau is working to push the farm bill across the finish line in the House of Representatives. Chad Smith has more on why the time for passage is now.

Strawberry season is in full swing at Aubie Smith Farms in Ooltewah, TN, where crowds are lining up for fresh-picked buckets of berries. With nearly 17 acres of strawberries, Aubie is bringing the harvest straight from the field to consumers.

The money set aside for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program has almost been entirely delivered, and Chad Smith has the details on where that money went.

Farmers are feeling the pinch from sky-high fertilizer prices amid the conflict in Iran. Dr. Andrew Muhammad with UT Extension breaks down the latest developments in the fertilizer trade and explains why these elevated prices are likely to stick around, at least in the short term.

he inaugural class of the Tennessee Agriculture & Forestry Leadership Program is set to wrap up later this summer. As the program concludes, several participants are reflecting on their experiences—sharing how it has impacted their personal and professional growth, and why they would strongly recommend it to others in the industry.

The recognition of earth day first started on April 22, 1970.  Since then a lot of changes to our world, no doubt.  But for farmers, often overlooked on the conversations of our earth, it truly is something they think about almost daily.

The Tennessee General Assembly has passed its massive $58 billion budget, and that usually means one thing—lawmakers are getting close to wrapping up the session. In this episode, we hear from Shelby Vannoy with the Tennessee Farm Bureau, who breaks down what this budget means for farmers and rural communities across the state. From key investments in agriculture to support for rural infrastructure and resources, Shelby highlights some of the big wins that could have a real impact on Tennessee agriculture.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is set to open the application process for farmers and foresters seeking relief assistance from the devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene that hit 8 East Tennessee counties in September of 2024.

In June, Dr. David Lockwood will retire as a fruit specialist with UT Extension. Lockwood has spent more than 50 years in the role, researching best practices for growing fruit and helping others learn how to do it in their own backyards.

The ride has been real good for the past couple of years for sure for our beef cattle producers.  Prices have been at record highs and that's good news for one of our state's largest commodities.

The American Farm Bureau Federation surveyed farmers regarding their long-term concerns about fertilizers. Chad Smith has more on the findings.