Agriculture

Considerations for Beginning Farmers Workshop

This workshop is a full day of education for anyone with no or little farming background or experience desiring to start a farming enterprise. Program topics include the language of agriculture; a self-assessment to help identify goals, desires, and genuine commitment; basic crop and livestock needs; when to call a vet; evaluating land for suitability; equipment and tools; potential risks; introduction to the business side of farming, and more!

Registration fee of $25 per person includes the program, refreshments, and lunch.

Click on link for more Information & Locations: Beginning Farmer Workshop Brochure.pdf

Programs and Information

Programs educate farmers and homeowners and other agricultural and horticultural producers on the latest management practices needed to solve problems and improve production and marketing. Programs also help Tennesseans protect the environment and improve the management, marketing and use of natural resources.

Master Gardeners of Rutherford County

Master Gardeners of Rutherford County Web Page

Services

Useful Links

Avian Influenza Questions: https://ag.tennessee.edu/AnimalScience/Pages/BackyardBiosecurity.aspx

Burn Permit Questions: http://burnsafetn.org/burn_permit.html

Back Yard Chickens: Regulations For Raising Back Yard Chickens.pdf

Hay Calculator: http://economics.ag.utk.edu/haycalculator.html

Fisheries/Farm Pond: http://srac.msstate.edu/index.html

TN Department of Agriculture: http://tn.gov/agriculture/
USDA Latest News: http://www.usda.gov//wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=NEWSROOM&navtype=MA&edeployment_action=changenav

https://farmanswers.org/ - Farmers and ranchers may face challenges, like other owners of start-up companies, to get their business started. Issues such as gaining reliable information and technical assistance. This website is the USDA-NIFA beginning farmer and rancher (BFRDP) clearinghouse, providing resources to help you get started farming, as well as tools to help more seasoned producers succeed.

FREE pesticide pickup for farmers!

Ideally pesticides are stored safely on the farm until they are completely used. However, many remain unused because cropping practices change, new products are introduced, some are banned and others deteriorate or lose their label. Such chemicals can pose a threat to human health, livestock, and the environment if not disposed of properly. The TDA offers a FREE on-the-farm pick up service for these pesticides. Mr. Strickland with the TDA commented, “ This is a free, non-regulatory, no questions asked service for our producers”. Please contact Mr. Strickland at 615-837-5523 or email him at richard.strickland@tn.gov for assistance