![]() Image by Sheila Shafer-Roberson from Pixabay Hilly eastern Tennessee, which is less conducive to many kinds of farming, has proven to be a good place to raise goats. Most goats in Tennessee are raised for meat, but some are raised for milk. Tennessee is also one of the top states in the nation for raising horses, only behind Texas, and ranks second in the nation in goat farming. There are also many sheep and lamb farmers in Tennessee who primarily harvest wool. The majority of the Tennessee beef industry is locally-owned by family farmers.īroiler chickens, dairy, hogs and chicken eggs are also important parts of Tennessee’s livestock industry. Tennessee is one of the top beef-producing states in the nation, ranks ninth in beef cow numbers and 15th in total cattle. Cattle are produced in every county in Tennessee, but they are especially prevalent in the middle and eastern parts of the state. Tennessee’s beef cattle industry is an important part of the state’s economy. Today, over 90 percent of the state’s farms using conservation tillage practices, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.Īgricultural water withdrawals are exempt from the registration and reporting requirements to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In this area, research showed that tilled systems could lose more than 10 tons of soil per acre during one storm, whereas a neighboring no-till system may result in one-tenth of a ton of loss. The silty soils in West Tennessee are especially erodible. About four decades ago, West Tennessee had one of the highest soil erosion rates in the country, losing over 40 tons of soil per acre per year. The University of Tennessee’s Research and Education Center at Milan has been a leader in conservation tillage efforts since the 1980s. Mushrooms are also grown commercially in Tennessee. Tomatoes and snap beans ranking as the most important vegetables, while apples and peaches lead among fruits. Tennessee’s largest commercial crop is the soybean crop, contributing about 11 percent of the state’s total agricultural receipts, followed by cotton, corn and tobacco. Fruit trees (except citrus) also do well in most areas of the state with apples, pears, peaches and plums being the most common varieties. Cool-season vegetables that grow well in Tennessee include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, potatoes, icicle radishes and spinach. Warm-season crops that grow well in Tennessee include beans, cantaloupe, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peas, sweet peppers and tomatoes. ![]() Most plants thrive in this southern state due to relatively long growing seasons and ample rainfall. While Tennessee weather differs across the state, its climate is temperate with four distinct seasons. ![]() The USDA hardiness zones in Tennessee range from 5b in the northern areas, with minimum temperatures between -15 and -10 degrees Fahrenheit, to a pocket of 8a in its southwestern-most corner, with slightly balmier lows between 10 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The program prioritizes businesses located in at-risk counties, distressed counties and counties adjoining at-risk or distressed counties. Tennessee’s Agriculture Enterprise Fund helps facilitate agricultural development in the state by awarding grants to farmers who demonstrate a strong potential for impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity of an existing farm business or agricultural innovation. ![]() Most businesses in Tennessee also need a business license, issued from each county clerk’s office and in many city recorder offices across the state for a $15 initial fee. Some businesses are subject to other state taxes as well. ![]() Working farms, unless they are sole-proprietors or general partnerships, must also register for the payment of franchise and excise taxes. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture and The Land Trust for Tennessee protects working farms through the Transaction Assistance Fund, which assists with attorney fees, survey fees, appraisals, and stewardship donations for the perpetual stewardship of the conservation agreements. According to the USDA’s 2018 State Agriculture Overview, Tennessee has 10.9 million acres of farmland and 70,000 farms. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |