Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District

The Tenn. Dept. of Agriculture is announcing a new funding opportunity for farmers for the GAP certification program.  For more information, see the news release below or visit the TDA website.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee farmers looking to expand their markets and increase food safety by becoming Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified now have the opportunity to receive financial assistance from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA).

GAP certification allows producers to sell directly to more businesses and institutions with stringent food safety requirements, such as grocery stores or hospitals. These new opportunities allow producers to increase their income, and the certification helps to ensure food is safe and wholesome for specialty crops throughout Tennessee.

“We continue to look for ways to provide new opportunities to farmers,” Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton said. “Mitigating the cost of GAP audits may help enable more producers to become certified. Tennessee farmers provide safe, reliable food. An increase in GAP certified producers in the state will reinforce our reliability to businesses and consumers.”

The application period closes Aug. 31, 2019. Qualified producers will have the opportunity to offset the cost of a GAP Certification inspection by being reimbursed 75% of the inspection cost up to $750.

Funds are available on a first come, first served basis. Grant funds are available to producers only; warehouses and distributors may not apply.

You will find more information and the cost share application at www.tn.gov/agriculture/farms/produce-nursery/gap.html or by emailing Grant Pulse at grant.pulse@tn.gov.

USDA NRCS in Tennessee Now Accepting FY 2019 EQIP Applications
Application deadline is Friday, January 18, 2019

Producers in Tennessee who are interested in implementing conservation practices to improve natural resources on their farmland have until Friday, January 18, 2019 to submit their application for financial assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
“We accept applications for this program on a continuous basis, however, only the applications received by January 18th will be considered for funding this fiscal year,” said Sheldon Hightower, NRCS Tennessee State Conservationist. “EQIP places a priority on water quality, water conservation, and promotes soil health practices by offering financial and technical assistance to address these resource concerns on eligible agricultural land.”
EQIP will be offering funding for High Tunnel and On-Farm Energy initiatives for this signup in addition to traditional funding opportunities. EQIP is an incentives-based program that provides technical and financial assistance for conservation systems such as animal waste management facilities, irrigation system efficiency improvements, fencing, and water supply development for improved grazing management, riparian protection, wildlife habitat enhancement, and cover crops for soil resource protection.
Applications can be taken at all Tennessee NRCS county offices and USDA Service Centers. To locate an office near you, please click on this link: USDA Service Center. Applications MUST be received in your local Service Center by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2019.

For more information visit The USDA-NRCS Tennessee homepage or call our office to apply.

STEVE GROFF TOMATO/SPECIALTY CROPS SOIL HEALTH MEETING

———————–TENTATIVE AGENDA———————-

ROBERTSON COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS – 4635 HIGHWAY 41N – SPRINGFIELD, TN 

• Welcome Houston Dorris (SCD Chairman)
• Introduction Mike Hubbs, TACD Soil Health Specialist
• Steve Groff-Part 1 Steve Groff, Farmer and Cover Crop Coach
• Financial/Technical Assistance NRCS/Robertson Co. UT Extension Staff
• Break
• NAP updates Lanny Morris (FSA-Robertson Co.)
• Specialty Crops Update Annette Lynn Wszelaki, UTIA Plant Sciences
• Steve Groff-Part 2 Steve Groff, Farmer and Cover Crop Coach
• Lunch

Adjourn/Closing Remarks