Tennessee Home & Farm Radio

Ag research at UTIA has fulfilled the mission of the land-grant university at the University of Tennessee for decades. UT Knoxville Chancellor Dr. Donde Plowman says that UTIA’s ag research is now the model that the rest of the University it trying to follow.

Since 1818, farmers and now many Americans have come to expect and enjoy the Farmers Almanac. And now the 2026 edition is out and available and packed with offbeat wisdom, tips and hacks and of course its pretty accurate long-range weather forecast.

Andy Curliss is the Vice President of Strategic Engagement for the National Pork Producers Council. He’s warning farmers that there are influencers with deep pockets that are trying to change our agriculture system in the United States, and not for the better. Curliss says while they pour millions of dollars into their tactics against agriculture, farmers have the upper hand in the conversation.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Stephen Vaden, was in Tennessee Friday addressing Tennessee farmers at the Tennessee Farm Bureau County Presidents Conference. Vaden updated on some of the things the Trump administration is doing to boost American agriculture & how he’s fighting for them daily at USDA.

It’s often said that farmers need to tell their story to better inform the public about where their food comes from. Dr. Ben West with UT Extension specializes in strategic communication and is spending time with county farm bureau leaders, teaching them new approaches to leading at the grassroots level and being better communicators.

Patrick Jaynes is the new Tennessee State Director for USDA Rural Development. Jaynes describes what it means to him to serve in this role and how he’s using his background of growing up in rural Tennessee to help rural Tennesseans.

Shop Springs Creamery has been opened for about about six years now. Owner Jeffrey Turner explains why they opned the creamery and how it’s adding value to their family dairy.

Growing up on the farm in Western Kentucky, Darwin Newton has always been close to the land, and throughout his storied professional career that spans over 60 years, its been specifically all about the soil. And this week he was honored as newest member of the Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame.

This is National Farmers Market Week with celebrations in Washington DC and Nashville.

A flurry of recent trade agreements and frameworks have been announced by the Trump administration. Chad Smith has more on what this means for American agriculture.

Tennessee Agriculture & Forestry Program has been in West Tennessee this week touring farming operations in the region. A couple of the participants describe what it’s been like seeing different aspects of agriculture and how the program has benefited them greatly.

Farmers from across Tennessee are gathering in their communities for policy development meetings. Put on by the Tennessee Farm Bureau, these meetings give farmers a chance to voice their concern on issues facing them and the entire agriculture industry.

Lance Pekus has the title of both rancher and worldwide ninja warrior competitor. He’s been on the NBC TV show American Ninja Warrior for about ten years now and continues to ranch with his wife and kids in Idaho. Pekus shares how his platform through Ninja warrior has allowed him to be a strong voice for agriculture on the world stage.

Emily Ivey of Loudon County is the 2025 Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers Environmental Stewardship Award Winner. Ivey explains what environmental practices she is implementing on her farm and how it’s helping produce a better end product while also preserving the farm for another generation.

The landscape of potential tariffs continues to shift. Chad Smith has the latest on implementation postponements as well as new threats.

4-H students from across Tennessee were honored at the annual 4-H annual round up for their work in respective projects. A few of the winners talk about winning the award in their project area, and why 4-H means so much to them.

Rob & Leah Holman of Obion County are this year’s second place winner in the Tennessee Young Farmers and ranchers young farmer of the year competition. They explain what it means to be recognized with this high honor.

Robert Hill of Lauderdale County is the 2025 Tennessee Young Farmer of The Year. Hill describes what it means to him to receive this award.

The annual Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers Summer Conference took place in Lebanon this past weekend. State Chair Lee Bagwell explains why this conference is so important for young farmers and Farm Bureau overall.

While the One Big Beautiful Bill helped out U.S. agriculture, farmers and ranchers are still waiting on a new farm bill. Chad Smith reports.

It’s growing time in Tennessee and if you planted a garden you’re probably harvesting some fresh vegetables. Dr. Behnaz Molaei with TSU is telling people how easy it is to grow food in their own backyard with a little knowledge and hard work.

Dr. Jaye Hamby, a Tennessee native, is now leading USADA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture as the director at USDA headquarters in Washington DC.

We continue to share the important story of American and Tennessee agriculture. It’s the biggest driver of our state’s economy and in fact, for many states around the country and there’s no doubt it’s an important aspect of our national security, protecting our farmers and the food they grow.

For decades Beef Expo has brought youth from across the Volunteer State together to show cattle. This year’s event happened in Lebanon at the state fairgrounds, bringing generations together to continue what has become a family tradition.

Kelsey Barnes is joining fellow Obion County native, Steven Vaden, in our nation’s capital at USDA. Vaden was officially sworn is as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture earlier this week and Barnes is serving as senior advisor to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Barnes describes what it means to her to serve in this roll and how her agriculture roots in Tennessee are helping her.

The One Big Beautiful Bill is on now law, and as Chad Smith tells us it includes many important provisions for America’s farmers and ranchers.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins announced the Trump administration’s plan to boost American agriculture called the National Farm Security Action Plan. Rollins announced the seven point plan alongside other cabinet members at USDA headquarters. She says every point is aimed at improving American agriculture for farmers.

From his century farm in Union City to now the second in command at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington DC, Stephen Vaden says its been surreal to be sworn-in as deputy secretary.

Wayne Hughes is the ninth generation on his family’s farm of Rocky Field Farm in Greene County. His first ancestors first settled on the farm in 1796 – the same year Tennessee became a state.

With Independence Day cookouts being planned, one way to get your proteins is looking at what retailers are featuring in the way of sales and deals. Rod Bain reports.

Second Harvest Food Bank has been working to help feed hungry Tennesseans in Middle and West Tennessee. They are now getting help from farmers through their Farm to Families program which sources food directly from local farms to stock their food banks.

A day of celebration across the state as Gov. Bill Lee held special bill signing ceremonies for the Farmland Preservation Act that he helped to pass through the Tennessee General Assembly. At the same time he kicked off the year-long celebration of America 250 leading up to next year’s Independence Day.

This past week Tennessee Tech University Leadership Summit was held for rising juniors and seniors to develop leadership strategies and make plans to strengthen their communities. Tennessee Tech University hosts the event each year to empower student voices and create collaborative problem-solving.

The cost of feeding a crowd this July 4th will be about the same as last year, when shoppers saw a record high cost. Chad Smith has the numbers.

TSU recently broke ground on their new $90 million Ag building. University officials explain what will be housed in the new facility, and how it’ll change the way they teach agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 Convention will feature a familiar name to college football fans.

Each year, Tennessee Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program hosts Teacher Tours across the state to show teachers the opportunities of incorporating agriculture into their classrooms. Today we’re featuring the Teacher Tour held in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The wet weather we’ve experienced in May and the early part of June has put farmers behind on wheat harvest and planting. With dryer weather forecasted for the rest of this week, farmers are hitting the fields hard to try and get caught up.

Being mindful of folks who are in need of food is no doubt an important calling. That’s why for the past decade or more Shooting Hunger has been an effort to fight hunger in Tennessee.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall recently spent time meeting with key officials for one of the U.S.’s top potential trading partners.

Around 30 incoming high school seniors are spending their summer at UT Martin as a part of the Tennessee Governor’s School for Agriculture Science. Some participants describe what the summer has been like & why studying agriculture is so important to them.

Current Tennessee 4-H council members are wrapping up their final weeks in their positions traveling across the state and visiting with and thanking key sponsors of the 4-H program. They explain what it’s meant to serve the organization they have grown up in and that has shaped them into who they are today.

The Southern Association of Departments of Agriculture or, SASDA, is in Tennessee this week for their annual conference. SASDA is made up of 14 different state departments of agriculture including Tennessee. Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Charlie Hatcher, explains why it’s important for SASDA to meet and how proud he is to host it in his home state this year.

Several farmers and ranchers are voicing their concerns about farm labor with their elected officials. Chad Smith has a firsthand account from Capitol Hill.

A small group of Tennessee young farmers joined hundreds of others from across the nation this week in Washington D.C. as part of the American Farm Bureau’s biannual Advocacy Fly-In.

Fruits of the Backyard — a fun field day for anyone wanting to grow berries, whether it’s on your front porch or in a raised garden bed. Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center hosts the event each year to promote agriculture in urban areas and teach people how to grow fruits with limited land and resources.

Stephen Vaden, Tennessee native, former USDA general counsel and judge on the Court of International Trade has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at USDA.

Tennessee Farm Bureau is dedicated to connecting people with the story of agriculture, not just on the farm, but in the classroom too. Through its Ag in the Classroom program, the organization equips educators with tools to help students understand where their food, fiber, and fuel come from.

Its hard work but it’s been worth while for John Harrison and his family at Sweetwater Valley Farm in Philadelphia, Tennessee.

In Tennessee, there’s a strong sense of partnership among the agricultural community that helps strengthen our overall ag economy, especially in tough times. And recently the Tennessee Farm Bureau hosted representatives from the various commodity organizations, University of Tennessee, the department of agriculture and others to review the most recent legislative session and other issues facing the ag industry.