Tennessee Home & Farm Radio

There aren’t many dairy farms left in Tennessee but one of the more unique ones still around is Cleburn Jersey Farm in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Laura Purtle is the sixth generation on the farm and takes pride in continuing the legacy her ancestors have passed down for decades. They have the oldest continuing milking jersey herd in the Nation. Laura explains what it means to her to carry on the legacy of their dairy farm and how they’ve expanded to keep it all going.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has announced that Dr. Justin Rhinehart will serve as the new dean of the extension service.

This May will gop down as one of the wettest in recent memory. All the rain has delayed farmers from getting in the hay fields for their first cutting. The first few days of June have been dry and allowed farmers to finally get out and start cutting hay.

June is dairy month and while the number of milk cow dairies is now hovering around only 100, its still an important part of our overall ag economy in Tennessee. And without question, an important part of our diet.

For years now, the University of Tennessee has been offering classes and programs to help and assist our farmers to produce better crops and livestock. And now they are launching their latest, the Tennessee Master Forage Program.

For more than nine decades, the Tennessee Walking Horse has continued to provide an experience as many would say like no other. It was in the Spring of 1935 when a group of owners and admirers of what were known as plantation walking horses, got together and formed what is known today as the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association.

Poultry is Tennessee’s top agricultural commodity that employs thousands and supports communities across the state. David Wilds of Morristown, Tennessee, the regional vice president at Koch Foods and president of the Tennessee Poultry Association, shares more about the industry and the importance of associations like the Tennessee Poultry Association.

Pam Stoutt of Knox County was recently awarded the Friend of FACCT award for her many hours spent reading to kids during Ag literacy week. She explains what it meant to receive the award and why she’s so passionate about teaching kids about agriculture.

On this Memorial Day we pause to remember and honor those who died defending our freedom. Rory Williams is a retired Army Veteran who now farms in Marshall County. He explains why Memorial Day is so important and how he remembers his fellow servicemen who died in the line of duty.

This weekend is the unofficial start to summer and many of you will probably be firing up the grill over the three-day weekend. Rod Bain has some food safety tips for you and your family as you enjoy grilling some delicious meat.

For more than a decade, the Tennessee Poultry Association has been hosting golf tournaments and a sporting clay shoot to raise money for scholarships to send students to college for the future of the poultry industry. And as executive director Tracy Rafferty said, TPA has raised more than $300,000, giving roughly $45,000 out each year.  

USDA issued a series of proposals intended to support small farms. Chad Smith has an overview.

Poultry growers from across the south recently gathered for the southern states poultry policy discussion. The meeting was put on by the American Farm Bureau and intended to help unite poultry growers as one united voce for their industry.

Farmers and ranchers took center stage as the new administration learns more about the labor shortage impacting U.S. agriculture. Chad Smith has more.

For several years now thousands of Tennesseans have been participating in leadership programs offered through our various counties. Its actually estimated that there are now somewhere around 88 of our 95 counties that have various leadership programs and there’s always a connection to agriculture.

Lots of concern across the south over the New World Screwworm. While the parasitic fly was eradicated in the united states decades ago, recent detections in Mexico have prompted imports of live cattle, horses or bison suspended along the Mexican border and the Tennessee State Veterinarian has issued an alert for all livestock and pet owners to be aware of the dangers of the serious threat of this invasive pest.

For Randy Massey of East Tennessee, he’s always gotten into a business where there’s high demand and that’s what led him to the Akaushi breed of cattle in 2017.

A waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency is good news for E15 fuel availability. Chad Smith has more what this means for consumers and farmers.

Dr. Paul Plummer came back home to Tennessee last year. The Sevier county native was named the 6th dean of the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine last April. He was a graduate of the program in 2000 and he has spent much of his career at Iowa State University. But now he’s back on the family farm and leading the vet college to further improve the school’s nationally recognized program.

This Mother’s Day we salute all the moms out there pulling all the long hours and days to raise their children. Valerie Teal of Coffee County is raising her three kids on their family farm alongside her husband. She shares the ups and downs of motherhood and why it’s the job she most loves.

Shooting Hunger is celebrating helping feed hungry Tennesseans for 10 years! The first shooting hunger event of 2025 recently took place in Maryville, TN. Participants talk about the fun event & why it’s so important that is continues.

Soil Conservation Districts have an important role in agriculture. In large part they help landowners with the installation of conservation practices, to prevent soil erosion, and improve Tennessee’s water quality. Janet Dowlen works for the Cumberland County Soil Conservation District, and explains why she’s so passionate about what she does.

Giles County’s Mike Mayfield has been named state executive director for the Tennessee Farm Service Agency. The announcement came from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins as Mayfield had served as the county executive director for 34 years before serving as state director under President Trump’s first administration.

The Tennessee Small Businessperson of the year is Ben Neale of Maury County. Ben has a meat processing plant in Lynnville, TN, and a butcher shop in Spring Hill, in addition to running a beef cattle farm. Ben describes what drives him to grow his businesses & the purpose behind them.

Southern Farm Bureau presidents and administrators join together each year for their annual conference and rotate as to which state they meet in. This week the group met in Knoxville and took a day to learn more about Tennessee agriculture as they toured part of the ag campus at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Vet College as well as other area farming operations.

Mental health is something we all struggle with from time to time, especially if you’re a farmer. The stresses of farming can easily get to you if you’re not careful. Tennessee YF&R State Chair Lee Bagwell is working to break the stigma on mental health, and make it more common to talk to friends and family when you’re struggling.

The dry weather has allowed farmers to get back out in the field and begin planting again. George McDonald with Catesa Farms talks about what this planting season has been like, and the challenges inflation and a slow farm economy has had.

Emmy Armstrong of Greene County recently graduated from the spring session of Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Armstrong escribes what she learned from the four day training, and why she believes she’s a better advocate for agriculture now.

Ariana Mota Carrillo was recently selected to be the 2025-2026 Tennessee State FFA Reporter & Sarah Marshall was selected as the new state Sentinel. Both ladies describe what is means to be selected and what they hope to accomplish in their year of service.

Memphis native and former NFL 1st round pick Michael Oher is now retired from playing professional football and now raising his family in Middle Tennessee and working to help disadvantage kids through his Oher Foundation. He shared part of his story earlier this year to young farmers at the Tennessee Young Leaders Conference in Franklin.

Its no secret prices farmers are getting for their cattle are at all time highs. Josh Woodard is the general manager at the Columbia Livestock Center where the weekly sales are managed by United Producers Incorporated. And this week they held their annual customer appreciation day along with a special Hereford sale.

Tennessee state lawmakers wrapped up business this week on the first half of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly this week. Tennessee Farm Bureau’s Shelby Vannoy discusses how Farm Bureau’s priority issues faired this session.

Everyday is earth day on the farm. Matt Griggs is a row crop farmer in Madison & Crockett County. He discusses why he’s such a proponent of using cover crops, and how he’s seen first hand how growing them has benefited his farm.

The newest offering from Feeding Minds Press focuses on growing a summer favorite. Chad Smith has details.

The Tennessee General Assembly has approved the state’s budget for the coming fiscal year which begins July 1st. It totals some $59.8 billion dollars and included in that total is several million dollars earmarked for Tennessee agriculture.

South West Greene High School Senior, Reece Ottinger, recently completed a year long project of building a livestock showing barn for her FFA chapter. Ottinger explains what it was like undertaking such a big project & how happy she is to see it complete.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to expire at the end of this year, eliminating many beneficial provisions for farmers and ranchers. Chad Smith has details.

Clean up from the massive flooding along the Obion River in West Tennessee is still underway. One row crop farmer is working to remove lots of sand that was dumped in about 100 acres of land he intended to plant row crops in this year.

Springtime weather is always unpredictable. Today its one of those postcard days you dream about, but less than two weeks ago, it was a nightmare for many in West Tennessee.

Stacey and Paul Sharp recently added a tulip farm to Stacey’s family farm in Putnam County. They share about their hard work in putting this together, and how they hope Little Creek Flowers keeps the family farm alive for another generation.

When it comes to connecting our kids to our most important industry in Tennessee, that comes down a lot on the some 400 agriculture teachers across the state.

Obion County native Stephen Vaden testified Tuesday in front of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee in his first nominating hearing. Vaden is President Trump’s pick to be the new U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Vaden is expected to be confirmed in May.

West Tennessee experienced massive amounts of rain followed by flooding last week and over the weekend. Some of the folks impacted by the flooding describe what conditions on the ground are like, and how they’re dealing with yet another round of flooding after just recovering from flooding in February.

From severe flooding in Middle and West Tennessee, to now the threat of a late freeze, shows the continued power of mother nature.

As expected, President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on multiple trading partners. Chad Smith has more on how tariffs will impact agriculture.

Folks in West Tennessee are preparing for flooding as some areas are forecasted to get 10 to 15 inches of rain by the end of the week. West Tennessee River Basin Director David Blackwood explains what’s being done to prepare for the potential flooding.

Planting season has officially began in the volunteer state, as farmers have begun putting seed in the ground. A report from USDA suggests that farmers across the country will be planting more corn compared to last year. It appears farmers here in Tennessee will follow that trend too.

Casen Austin of the Macon County FFA Chapter was recently selected as the new Tennessee FFA State Vice President & Abigail Whicker of the Middle Tennessee Ag Academy Chapter is the new state Secretary. Each describe what it was like hearing their name be called as new state officers and what they hope to accomplish in their year of service.

Alethea Dunn of the Stewarts Creek FFA Chapter is the 2025 Tennessee FFA State Star in Agriscience. She was announced as the winner at the 97th annual Tennessee FFA Convention. Dunn explains what it means to win this award and describes her SAE on researching hypotonic produce.

During the 97 Tennessee FFA convention, the Woodbury Chapter at Cannon County High School received many awards for competitions the students were involved in. And one of the highest and perhaps most coveted individual award is the Star Farmer and that went to senior Eli Pelham.