USDA Logo
United States Department of Agriculture
 Farm Service Agency
United States Department of Agriculture
 Farm Service Agency
Tennessee
Tennessee
List by Year/Month

News Releases

RSS link

  1. USDA Invests $1.7 Billion to Protect Sensitive Agricultural Lands through Conservation Reserve Program

    Fri Nov 4, 2016 at 05:12 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue nearly $1.7 billion in payments to more than half of a million Americans who have contracts with the government to protect sensitive agricultural lands. The investment, part of the voluntary USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), will allow producers to protect almost 24 million acres of wetlands, grasslands and wildlife habitat in 2016.

  2. USDA Designates 2 Counties in Tennessee as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

    Fri Nov 4, 2016 at 05:02 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Cumberland and Roane counties in Tennessee as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by a recent drought.

  3. USDA Announces Enrollment Period for Safety Net Coverage in 2017

    Fri Nov 4, 2016 at 04:52 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2016 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that producers on farms with base acres under the safety net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, can begin visiting FSA county offices starting Nov. 1, 2016, to sign contracts and enroll for the 2017 crop year. The enrollment period will continue until Aug. 1, 2017.

  4. USDA Designates 3 Counties in Alabama as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States

    Fri Nov 4, 2016 at 04:42 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Lauderdale, Macon and Russell counties in Alabamaas primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by a recent drought.

  5. USDA Designates 2 Counties in North Carolina as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States

    Fri Nov 4, 2016 at 04:42 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Graham and Jackson counties in North Carolina as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by a recent drought.

  6. USDA Announces Availability of Additional Farm Loan Funding

    Tue Sep 13, 2016 at 11:12 PM

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that additional funding will be made available to assist more than 1,900 approved applicants who are awaiting farm operating loans. The funds, which were reprogrammed by FSA with the approval of Congress, will leverage up to $185 million in additional lending for direct and guaranteed farm operation loans and will allow the agency to address up to 30 percent of its projected shortfall of funds until the next federal fiscal year resumes on Oct. 1.

  7. USDA Designates 3 Counties in Tennessee as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

    Mon Sep 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM

    WASHINGTON, Sep. 2, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Bledsoe, McMinn and Monroe counties in Tennessee as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by a recent drought.

  8. USDA Announces Safety Net Assistance for Milk Producers Due to Tightening Dairy Margins May/June 2016 Average Margins Below $6

    Wed Aug 10, 2016 at 03:59 PM

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced approximately $11.2 million in financial assistance to American dairy producers enrolled in the 2016 Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy). The payment rate for May/June 2016 will be the largest since the program began in 2014. The narrowing margin between milk prices and the cost of feed triggered the payments, as provided for by the 2014 Farm Bill.

  9. USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Results

    Thu May 5, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, May 5, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the enrollment of more than 800,000 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Through CRP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) helps farmers offset the costs of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and strengthen wildlife habitat. Farmers’ and ranchers’ participation in CRP continues to provide numerous benefits to our nation, including helping reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and providing resiliency to future weather changes.

  10. USDA Offers New Loans for Portable Farm Storage and Handling Equipment

    Fri Apr 29, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 29, 2016 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide a new financing option to help farmers purchase portable storage and handling equipment. Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Elanor Starmer announced changes to the Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program today during a local and regional food roundtable in Columbus, Ohio. The loans, which now include a smaller microloan option with lower down payments, are designed to help producers, including new, small and mid-sized producers, grow their businesses and markets.

  11. USDA Establishes New Partnerships to Link Underserved Farmers to FSA Programs

    Wed Apr 27, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, April 27, 2016 – The U.S. Department Agriculture (USDA) today announced cooperative agreements with 55 partners to educate farmers and other producers that have been underserved by USDA programs historically about Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs that provide financial, disaster or technical support. Nearly $2.5 million will go to nonprofits, associations, universities, and foundations that will provide training and information on agricultural best practices, local networking opportunities, and more.

  12. USDA Reminds Dairy Producers of Nov. 20 Deadline Enrollment Opportunities Ending for 2016 Margin Protection Program

    Thu Nov 12, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Nov, 9, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that almost half of all dairy farms in America have made their annual elections for 2016 coverage under the Margin Protection Program, and reminded producers who have not yet enrolled that they have until Nov. 20, to select coverage.

  13. FSA County Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of Nov. 9

    Fri Nov 6, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2015 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2015 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 7, 2015, to ensure that their vote is counted.

  14. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden Announces New USDA Commitments to Help Build Up Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers

    Fri Oct 30, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    LOUISVILLE, October 29, 2015—Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced a commitment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Deputy Secretary Harden also announced a new, tailored web tool designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to help them get started.

  15. USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Farmers Facing Market Downturn

    Wed Oct 28, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2015 — The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning today, nearly one half of the 1.7 million farms that signed up for either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments for the 2014 crop year.

  16. Farmers to Receive Documentation of USDA Services Local Offices Issue Receipts for Services Provided

    Wed Oct 28, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    (NASHVILLE, TN), Oct. 15, 2015 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Gene Davidson reminds agricultural producers that FSA provides a receipt to customers who request or receive assistance or information on FSA programs.

  17. USDA Designates 45 Counties in Mississippi as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States

    Fri Oct 2, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 45 counties in Mississippi as primary natural disaster areas in two separate disasters.

  18. USDA Commits $2.5 Million to Expand New Farmer Education

    Fri Oct 2, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that $2.5 million in grants is now available for projects to educate new and underserved farmers about more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency programs that can provide financial, disaster or technical assistance to the agricultural community.