Explore every episode of the podcast Tennessee Home & Farm Radio

This time of year, especially, you have to be on the lookout for deer crossing roadways.

Dry conditions have allowed farmers across Tennessee to get an early start on harvest this year. Those same dry conditions though have taken a toll on corn in certain parts of the state. As Thomas Capps explains, some farmers are seeing poor yields while others are seeing above average.

For more than 40 years, the American Farm Bureau Federation has asked every presidential candidate for their stance on agricultural issues. Chad Smith has more on this year’s responses.

Cover Crops are not a new thing for farmers in Tennessee, but there is still a lot we're learning about them and their benefit to soil. A grant program through Agricenter International called, Farmers For Soil Health, is working to incentivise even more farmers to grow cover crops by paying them to grow them. Katie Miesse with Agricenter International explains how the program works, and how you can learn more about it by visiting the Farmers For Soil Health website.

The Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee and the West Tennessee State Fair hosted a hamburger grill off to kick off the regional fair in Jackson.

The Nashville Sounds baseball team held Ag Night recently at First Horizon Park.  Over 50 FFA members from area chapters attended to take in the ballgame but also tour the facilities and learn more about careers in agriculture from a panel of industry leaders.

More than 300 groups signed a letter encouraging Congress to pass a new farm bill this year. Chad Smith has more on the industry-wide effort.

Farmers are encouraged all the time the advocate for the Ag industry. A great way to do that is by talking to media on camera. The Tennessee Farm Bureau recently held a women's communications boot camp to help teach ladies in agriculture the best practices when being interviewed on camera.

USDA’s latest Net Farm Income Report painted a concerning picture for the farm economy. Chad Smith has more on the numbers.

The Tennessee Valley Fair kicked off with the hamburger grill off. Tv station WVLT came out on top as the winners. They describe what it means to take part in such a fun event that highlights agriculture.

Ryan McCaffery of Sevier County is the 2024 Small Farmer Of The Year. The award was given at the Tennessee State University Small Farm Expo. McCaffery runs a livestock operation on 150 acres, but their big passion on their farm is helping kids who come from crisis situations. McCaffery explains more about their farm, and what it means to be named small farmer of the year.

About 30 high school FFA students from over 20 schools are taking part this week in a first-of-its-kind Future Farmer Conference being held at Camp Clements.

Ray Starling knows the US Ag industry well. After serving as a special ag advisor to President Donald Trump, and Chief of Staff to former US Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, Starling is now sounding the alarm on responding to critics that say our food system isn't safe. Starling says farmers are the best ones to push back against this misinformation.

Adam Thompson, a sixth generation farmer in northeast Knox county, is being sworn in to office this week as commissioner in Knox County’s 8th district.

As summer winds down, demand for beef typically falls as well. However, lower cattle supply may mean prices will remain elevated for consumers and farmers and ranchers alike.

The month of August gives members of congress the chance to visit directly with Tennesseans at home and at their businesses, including farmers.

The excitement has been building at the home of the national Celebration in Shelbyville, TN as the World Grand Champion Tennessee walking horse will be crowned on Saturday night.  Celebration CEO Warren Wells says its been a great event so far, and the next 3 nights of championships promise to not disappoint.

As a Marine veteran and former insurance agent Nick Parker has seen and experienced a lot in his life. Over the last 10 years though he has experienced the most difficult of circumstances. In 2014 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Thanks to a new product that stimulates the brain Parker is now able to function better with Parkinson's. Just a few months after receiving the brain stimulator Parker was diagnosed with cancer. After a lot of resilience, faith, and prayer, Parker overcame cancer too, now being cancer free for a year now. He now speaks to audiences sharing his story, and encouraging them to choose faith over fear.

More than 860,000 people attended the Tennessee State Fair this year. Fair President Randall Clemons discusses what he thinks makes the fair such a draw, and why they work to keep agriculture at the heart of it all.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was established 75 years ago to preserve, conserve, manage, protect and enhance our fish and wildlife across the state and their habitats.

The loss of farmland is something that many Tennessee farmers are concerned about. We're not alone, as our neighbors to the north in Kentucky are also worried about the massive amounts of farmland they're losing. Kentucky Farm Bureau President, Eddie Melton, recently traveled down to the Volunteer State to be on a panel with his Tennessee counterpart, Eric Mayberry, about this issue.

Over the last few years consumers have moved to the idea that food is health. It's the idea that buying and eating more fresh and healthy food leads to overall better health. Kelsey Barnes with the Farm Journal Foundation explains how this change in consumer preference gives farmers and chance to become more profitable.

The annual 4-H picnic at the State Fair raises money to send 4-H kids to camp. This year Voice Of The Vols, Bob Kesling, served as MC for the event. Kesling explains what it meant to him to serve as MC for this event, and why he says 4-H is so important to our state.

Iconic country music star Trace Adkins and many other supporters helped to raise a record of over $221,000 for Tennessee FFA at the 9th Annual Tennessee State Fair FFA Ham Breakfast.

The Tennessee State Fair kicked off with the annual Celebrity Hamburger Grill Off. TV news personalities from stations in Nashville competed against each other to see who could make the best beef dish. This year WTVF News Channel 5 won best overall for the second year in a row.

The Tennessee State Fair/Wilson County Fair is now into their 4th year together at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon and agriculture remains the key focus for the event that runs through August 24th.

Seth Krantz is a veterinarian for Tosh Farms. He was recently selected to be a member of the National Pork Board. He explains what it means to him to be selected for the Pork Board, and what he hopes to accomplish in his three year term.

The 2025 Farmers' Almanac is out and a lot of useful information as always, including the much-anticipated Winter outlook across the country and here in the Volunteer State.

Tennessee LT. Governor Randy McNally and State House Speaker Cameron Sexton recently attended the Tennessee Farm Bureau Presidents Conference. The two legislative leaders updated farmers on the previous legislative session, and took questions directly from farmers.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval spoke at the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation Presidents Conference. Duval encouraged the farmers there to get involved with Farm Bureau and stay engaged.

County Farm Bureau Presidents from across Tennessee gathered in Franklin for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Presidents Conference. Several explain why they say this conference is so important, and why they say it's their favorite Farm Bureau conference.

Join Lily Steed, an 8th generation farmer and agriculture educator to discuss the importance of Agritourism and how it has been beneficial for her family's operation, Circle S Farms in Lebanon, TN.

Learn more about the newly elected Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts president, Kirk Daniels. Tipton County native has a background in agriculture and has lots of goals for the program that has been around since the 1940s!

Tune in today to learn more about the Tennessee Council of Cooperatives annual training that was hosted by Farm Bureau last week. Rural America would not be the same without these organizations, and we are proud to spread the education and awareness of their importance.

Smith County’s George McDonald has been named the 2024 Tennessee farmer of the year and will represent the volunteer state at the sunbelt ag expo in Moultrie, Georgia in October.

Adam Thompson, a sixth generation farmer in Northeast Knox County, is being sworn in to office this week as commissioner in Knox County’s 8th district.

Commercial airlines are moving towards using sustainable aviation fuel or SAF as it's referred to instead of tradition jet fuel. SAF is made from products like used cooking oil, and agriculture products like corn husks and grain hulls. With demand for SAF growing farmers have an opportunity to grow the materials to make it.

Tennessee’s Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is not someone necessarily you would recognize in the agricultural industry, but recently he and some of his staff visited the Farm Bureau headquarters in Columbia to meet with the president and other leaders to learn more about the state’s most important industry.

Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers across the state gathered and donated school supplies to the Maury County school system to help alleviate damage from the tornado in May. Tune in today to hear from Lisa Ventura, Maury County School Superintendent and E.A. Cox Middle School Principal, Christine Potts to learn more.

Lucas and Tara Simcox of Overton County are the 2024 Environmental Stewardship award Winners. They tell what it means to win this award, and why stewardship is a way of life for them.

The Milan No Till Field Day continued for the 33rd time this year. Attendees and people involved with the fied day discuss why this event is so important and why it needs to continue for decades to come.

You might not think about it as a part of agriculture, but forestry products are just as much a part of agriculture as corn, wheat, and soybeans. State Forester, Heather Slayton, reminds us that forestry is a big part of Tennessee’s economy and touches each of us daily.

Callie Robinson of Franklin County is the 2024 Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers State Collegiate Discussion Meet winner. Callie tells what it means for her to win this state award.

Aaron and Mackenna Loy of Jefferson County are the second place winners of the Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award Competition. The Loy's describe what it means to them to finish second in this competition.

Tracy and Katie Robinson are the 2024 Tennessee Young Farmers of The Year. They were named winners at the Tennessee YF&R Summer Conference in Lebanon this past weekend. The Robinsons explain what it means to them to be named State Young Farmers of The year.

Young farmers from across the state gathered in lebanon over the weekend for the Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers Summer Conference. State Committee Chair Robert Hill explains why young farmers see such great benefit in attending this conference each year.

Most Tennessee Counties East of the Tennessee River are experiencing some level of drought. Farmers explain how the dry conditions are impacting their crops.

The 101st edition of Tennessee 4-H Roundup has been taking place this week on the campus of University of Tennessee at Martin where more than 300 of the state’s top 4-H'ers, staff and volunteers have gathered to celebrate the year’s accomplishments.

Gray Crawford takes a look at how crop prices are being impacted by how much was planted this year.

Lawmakers will consider a funding bill that could offer much-needed relief on the labor front. Chad Smith has more on what’s in the bill for farmers and ranchers.