Tennessee Ag Insider 2012

• A GUIDE TO THE STATE’S FARMS, FOOD AND FORESTRY •

TENNESSEEAG INSIDER

Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Agr icu l ture // TNagr icu l ture.com // 2012

pIckING locAl

Finding Tennessee

food products is easier

than ever

Bovine BusinesscATTlE INDuSTRy TopS lIST of TENNESSEE AGRIculTuRAl commoDITIES

TNagriculture.com

www.e-farmcredit.com

ourcoop.com

agriculture.tennessee.edu

TNAGRICULTURE.COM // 3 TNAGRICULTURE.COM // 3

14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2012


TENNESSEEAGINSIDER

7 A Look Inside

8 Tennessee Ag Insider Overview

10 Feeding the WorldTennesseelookstoplayamajorroleintheglobalfoodlandscape

Crops,Plants&Forestry14 The Modern Age of Ag

Farmersadoptnewtechnologies

19 Classrooms of the FutureUniversitiespreparestudentsforcareersinnewfieldsofagriculture

20 Nursery TimesBusinessisbloominginTennessee

25 Raising the RoofNashvillecompanygrowsgreenroofs

28 Standing TallForestryindustryboostseconomy

31 More Trees, PleaseCommunitiesembraceurbanforestry

TennesseeFood32 Picking Local

FindingTennesseefoodproductsiseasierthanever

34 A Taste for TennesseeState’sfirstfamilyenjoyslocalcuisine

35 Fresh From the FarmFarmers’marketsseehugegrowth

36 Going Whole HogTennesseesausagecompaniesreflectonhumblebeginnings

www.tnsoybeans.org

www.biodiesel.org

TNAGRICULTURE.COM // 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ON THE COVER Photograph by Antony BoshierTreeFarmeroftheYearDr.SalemSaloomonhistreefarmwithLongLeafPines.

TENNESSEE AG INSIDER 2012

46

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Animals&Livestock40 Beefy Business

CattleindustryranksNo.1inTennesseeagriculture

45 Farm Futures FlourishProgramimprovesfarmprofits,stimulateseconomy

46 Equipped for EquineStateishometodiverseequineindustry

Environment&Conservation50 Here Comes the Sun

SolarpanelspopuponTennesseefarms

54 Deeply RootedFarmlandLegacyPartnershipworkstokeepstate’sfamilyfarmsinbusiness

Consumer&IndustryServices58 Recipe for Success

Stateinspectorsensurefoodsafetyandquality

60 What’s Cooking?Commercialkitchensprovideagreatresourceforfoodentrepreneurs

61 Measuring UpTennesseeinspectorstestscalesandgasolinepumps

63 Fighting On-Farm CrimesAgriculturalCrimeUnitprotectsruralsafety

InternationalTrade64 Tennessee Foods Go Global

Fromuniquepastatomarinadestogreenbeans,Tennessee’sfoodexportsfilldemandfornicheproducts

68 Global GainsCatesLandingconnectsNorthwestTennesseetoAsian,SouthAmericanmarkets

73 Seeing GreenAgribusinessandresearchfindhomeinMemphis

RuralEconomicDevelopment74 Small-Town Appeal

MainStreetProgramrevitalizestowncenters,linkstoagheritage

79 Bakery Comes BackArmstrongPieCompanyboostsPerryCountyrecovery

Growing a healthier world, one harvest at a time.

Our task is simple, yet monumental. To provide enough food for the world, while

protecting it at the same time. We believe that with the right combination of innovative

science, tenacious problem solving and unshakable passion, we can do it. We will meet

the needs of today while laying a foundation for a better tomorrow. And in doing so, we

will not only grow a healthier world, we will make sure that abundance endures for us all.

Learn more at www.BayerCropScience.us.

Science For A Better Life

http://www.BayerCropScience.us


A LOOK INSIDE

This magazine is abouT Telling a sTory – thestoryofTennesseeagricultureandforestryandtheimpacttheyhaveonthequalityoflifeofeveryTennessean,everyday.

Wearefortunatetohavesuchdiverseandprosperousindustriesthatnotonlygiveussustenancebutrichnessinallaspectsofourlivesandeconomy.Fromourdeepestconnectionswiththelandandculturetointernationaltradeandvalue-addedprocessing, Tennessee agriculture and forestry are vibrant, growing industries that permeate our economy, health, heritage and natural resources.

Tellingthestoryofthesedynamicandexpandingindustriesisnosmalltask.We’reproudtojoinwithJournalCommunications,oneofthenation’spremierpublishers,insharingwithyousomeofthechanges,challengesandopportunitieswithintheseindustrysectors.

Throughthisstory,wehopeyou’lldiscoveraconnectiontoagricultureandforestryyouneverknewbefore:howbeing“green”startswithagricultureandforestry,whygoing“local”meanssomuchmorethanfresh,andhowtechnologyisshapingfood,fiberandfuelproduction.

Ultimately,wehopeyou’lldiscoverthatthosewhofarmandmanageforestlandsarethestartingpointforamuchlargerandever-unfoldingstoryofourfutureandourabilitytoproduceforahungryworld.

Thisisyourstory!

Sincerely,

JuliusJohnsonCommissionerTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture

Welcome to the

TENNESSEEAG INSIDER

2012

DigitalEdition

14 // TENNESSEE AG INSIDER

CROPS, PLANTS & FORESTRY


TheModern Ageof AgTennessee farmers adopt latest technologies to maximize efficiency

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TENNESSEEAG INSIDER

Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Agr icu l ture // TNagr icu l ture.com // 2012

pIckING locAlFinding Tennessee food products is easier than ever

Bovine BusinesscATTlE INDuSTRy TopS lIST of TENNESSEE AGRIculTuRAl commoDITIES

The special tablet edition is designed especially for use on iPads and other tablet devices.

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OvErvIEw

Alookatthestate’stopindustry

Tennessee Agriculture

Tennessee’s agriculTure industrycanbestbedescribedinoneword–diverse.

Fromcornandcottonfieldsinthewesttotobaccoandtomatoesintheeast,morethan50agriculturalproductsarecommerciallygrowninTennessee.Thestate’stopagriculturalcommoditiesincludecattle,soybeans,broilers(chickensraisedformeat),greenhouseandnursery,andcorn.Farmproductionaloneaccountsformorethan$3billioninfarmreceiptseachyear.

Thestate’suniquelandareascontributetoitsdiversity.Differencesinlandtype,soilcharacteristics,elevationandproximitytowaterhelpdeterminewhatcropsandlivestockwillbestgrowinaparticularregionofthestate.Rowcropsarelargelygrownintheflat,tillablelandofWestTennessee,whilethemorerockyterrainofupperEastTennesseeisbettersuitedformeatgoatproduction.Thestate’stopproduct,cattleandcalves,areraisedinallpartsofthestate,withmorethan1millioncowsgrazingTennesseepasturesatanygiventime.Inall,Tennesseeishometomorethan77,300farmsand10.8millionfarmlandacres,withanaveragefarmsizeof140acres.

Thestate’sagriculturaldiversity

relatestoagrowingtrendamongTennesseans–buyinglocal.ConsumersinteractwithTennesseeproducersatmorethan105farmers’marketsthroughoutthestateorbyvisitingfarmsthatfocusonagritourism.

Theindustryrepresentsmorethanjustagriculturalcommodities.Tennesseeagriculturealsorepresentsagribusinesses,foodmanufacturingandtransportation,forestryandlumberproducts,greenhouseandnurserybusinesses,extensionservices,universityandprivateindustryresearch,andmore.Thiscreatesanannualeconomicactivityof$71billionforagricultureandforestrycombined.

TheforestryindustryisalsobigbusinessforTennessee.Morethan80percentofthewoodmaterialproducedishardwood,andTennesseeconsistentlyranksasatophardwoodlumber-producingstate.Forestryexportstotaled$744.6millionin2009,withpaperasthetopproduct.

BoththeforestryandagricultureindustriessupportthecreationofjobsacrossTennessee.Thetwoindustriescombinedrepresentalmost15percentofalljobsinthestate,includingworkwithinagribusiness,foodmanufacturingandthesecondaryforestryindustry.

What’s OnlineAccess more agriculture facts

at TNagriculture.com.

Ofthe2.8 million crop acresplantedinTennesseein2010,morethan87 percentwereplantedwithconservationtillagemethods.Onceknownforitsrapidlyerodingfarmland,thestateisnowrecognizedasanational leaderin conservation tillage,especiallyno-tillfarming.

41percent of Tennessee’s total

land area is used for farmland.

TNagriculture.com


ThE mAjoRITy of ThE STATE’S Row cRopS (coRN,

coTToN, SoybEANS AND whEAT) ARE GRowN oN

ThE flAT, TIllAblE lAND of wEST TENNESSEE.

mIDDlE TENNESSEE IS kNowN foR ITS RollING

hIllS AND luSh pASTuRES, whIch ARE pERfEcT

coNDITIoNS foR RAISING bEEf cATTlE.

TobAcco, GoATS AND DAIRy cowS ARE pRImARIly

fouND IN ThE moRE uNEvEN AND mouNTAINouS TERRAIN

IN EAST TENNESSEE.

How does Tennessee’s geography affect agriculture?

Tennessee Export Value

Morethan 700 Tennessee farmsnowofferagritourism

attractions,suchascornmazes,pumpkin

patches,farmtoursandpick-your-own

operations.

SomE SuRpRISING TENNESSEE Top AGRIculTuRE pRoDucTS

TENNESSEE RANkS 2ND IN ThE NATIoN IN mEAT GoATS, 3RD IN fRESh TomAToES

AND 5Th IN fRESh SNAp bEANSSource: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Source: USDA Economic Resource Service

Agriculture

$925 million

Forestry

$744.6 million


by 2050, The world’s populaTion is expecTed To increaseto9billion,leadingexpertstoestimatethat100percentmorefoodwillneedtobeproducedinordertonourishthatpopulation.

Thatscenario,dauntingthoughitmayseem,presentsagriculturallystrongstatessuchasTennesseewithauniqueopportunitytovastlyincreasefoodexports.

“About25percentofourtotalagriculturalproductionisexported,”saysJuliusJohnson,CommissioneroftheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture.“Forouragriculturalcommunitytogrow,wemustworkhardtogrowthatnumber.”

DEMAND GROWS FOR ROW CROPSInthislight,soybeans,alreadyafirmlyestablishedcropin

Tennessee,havethepotentialtobeagamechanger.Andthe

Tennessee looks to play a major role in the global food landscape

Feeding Worldthe



reasonissimple:Asdevelopingnationscontinuetoimprovetheirstandardsofliving,proteinintheformofsoybeansbecomesacriticalpartofhowthosecountriesgrowanimalproteinforfoodconsumption.

“Ifwecancontinuetoworkondevelopingsoybeanvarietiesthatarewell-tunedtotheclimateinTennessee,thenIthinkwewillbeabletocompeteprettywellwithother(soybean-producing)statesintermsofyields,”saysDr.DaryllRay,directoroftheAgriculturalPolicyAnalysisCenterattheUniversityofTennessee.

Althoughonasmallerscale,Dr.RaysaysthatcottonisanotherareaofTennesseeagriculturethatisripewithopportunityforgrowthinexports.

“America’scottonexportshaveexperiencedsignificantgrowthrecently,”hesays.“SothereisagreatopportunityforTennesseefarmersintheworldwidecottonarenaaswell.”

BEEF ExPORTS BOOMBeefisanothercommodityforwhichTennesseewould

benefitfromaworldwideincreaseindemand,whichwilloccurthankstorisingpercapitaincomesinmanyoftheworld’sexpandingcountries.

“Wearepartofthebeefproductionchain,”CommissionerJohnsonsays.“SoanyincreaseindemandattheexportlevelwillfilterdowntothefairlysizablecalfmarketinTennessee.”

Alongwiththeworldwideincreaseindemandforbeef,ongoingresearchoneverythingfromfertilizationtofencinghastremendouspotentialforincreasingtheamountofbeefproducedincow-calfoperations.HigherbeefyieldsmaketheexportingofbeeftocountrieswithgrowingmiddleclassesevenmorecostefficientforTennessee’ssmallerfarms,whichmakeupthemajorityofthelandthatisfarmedinthestate.Furthermore,thereisanopportunitytocapitalizedomesticallyonthegrowingpopularityingrass-fedbeef,ahighlyspecializedcommodityideallyproducedonsmallerfarms.

“Protectingthequalityofourproductiscritical,”CommissionerJohnsonsays,“becauseTennesseeisrecognizedasaproduceroftop-qualityproducts.Andthat’sareputationweowetooursmall-scalefarmers.”

ExPORTING MADE EASyInadditiontoexistingagriculturalcommodities,

Tennesseealsoboastscertaingeographicaladvantagesthatcanbeaboonfortheexportmarket.

“TheMississippiRiverallowsustoreachtheworld,”Dr.Raysays.“Chinaisatremendousimporterofsoybeans,andthepositionofboththeMississippiandtheTennesseeriversallowsustocompetewithcountrieslikeBrazilinthatcapacity.”

Water,however,isnotTennessee’sonlygeographicaladvantage.

“IfyoulookattheinterstatesystemthroughTennessee,wearesortofatthehubofthecountry’stransportationsystem,”CommissionerJohnsonsays.“Wecanconnecttokeypartsofthepopulation,andthatmeanswecangetourproducttomarketbetter,bothdomesticallyandabroad.”

– Brandon Lowe

The World's Population Growth

7 bIllIoN pEoplE IN 2011

9 bIllIoN IN 2050

ThAT’S A 30% INcREASE, whIch wIll REquIRE DoublE ThE woRlD’S cuRRENT fooD pRoDucTIoN To mEET ThoSE

populATIoN DEmANDS.

32%ofTennesseeagricultureproductsareexportedtoothercountries.

Source: United Nations population projections, May 2011


www.mtsu.edu/abas


CrOpS, pLANTS & FOrESTry

TheModern Ageof AgTennessee farmers adopt latest technologies to maximize efficiency

in The 1960s, Tennessee hadthehighestratesofsoilerosioninthecountry,withfarmerslosinganaverageofalmost50tonsofsoilperacreperyear.Butanewtechniqueandacommitmentbythestate’sfarmerstouseitchangedallthat.

“Wesolvedthatproblembypromotingandemployingno-tilltechnologythroughoutthestate,”saysBlakeBrown,directoroftheUniversityofTennessee’sAgResearch&EducationCenteratMilan.“Today,morethan70percentofTennessee’sacresareno-tilled,”hesays.Theno-tillingpracticeincreasesthewaterandnutrientsinthesoilbygrowingcropswithoutdisturbing,ortilling,thesoil.Theresultsincludebetterproductionefficiency,cleanerwaterandair,anddrasticimprovementsin


“ I probably sit in front of a computer as much as I’m behind the wheel of a truck. ” – WIllIS JEpSoN


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soilconditions.WillisJepson,aRobertsonCounty

farmerwhoseoperationincludescorn,wheat,soybeansandtobacco,knowsfirsthandthebenefitsofno-tillpractices.“Weembracedtheno-tillsysteminthe1980sandnoware100percentno-till.Beyondtheobvioussoilconservationadvantages,italsoallowsustodomorewithlesshorsepower,whichimprovesefficiency.”

SOFTWARE TO SMARTPHONESThat’sjustonetechnological

advancethatJepson,aseventh-generationfarmer,hasadopted.“I’vebeenworkingthesefieldsallmylifeandhaveseentechnologycontinuetoprovideouroperationwithopportunitiestomanageourinputs,tobegoodstewardsoftheenvironment,andtomonitorandimproveouryields.”

Hepointstoadvancementsinautosteerequipment,yieldmonitorsandaccompanyingsoftware,andevensmartphonesandiPadsasbeingresponsibleforcreatingefficienciesthatimprovethefarmer’sbottomline.Ofcourse,costsareassociatedwithadoptingthetechnology,butthere

canbebigpayoffs.“Equipmentadvancesallowusto

bettermanageallthezonesofouroperationindependently,”Jepsonsays.“Wecancreateaspecificprescriptionandtargetyieldforeachzone,whichmeanswe’renotbuyingmorefertilizerthanweneed.Wealsogaintimeandprecisioneachtimeweuseautosteerinouroperation.”

Jepsonalsocreditshisdesktopcomputerandmobiletechnologyformakingitsimplertorunhisfamilyfarm.“MyiPhoneandiPadmakeiteasytochecktheweatherandthemarketsalldaylong.Accessibilitytothatinformationaswellasthedataonourownoperationandfarmingresearchandtrendshelpusmakesounddecisionsbasedonthemostcurrentinformation.IprobablysitinfrontofacomputerasmuchasI’mbehindthewheelofatruck.”

BIOTECHNOLOGy AND BEyONDAccordingtoBrown,agriculture

biotechnologyisalsoresponsibleforprovidingefficienciesfortoday’sfarmer.ProductssuchasRoundUpReadyRforsoybeansandinsectcontrolbiotechnologyforcornand

cottonlowerthenumberofpassesfarmershavetomakeinafield,whichsavestimeandfuel.Ofcourse,theyhavetocontinuouslymonitorforresistance.Andthat’swhyresearchissoimportant.

“Farmersreallybelieveinresearch,”saysParksWells,executivedirectoroftheTennesseeSoybeanPromotionCouncil.“Ithasatremendousreturnforthem,”hesays,becausetheadvancesthatresultfromtheresearchdrivecost,time,andproductionefficienciesandevenopenupnewmarkets.

Wellspointstothesuccessofbiodieselasonesuchtechnologicaladvance.Notonlycanitbeusedtopoweragriculture,butit’salsomadefromsoybeans,soitpaysdoublethedividends.Inaddition,Wellssays,it“helpsprovideproteinfortheworld”throughthecreationofsoybeanmealinthebiodieselproductionprocess.

Whilethereisnoshortageofchallengesfortoday’sfarmers,thereisnoshortageofingenuityortenacityintheTennesseeagriculturecommunityeither,Brownsays.“Ourgoalistohelpfarmersbesuccessful.Technologyisoneimportantwaytoensurethatsuccess.” – Cathy Lockman

Willis Jepson utilizes new technology on his Robertson County grain farm. Advances in precision agriculture such as auto steer and yield monitors increase efficiency and help farmers be good environmental stewards.


Tennessee 4-H has more than

300,000participants every year.

4,550 4-H All Stars contributed

57,846hours of community service,

valued at

$1,235,591

Creating and Sustaining Positive Youth Development

Opportunities

To learn more or to donate visit http://4h.tennessee.edu.

Tennessee’s Top Crops

SoybEANSSoybean production ranks first among all crops in Tennessee,

with 43.7 million bushels harvested in 2010. Most are grown in West Tennessee,

with Dyer, Obion and Gibson as the top

counties. Soybeans are also the state’s

top agricultural export.

coRNIn Tennessee, corn is mostly grown for

grain, but also a small amount for silage

(livestock feed). In 2010, the state's corn

farmers harvested a combined 685,000

acres, with an average yield of 117

bushels per acre (for grain) and 45 tons per

acre (for silage).

coTToNTennessee

ranks eighth nationally for

cotton production, with 387,000

acres harvested in 2010. Top

cotton counties are Haywood,

Crockett, Gibson and Madison, all

located in the western part of

the state.

TobAccoThe state's tobacco producers yielded 45.7 million pounds of tobacco in 2010,

including burley, dark fired-cured and dark aired-cured varieties.

Tennessee ranks third for tobacco production, and top counties are

Robertson, Macon, Montgomery and

Sumner.

whEATSome 180,000 acres

of wheat were harvested in 2010,

with average yields of 53 bushels per

acre. Seeded in the fall and harvested

in the spring, winter wheat is grown

across the state, but primarily in

Robertson, Gibson, Haywood, Weakley and Henry counties.

http://4h.tennessee.edu



I tmightseemfar-fetched,butthesightofafarmerremotelyoperatingtwotractorsatonce,

eachwithoutadriver,isatechnologythatismorethanjustanidea–it’sactuallyindevelopment.

AdvanceslikethesearejustpartofwhatthefutureholdsfortheagricultureindustryinTennessee.That’swhyuniversitiesacrossthestatearetakingstepstoensurethattheirstudentsarepreparedtobetomorrow’sindustryleaders.

AtMiddleTennesseeStateUniversity,forexample,alternativefuelexpertandagriscienceprofessorCliffRickettsuseshis35yearsofresearchinthefieldtogivestudentshands-onopportunitiestobuildvehiclesthatrunonpowerotherthangasoline.

“ThegoalofmyworkistocomeupwithaprocesswherebytheAmericanfarmerandAmericanconsumerswouldbeenergyindependentintheeventofacrisisinthePersianGulf,”Rickettssays.“Mystudentshavebuiltenginesthatrunonethanol,cowmanure,soybeanoil,solarpower,andnowmypassionistobuildanenginethatrunsonwater.Ourprogramhasmanystudentswhoaregiftedengineersandmechanics,andIjustguidethemandthengetoutofthewayandletthemusetheirtalentstobuildcars.”

SuchinnovationisalsoapartoftheTennesseeTechUniversitycurriculum.Theschool’snewdegreeconcentrationinagritourismisthefirstsuchprograminthestate.Itprovidesstudentswithanunderstandingof

howtourismcanenhancetherevenueopportunitiesofworkingfarmsthroughtheadditionofpettingzoos,festivals,bed-and-breakfasts,concerts,camping,hikingandwineries.

AttheUniversityofTennesseeInstituteofAgriculture,twonewfacilitiespreparestudentsforcareersintheever-changingagricultureindustry.TheCenterforAthleticFieldSafetyconductsresearchonthesafetyofnaturalandsyntheticturf,andtheLittleRiverAnimalandEnvironmentalUnitincludesastate-of-the-artdairy.Otherinitiativesinclude

TennesseeStateUniversity’sgoatresearchprogramandthevettechprogramattheUniversityofTennesseeatMartin.

Suchopportunitieshaveimplicationsfortheagricultureindustryandbeyond.Forinstance,Rickettssaysthat“MTSUhasamodelforthecountrytofollowintheeventofanationalenergycrisis,”andpreparingstudentsforsuchaneventualitythroughthedevelopmentofalternativefuels“willhaveimplicationsforpeace,nationalsecurity,theeconomyandtheenvironment.”

– Cathy Lockman

Universitiespreparestudentsforcareersinnewfieldsofagriculture

Classrooms of the Future

The Center for Athletic Field Safety at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture researches the safety of natural and synthetic turf.

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wiTh more Than 700 nurseries, 300 greenhouses, 2,500plantdealers,and400landscaperscertifiedacrossthestate,thehorticultureindustryisaboomingandbloomingbusinessinTennessee.Together,thosebusinessestranslateinto21.7millioncontainersofplants,48,000acresofgrowingarea,and$300millioninsaleseachyear.

Addtothosenumbersthefactthatthestateistheworld’slargestsupplierofdogwoodandpeachtreeliners(youngplantsreadyforfieldtransplanting),andit’snowonderMiddleTennessee–specifically,

Business is blooming in Middle Tennessee

TimesNursery


Tom Gallagher, middle, and sons Tim, left, and Terry, right, grow 1,150 acres of trees and shrubs at the family-owned Heather Farms Nursery in Morrison. They export about 20 percent of their plants.


McMinnville–iscalledthe“NurseryCapitaloftheWorld.”Butwhatisitthatmakestheareasuchfertilegroundforgrowingsomanyspeciesofperennials,annuals,groundcover,shrubs,andshade,fruitandfloweringtrees?AccordingtoKyleHolmberg,internationalmarketingspecialistfortheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture(TDA),it’sacombinationofidealclimateandsoil,historyandTennesseeknow-how.

“Wehaveagreatreputationaroundtheworldforgrowingqualitynurserystock,”Holmbergsays.Healsocreditstheindustry’sstrongpartnershipwithTennesseeStateUniversity’sNurseryResearchCenter,“whichsupportsthe

nurseriesandpromotesinnovation”invarietydevelopment.

But,hesays,successbeginswithoptimumgrowingconditions,whichTennessee’slocationensures.Withanaverageannualtemperatureof59degreesand70percenthumidity,theclimateoffersmildwintersandwarmsummersthatareidealforproducingqualitynurserystockthatwillthriveacrossthecountry–fromareasasdifferentinclimateasMinneapolistoAustin,Texas.Inaddition,thesilt-loamsoilinMiddleTennesseeisidealfornurserystockbecauseitretainsnutrientsandwaterandclingstogethertoestablishastrongrootball.

FactorinthatTennesseeisstrategicallylocatedwithin1,000

milesof46percentoftheU.S.populationandhaseasyshippingaccessthroughaconvenientnetworkofinterstates,andyouhavealltheseedsforsuccess.

TAkING ROOT OUTSIDE THE U.S.Tennessee’streesandplantsaren’t

justadomesticproduct.TerryGallagher,oneoftheowners

ofHeatherFarmsNurseryinMorrisonnearMcMinnville,saysexportsaccountfornearly20percentofhisbusiness.Thefamily-ownednursery,whichwasestablishedin1976with50acresandhasgrownto1,150acrestoday,haslongexportedtreesandshrubstoCanadaandmorerecentlyhasmadeinroadsintheEuropeanmarket.

TENNESSEE IS homE To NEARly 1,700

NuRSERy opERAToRS, AND mcmINNvIllE IS

coNSIDERED ThE “NuRSERy cApITAl of ThE woRlD.”

Tennesseenurseryproductsrepresent$285 million incashreceipts eachyear.

$2.7 millionworth of Tennessee-grown live plants and trees

were exported around the world in 2010.

mcmINNvIllE

photography by Jeff adkinS


Theydiditbytravelingtointernationalhorticulturetradeshowsanddevelopingnewrelationshipsandproductsasaresult.Oneproduct,asoft-sidedcontainerproducedinAustraliathatHeatherFarmscustomizedtomeettheirstandards,hasopenedupdoorstotheexportmarket.

“TheEZcontainerpromotesamorefibrousrootsystemwhilerestrictingcirclingroots,usingnaturalsunlightandair,whichmeansbetterlivabilityfortheplant,”Gallaghersays.Andbecausethecontainersaresoft-sided,“youdon’tgetdamagetotheplantswhenthecontainersarepackedtightlytogether.”

ThiscommitmenttoinnovationisearningHeatherFarmsan

internationalreputationasareliablesupplierofhard-to-shipplants.“Wemadeasignificantinvestmentoftimeandmoneytodevelopasoilandgrowingfacility[forthiscontainerproduction]thatmeetstheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureandEuropeanUnioncriteriaandnowhave10acresofouroperationdedicatedtoproducingplantsinthesecontainers.”

GallagherhasalsospentconsiderabletimevisitingEuropetoseehowpotentialcustomersdobusinessandhashostedmanyinternationalproducersathisoperation.“It’simportantforthemtoseeforthemselvesthedifferencesingrowingmethods,howourproductlinecanfitintotheirproduction,and

thesupportofournearbynurseryresearchcenter,”Gallaghersays.“ItgivestheTennesseeindustryasignificantcompetitiveadvantage.”

TheinitiativeofGallagherandotherproducerslikehimtothinkcreatively,takerisksandbuildrelationshipswithinternationalgrowersisthekeytodevelopingtheexportmarket,saysHolmberg,whoworkswiththeTennesseehorticultureindustrytopromotetheirproducts.

“Thereareaddedcoststoengaginginsuchefforts,”hesays.“Butthereisapotentialforsubstantialpayoffinthelongtermforthegrower,theindustryandthestateofTennessee.”

– Cathy Lockman

What’s OnlineSee more photos of

Tennessee nurseries at TNagriculture.com

TNagriculture.com

www.tnsoybeans.org

www.BeyondTheElevator.com




W hilemanyinhorticulturearelookingtotheexportmarketasawaytoboost

sales,othersarecultivatingnewmarketsinTennesseetogeneratemoregreenforgreenbusinesses.

AndySudbrock,ownerofNashvilleNativesNurseryandSoutheastGreenRoofs,isonesuchhorticulturalentrepreneur.Hehascreatedhisownnichebygrowingandmarketinganinnovativerooftopmodulesystemmadeofnativeplants.PublicandprivatedeveloperswhoarecommittedtosustainablearchitectureworkwithSudbrock’scompanytocustomdesigntheirgreenroofproject,suchasthe2,000-square-footLiveRoofrecentlyinstalledattheMcCabeCommunityCenterforNashvilleMetroParks.

“Thegreenroofindustryhasverytangibleenvironmentalandfinancialbenefits,”saysSudbrock,whooperatesbothbusinessesfromhis15-acrefarminFairview.“Theyproducesavingsinwinterheatingandsummercoolingcosts,andthey

haveasignificantimpactonstormwaterrunoffbecauseasuccessfulgreenroofcancapture90percentofa1-inchrainfall.Withmanycitiesstrugglingwithantiquatedstormsewersystemsandincreasedstormflows,greenroofscanhelptopreventexistinginfrastructurefromgettingoverlystressed.Greenroofsareveryfunctionalbuildingcomponentsthatalsohappentobeverybeautiful.”

Thatbeautycomesintheformofavarietyofdrought-tolerantplants,suchassedum,nativewildflowers,andotherlow-growing,low-maintenancespeciesthataddvisualinterest,improvepropertyvalueandboostprideinownership.

Eachrooftopiscustomgrown,Sudbrockexplains,withplantschosenbasedontheclimateandanychallengesoftheproject’slocation.Each2-square-footmoduleispre-grownatthenursery,andthecompleteroofisassembledonsite.“Youhaveafunctioninggreenrooffromtheveryfirstday,”hesays.

Foranindustrythathasfeltthe

pinchofreducedlandscapebusinessduetofewernewhousesandoverallbelttighteningbyconsumers,sustainablearchitectureprovidesawaytoboostthebottomlinewhileprovidingenvironmentalbenefits.

G.DoddGalbreath,executivedirectorofLipscombUniversity’sInstituteforSustainablePractice,encouragestheindustrytoembracetheeconomicopportunitythatsustainableproductsprovide.

“IfIwereinthenurseryindustry,Iwouldbepositioningmyproductsasananswerforstormwaterrunoffproblems,”Galbreathsays.“Plantmaterialcausesstormwatertosoakintothegroundmorequickly,tobestoredmoresafely,tobeconsumed,andtoevaporateintotheaircompletely.Ifeveryroofandpublicspacecouldbemadeintoakindoflinearspongebyusingplantmaterial,you’retalkingaboutsubstantiallyincreasingtheneedforplantmaterialandthesalesforTennesseegrowers.”

– Cathy Lockman

NashvillecompanygrowsgreenroofsRaising the Roof

Nashville Natives grows plants specifically for use on green roofs and other living agricultural projects.

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www.tennesseemainstreet.org/ag



Forestry industry boosts state economy

Standing TAll

ForesTs cover more Than halfofthelandinTennessee,andthose14millionacresgrowalotmorethanjusttrees.Theygrowthestateandlocaleconomy,too,creatingjobs,productsandexports,allofwhichmaketheforestindustryanearly$13billionbusinessinTennessee.

Whiletherecentrecessionandtheresultingdecreaseinnewhomeconstructionhasimpactedthosenumbers,theindustrycontinuestostandtall–maintainingthenecessaryinfrastructuretosupportastrongrecovery.

AccordingtoTimPhelps,publicoutreachspecialistfortheDivisionofForestryintheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture(TDA),

that’sbecausethestate“hasanabundantsupplyofasustainableandvaluableforestresource,askilledworkforce,andastrongcommitmenttotheforestryindustry.”

Inaddition,themajorhighwayandrailwaysystemsinTennesseeaswellasnearbyportaccessmeanslumberandotherproductscaneasilybemadeavailableforanationalandglobalmarket.

Whatarethoseproductsandthebusinessesthatmakethem?ThevastmajorityofTennessee’sforestsaremadeupofhardwoodspecies,andthetimberprocessedbythestate’smorethan200sawmillsismostlyoak,yellowpoplar,andhickory.Infact,Tennesseeproducesmorethan800millionboardfeetofhardwood


A dawn redwood tree towers over Bruce Webster, urban forest leader for the Tennessee Division of Forestry. A lightning rod, attached to the tree trunk, protects it from storms. Webster says it’s a common management practice for high-valued trees.


opportunitiesfortheforestryindustry,otherinitiativesalsoholdpromiseasawayfortheindustrytogrowinbothreputationandbottomline.Forinstance,SustainableForestryInitiative,ForestStewardshipCouncilandtheAmericanTreeFarmSystemoffervoluntarycertificationprogramsthatsetstandardsforachievingtheirspecificsustainabilitydesignation.Thougheachprogramhasdifferentrequirements,thegoalistoensureconsumersthatthewoodandpaperproductstheybuyhavecomefromaforestthathasbeenresponsiblymanaged.

“Thereisagrowinginterestbytoday’sconsumersandbusinessestosupportindustrieswithrecordsofstrongenvironmentalstewardship,”Phelpssays.“AsTennesseeforestlandowners,forestryindustries,builders,architectsandothersuppliersinthechainpursuesustainabilitycertifications,theywillhavetheabilitytomeetthisgrowingdemand.Tennessee’sforestandhumanresourcesarewellpositionedtosupplyit.”

– Cathy Lockman

lumbereachyear,makingitoneofthetophardwood-producingstates.Althoughmuchlesssoftwoodisproduced,about15millionboardfeetannually,pineandothersoftwoodsareeconomicallyvaluablecommoditiesaswell.

Woodproductsmanufacturingisamongthestate’slargestbasicindustries.Secondaryproducts,suchasflooring,cabinetry,manufacturedhomesandpaperboard,addtotheeconomicimpactoftheforestryindustry,asdoesthe$2.5billioninwagespaidtothenearly42,000

Tennesseanswhoworkintheindustry.

BRANCHING OUTAlthoughTennesseeisoneofthe

nation’stopfivehardwood-producingstates,onlyabout5percentofthedriedhardwoodlumberitmanufacturesremainsinthestate.Infact,morethan$740millionworthofproductsareexportedoutsidethestateandthecountryeachyear.

Whilethatexportmarketrepresentsadditionaleconomic

$288million was generated in

timber sales in 2010

5Tennessee’s national rank for hardwood production

The N u m b E R S :

Webster takes a core sample from a sugar maple tree on the Ellington Agricultural Center campus in Nashville.


More Trees, Please

You don’t have to own a sawmill or a paper mill to appreciate the value of Tennessee’s trees. You don’t have to be a logger, a furniture maker or a forest landowner either. The only thing you have to do, says Bruce Webster, an urban forest leader for the Tennessee De-partment of Agriculture (TDA), is be sure your city has plenty of them.

“In forestry, the goal is to produce a wood product, but in urban forestry the goal is to produce a canopy of trees,” Webster says. “A good tree canopy can reduce energy costs, increase property values, reduce storm water issues and mitigate air pollution.”

The Tennessee Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy report published in 2010 by TDA supports those claims. The report cites research that credits the shade produced by urban forests with providing more than $60 billion in energy cost savings each year for Tennesseans. It points to infrastructure benefits that tree-lined streets provide by intercepting rainfall, which lessens the stress on urban storm sewers, and how streets don’t need to be repaved as often because of the shade. And it estimates the value of the state’s urban forests for naturally managing carbon and removing air pollutants at more than $203 million annually.

But trees provide many intangible benefits as well, Webster says, including an improved quality of life. Some studies find that the addi-tion of trees to the urban landscape may slow traffic, reduce crime in public housing and provide a sense of well-being. “It’s harder to quantify these benefits, but they certainly are there,” Webster says.

The TDA Urban Forestry Program works with cities to help them take advantage of the many benefits trees provide. Through ser-

vices that assist communities in planting and managing their trees, the program encourages Tennessee cities to develop their own self-sustaining urban forestry plan. Forty-one communities have implemented such a plan and earned the Tree City USA designa-tion for efforts in establishing tree care and protection ordinances, budgeting for and planting trees, and supporting Arbor Day.

Webster says such cities understand that “trees are valuable biological components of a city’s infrastructure and that planning for longer-lived trees is important for realizing the many benefits that trees add to a community.”

– Cathy Lockman

Tennesseecommunitiesembraceurbanforestrymovement

Tennesseehasnearly300,000more

forestedacrestodaythanin1961.Therate

ofgrowthisnearlytwicetheharvest

rateeachyear.

moRE ThAN 2,500 fIRES buRN EAch yEAR IN TENNESSEE foRESTS.

ThE TENNESSEE DIvISIoN of foRESTRy pRovIDES STATEwIDE fIRE pRoTEcTIoN AND

SuppRESSIoN SERvIcES.

Tennesseeishometo15 state forests,whichrangefrommountaincovestobottomlandsalongtheMississippiRiver.Stateforestsaremanagedforamixofnaturalresourcesincludinggameandnon-gamewildlife,andlarge,high-qualitytimber,andtheyofferhunting,hiking,birdwatchingandtranquility.

60,000jobs are created

through the Tennessee

forestry industry.

Franklin has earned the Tree City USA designation, along

with 40 other cities in the state.

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The ThoughT oF eaTing locally mighT conjureimagesofcozymom-and-popdinerswheretheownersarealwayspresentandthemenuisladenwithcomfortfood.However,recentyearshaveseenthedramaticriseinadifferentkindoflocaleating.

Thelocalfoodmovementisanemergingtrendinconsumerdemandandrelatesnotonlytothedistancebetweenproducersandconsumersbutalsotothemanufacturingcharacteristicsoftheproducer.Foodproducedlocallyisnotonlygrownonsmallerfarmsbutalsomarketedwithin400milesofwhereitwasharvested.

Thedemandforlocallygrownfoodsisdrivenbyanincreaseinconscientiousconsumerswhoareinsearchofmorethanjustaproduct.WaynesbororesidentGayleTanner,alongwithherhusband,Jim,ownsandoperates

BonnieBlueFarm,agoatdairy.TheTanners,licensedfarmsteadgoat-cheeseproducerssince2006,knowconsumershavehighexpectationsfortheirfooddollars.

“Manyconsumerswanttobesuretheyarespendingtheirmoneyinthelocalcommunity,supportinglocalfarmersandgettingfresher,healthierfood,”Tannersays.“Asmoreshopperswantlocalfood,farmersarefindingwaystoextendthegrowingseason,andfarmersmarketsarestartingearlierinthespringorgoyearround.ManypeoplehavemovedtoTennesseebringingtheirfoodtraditionsandcustoms,thusexpandingthevarietyandethnicdiversityforallconsumers.Chefshaveaddedtothemovementbyseekingoutlocalproducts,visitingfarmsandmakingfarmerstheirfriends.”

Twoavenuesforlocallygrownfoodsarefarmersmarketsandagritourismvenues.Whereasproducers

Picking Finding Tennessee

foods is easy, thanks to PickTnProducts.orglocal

1

TENNESSEE FOOD

PickTnProducts.org


1TENNESSEE GouRmET

Based in Mt. Juliet, this company specializes in gourmet sauces,

pepper jellies and salad dressings.

2whITE lIly

Considered by many as the best flour for biscuits, White Lily was

continuously milled in Knoxville for 125 years. Today, its headquarters

is in Memphis.

3boNNIE bluE GoAT chEESE

Located in Waynesboro, Bonnie Blue Farm uses only the milk from its Nubian and Saanen dairy goats to make hand-crafted goat cheese.

4NAShvIllE ToffEE compANyThis Nashville-based toffee treat

was first produced in 2003, using a grandmother’s famous recipe.

5AllEGRo mARINADE

These marinades were created in 1955 by a Paris, Tenn., family who

wanted to make inexpensive meats more desirable.

6NoNNA’S GouRmET fooDSThese are the same delicious

Italian sauces served in the Cafe Nonna restaurant in Nashville.

7TENNESSEE chow-chow

A Southern staple, this relish is made in small batches by Sugar

Plum Foods in White House, Tenn. The company also sells pickles

and apple butter.

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A Taste for TennesseeState’sfirstfamilyenjoyslocalcuisine

Chef Matt Gallaher saw the power of home cookin’ firsthand while traveling the globe as personal chef to the rock band Kings of Leon. “When you’re away from home for months at a time, people just want to sit down to familiar comfort food,” Gallaher says. The Knoxville native believes meals can be even more meaningful when they are made with homegrown ingredients.

“I like being connected to the food I’m serving,” says Gallaher, who returned to his Tennessee roots to serve as personal chef to Gov. Bill Haslam and his family at the Tennessee Governor’s Mansion. These days, the chef happily indulges his passion for farm-to-table cooking – a passion shared by Tennessee’s first family.

“The governor is really supportive of buying locally, and that’s something near and dear to my heart,” Gallaher says.

To promote the products produced in the state, the Haslams are strong supporters of the Pick Tennessee Products campaign. In fact, the Tennessee Governor’s office has been a proud supporter of the program for 25 years. Gallaher says he frequents the program’s website when planning meals.

According to his chef, the health-conscious governor “loves lamb and chicken, and is open to trying new things.”

Among Gallaher’s go-to ingredients is the intensely smoky bacon that has made Allan Benton from Madisonville-based Benton’s Country Hams a celebrity in the culinary world.

To satisfy the gubernatorial sweet tooth, Gallaher turns to the Nashville-based bean-to-bar chocolate produced by Olive & Sinclair.

And for a cheese to please any palate, who needs Wisconsin? “Some great Tennessee cheeses are gaining in popularity, says

Gallaher, who notes Blackberry Farm’s sheep’s milk cheeses, goat cheese from Noble Springs Dairy and Sequatchie Cove Farm’s cow’s milk creations.

“Tennessee wines are also developing by leaps and bounds,” says Gallaher. He favors Beach Haven Winery’s dry Riesling and sparkling wine, as well as the offerings of Arrington Vineyards.

“People are really starting to care where their food comes from. Buying locally is a fairly easy thing you can do to make a difference economically and culturally,” Gallaher says. “I’m really glad to be a piece of that puzzle.” – Celeste Huttes

bringfoodtotheformer,thelatterprovidesconsumerswithachancetovisitfarmsandoftentimesbeapartoftheproductionprocess.Inadditiontothousandsoflocallygrownproducts,Tennessee’shundredsofagritourismventuresofferconsumersafun,firsthandaccountofagriculture.

ConnectinglocalproducersandagritourismvenuestoconsumersisPickTennesseeProducts,aprogramofferedthroughtheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture(TDA).

“PickTennesseeProductswasaroundbeforeeatinglocalbecamethetrend,sowe’vebeen,andcontinuetobe,agreatsourceforconsumers,”saysPamelaBartholomew,agritourismandfarmersmarketsmarketingspecialistwithTDA.

Twenty-fiveyearsago,thePickTennesseeProductsprogramwascreatedtopromotefarmersandgrocerystores.Today,withthesamemissioninmind,theprogramoffersfreemarketingforfarmersthroughitswebsite(www.pickTnproducts.org).

Morethan1,600individualfarmersusethewebsiteandprogramtosellsome6,000items,includingfruits

The Pick Tennessee Products website contains: • An online store linking visitors

to product websites • Statewide directories to

farmers’ markets• Seasonal farm product recipes• Directories for orchards and

pick-your-own farms • Lists of retail stores that sell

Tennessee products

1,500More than 1,500 individual farmers and farm-

direct businesses list nearly 6,000 farm products on the Pick TN Products website.

700Tennessee is home to more than

700 agritourism locations, spread all over the state.

The N u m b E R S :

andvegetables,grainsandorganicoptions.Specialtyproducts,suchasfarm-directbeef–grass-fedbeefproducedwithouttheuseofantibiotics–arealsomarketedthroughtheprogram.Theprogramalsoincludesmanyvalue-addedproducts,whicharetheresultoftakingarawproductgrownbythefarmerandmodifyingit,suchasflour,preservesorhoney.

ThePickTennesseeProductsprogrambridgesthegapbetweenproductionandconsumptionandadvocateseatinglocallybyborrowingfromthemom-and-popdinerphilosophy,whichGayleTannersumsup:“Personalrelationshipsleadtoanunderstandingofthetime,effortandexpenserequiredtoproduceourcheese.” – Kirby Smith

www.PickTnProducts.org

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http://www.PickTnProducts.org



T hedemandforlocallygrownfoodhasfueledextraordinarygrowthinfarmers’markets

acrossTennessee.Thestatehas115farmers’markets

listedthroughitsPickTennesseeProductsonlinedirectorytotemptconsumerswithfarm-freshfruitsandvegetables,aswellasmeats,cheesesandartisanitems.That’saboutdoublethe58marketslistedwiththedirectoryjustfiveyearsago,accordingtotheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture(TDA).

“Wearehavingtremendousgrowthinfarmers’markets,”saysPamelaBartholomew,TDAmarketingspecialistforagritourismandfarmers’markets.“Itisunbelievablehowmanymarketsarepoppingupinsmallandlargecommunities.”

Athens,population14,000,hasbeenoverwhelmedbytheresponse

toits2011debutofMarketPark,adowntownpropertythecityacquiredandredesignedtoshelterfarmvendorssellingseasonalitemsfromafive-countyregionofsoutheasternTennessee.

“Tosayitwassuccessfulisamajorunderstatement,”saysAustinFesmire,thecity’sdirectorofparksandrecreation.Aone-day-a-weekmarketideaturnedintoadailyevent.

With69farmersregisteredforits2011opening,thecityhadanear50percentyear-over-yeargrowthinvendors,Fesmiresays.

TDAhassupportedthegrowthoffarmers’marketsthroughgrantprograms,marketingassistanceandeducationalsessions.

Farmersofferfruits,vegetables,meats,honey,cheeses,cannedgoods,breadsandpastas,aswellascandles,soaps,andwoodandfiber

products.Somemarketsareopenyearround.Othersfollowthegrowingseason,startingwithspringasparagusandendingnearHalloweenwithpumpkinsandsquashthatdoubleasfalldecor.

Visitwww.pickTnproducts.orgforalistofallTennesseefarmers’markets. – Joanie Stiers

Farmers’marketmovementseestremendousgrowth

TENNESSEE FOOD

Fresh From the Farm

ThE NumbER of fARmERS’

mARkETS lISTED wITh ThE

pIck TENNESSEE pRoDucTS wEb DIREcToRy hAS

DoublED IN fIvE yEARS.

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582006

2011

TheTennesseeAgEnhancementProgramhasprovidednearly$800,000tohelp147 farmers’ marketsadvertiseandpromotethemselves.Projectshaveincludedbillboards,newspaperandradioadvertising,posters,signsandwebsitedevelopment.



TENNESSEE FOOD

when harold williams, Founder oF theWestTennessee-basedWilliamsSausageCompany,firstbegansellingsausagein1958,heboastedamodestoperationthroughwhichhesoldsmallamountsofsausagetoahandfulofindividualsandfamilies.Infact,theoperationwassosmallthatHarold’swifeHazelactuallyhand-sewedtheclothbagsinwhichthesausagewassold.

Flashforwardmorethanhalfacentury,though,andWilliamsSausagehasbecomeamulti-milliondollarcompanywhoseproductsareconsumedinnearly40statesspanningacrossthecountry.Infact,thecompanyjustfinishedatwo-year,$16millionprojectinwhich40,000squarefeetwasaddedtoitsexistingprocessingfacilityinUnionCity,Tenn.TherecentsuccessofWilliamsSausagedemonstratesjusthowviablesausageprocessingisasanindustryinTennessee.

“Iguessyoucouldsaywe’vemanagedtostayupwiththetimes,”saysRogerWilliams,HaroldandHazel’sson,andcurrentlythepresidentoftheWilliamsSausageCompany.

WilliamsSausageproduceswhole-hogcountry

sausageinchubs,links,pattiesandinbreakfastsandwiches,alineofproductsthatissimilartothoseproducedbyahandfulofotherTennessee-basedsausagecompanies,themajorityofwhichhaveasimilarhomegrownhistorytothatofWilliams.

“Thereweredozensofcompaniesthatstartedassmallfamilyoperations,”saysHarryWomack,whoservedasvicepresidentofqualityassuranceandproductdevelopmentforSaraLeeuntilhis1995retirement.WomackbeganhiscareerwithRudy’sFarmSausage,aNashville-basedsausagecompanywithahistorythatmirrorsthatofWilliamsSausage.

“Whenmostofthesecompaniesstarted,raisinghogswasaneverydaythingforTennesseefarmers,”hesays.“PeopleinTennesseehavegrownupeatingandproducingsausage.”

Theworkforce’sfamiliaritywiththeindustry,plusthestate’scentrallocationinwhatRogerWilliamscalls“thesausagebelt,”areamongtheotherimportantfactorsthathavekeptsausageprocessingastableindustryinTennesseedespitethefactthatswineproductionhasalmost

Well-known Tennessee sausage companies reflect

on humble beginnings

Whole HogGoing


Breakfast sandwiches are among the items produced by Williams Sausage. The company is still run by the family, which includes the founders’ son Roger Williams and his daughter, son-in-law and brother, David.

exclusivelymigratedtoMidwesternstatessuchasIowa.

Inturn,Tennessee’spositionasahubforsausageprocessinghashelpedtocreateatight-knitcommunityofsausagecompanies,allofwhichprovidemuch-neededruralmanufacturingjobs.

ThecompletedexpansionatWilliamsSausage,forexample,added75newjobstothecompany,takingthetotalnumberofemployeesto375,anumberWilliamshopestocontinuetobuildonoverthenextthreeyears.

“ItseemslikeAmericaisbecomingmoreandmoreconcentratedinthecities,”Williamssays.“Butwethinkitisimportanttoprovidejobsinruralareas.Thatapproachhasbeengoodforourcompanybecausewegetatonofsupportfromthelocalcommunity.”

Historically,manypork-relatedcompanieshavebeenheadquarteredinTennessee,includingbothsausageandcountryhamprocessors,mostofwhichhavegonefromsmall-scalefamilyoperationsliketheonesdescribedbyWomack,tofull-sizedmanufacturingbusinessesthatproduceconveniencesausageitemsforsupermarketsandrestaurantchains.

“Thesecompaniesstartedhereandgrewhere,”Womacksays.“AndIseenoreasonwhytheywon’tstayhereandbeprofitableforyearstocome.”

– Brandon Lowe

Williams Sausage, based in Union City, is sold in close to

40states across the U.S.

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www.tnforestry.com

mailto:[email protected]


Other Prominent Tennessee Sausage Companies Include:

oDom’S TENNESSEE pRIDE Tennessee Pride was started in 1943 by Douglas Odom Sr., who had been in the meat business his whole life. Odom experimented with spice formulas to create the sausage recipe that is still used today. The Madison-based company is now run by Odom’s grandson, Larry D. Odom, and has 700 employees.

jImmy DEANCountry music singer, television host and actor Jimmy Dean founded his sausage brand in 1969 with his brother Don. Today, the company, located in Newbern, is owned by the Sara Lee Corporation and produces bacon, breakfast bowls, sandwiches and omelets along with its line of sausage products.

GoolSby SAuSAGEJames Goolsby grew up on a farm in Viola, Tenn., where he cured country hams and shoulders and made sausage with his family. He founded Goolsby Sausage Company in 1981 and worked to develop a recipe that tasted like the country sausage his family once made. Goolsby Country Sausage, now a product of James Meat Company, is manufactured in Cookeville.

wAmplER’S fARm SAuSAGE compANyWampler’s Farm Sausage has been a family operation since its beginnings in Riley Wampler’s kitchen back in 1937. The wholesale meat company incorporated in 1953 and was officially named Wampler’s Farm Sausage Company in 1981. Today, the company’s sausage is sold under the Wampler name as well as many private label brands. Its plant is located in the Eaton Crossroads community of Lenoir City.

SwAGGERTy’S SAuSAGE compANyThe recipe for Swaggerty’s Sausage Company’s product began more than 80 years ago on a Sevier County farm in Kodak, where Lonas Swaggerty developed his sausage recipe using hams and tenderloins. Three generations later, the modern processing facility remains in Kodak, and the original sausage recipe is still one of the company’s most popular products.

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ANImALS & LIvESTOCK

Bovine Business

Cattle industry ranks No. 1 in Tennessee agriculture

Tennessee caTTle producer MelMaxwellknowsthevalueofworkingtogetherwithotherproducers.

“Oneofthestrongtraitsoffarmersiswe’reindependentfolks,butwe’velaidthataside,andwe’vebandedtogether,establishingrules,soseveralsmallproducerslikemyselfcanputtogetheranicetruckloadofcattle,”saysMaxwellofCookeville,Tenn.

Thosetruckloadsoflook-alikecattlemeanbiggerprofitsforproducersandmakecattleproductionbigbusinessinthestate.

Maxwell,whousedtotravelthe100milesfromKnoxvilletoCookevilleeveryweekendtohelphisfatherwiththefamilyoperation,eventuallydecidedhelovedraisingcattlemorethananyotherjob.He’snowaretiredfarmer,butstillhelpswiththecattleoperationandservesas

president-electoftheTennesseeCattlemen’sAssociation.

AN ALLIANCE FORMEDBackin2004,Maxwellwasoneof

thechartermembersoftheTennesseeBeefAlliance,agroupofforward-thinkingfarmerswhorealizediftheyproducedsimilarcattle,theycouldattractmorebuyersfortheirbeef.TheycallittheProcessVerifiedProgram.

“Weputtogethersomebylaws,somerulesthatweallhadtofollowandpublishedthose,”Maxwellsays.“Westartedwiththebasicsofgenetics–onlycertainbullscouldbeused–Angus,HerefordandCharolais–inthebeginning.Weweretryingtogetuniformitytomakeallthecattleinaloadcookie-cuttersame–samesize,samecolor,samesex.Byputtingtogetheratruckload,itallowedasmall

producertoleveragehimselfsohecouldactlikeabigproducer.”

Andgetpricesabiggerproducercouldcommand.Theconceptwastogetabetterpriceforcattlegroupedtogetherinaloadthanifthreeorfourcalvesweresoldaloneandthebuyerhadtoputaloadtogether.

“IcansayIdefinitelyfeellikeIgetthemostvalueformycalvespossible,”Maxwellsays.“Wegetabetterpricebecausewebandtogether.”

Therulesincludewhenandhowoftenacalfshouldbevaccinated,whenitcanbeweanedfromitsmotherandstartedonfeed,andwhatweightitshouldbesenttomarket.

“That’swhybuyerslikeourcalvessomuch,”Maxwellsays.“We’llhave50or60biddingonthembyphone,Internet,attheauction.Whenwestarted,wewenttothefeedlots–15ormore–andgotthemtotellus

Mel Maxwell, who raises cattle at his Cookev-ille farm, is one of about 77,000 beef cattle farmers in the state.


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whatkindofcalvestheywanted.Wegotinputfromourcustomers.”

TheAlliancehastransformedthestate’sbeefindustry.

“Weareafairlybigcattlestate–notasbigasTexas–butourcow-calfindustryistheNo.1businessforthestate,”saysJimNeel,UniversityofTennesseeprofessorofanimalscienceandbeefcattlespecialist.

GREENER PASTURESTennessee’saffinityforcattle

comesfromtheenvironmentandanewProcessVerifiedProgramthathelpsfarmersgetmoremoneyfortheircattlebyaddingvalue.

“Wedon’thaveaharshclimate,andofthe5millionacresinagriculturalland,3.5ofthatisinforage,”Neelsays.“Ourterrainisrollingandsubjecttoerosion,whichmakesitperfecttokeepingrass.Mostofourcattlearegrassfed.”

Morethan1millioncows,producedby45,000cattlefarmers,areraisedonthatgrass.

Mostofthestate’s77,000farmersareclassifiedassmall.“Ouraverageherdsizeis23to24headofcattle,”saysCharlesHord,executivevicepresidentoftheTennesseeCattlemen’sAssociation.

“Tennesseeusedtoraisealotoftobacco,”Hordsays.“Whenwegotthetobaccosettlementmoney,weuseditinourTennesseeAgEnhancementProgramtohelpfarmersfindsomethingelsetogrow.Mostofthemturnedtocattle.”

Namely,beefcattle.“Yearsago,inthe’40sand’50s,we

hadalotofdairies,”Neelsays.“AfterWorldWarII,veteranscamehomeandsawtheycouldn’thavetheincometheyneededfromdairycattleandswitchedtobeefcattle.Familieswenttotowntogetjobsbutmaintainedtheircattleherd.That’showweendedupwithsomanysmallfarms–theykeptacow-calfoperationandanotherjoboffthefarm.”

Livestockaccountsforhalfofalltotalagricultureincome,saysNeel,addingthatthedollarsspentinlivestockgivesthestateamultipliereffect.In2010,cattleandcalvesrankedNo.1inthestateoverbeansandbroilerswith$545millioninreceiptsforcow-calfoperations.

TENNESSEE’S Top bEEf cATTlE couNTIES

bEDfoRD

lAwRENcE

GIlES

lINcolN

GREENE


“Foreverydollarmadeinlivestock,itturnsover2.5to3times,”hesays.“Beefcattleisbigbusiness.”

Oneoftheotherwaysthatbeefismarketedisdirecttoconsumers.NeolaFarmsnearMemphisraisesBlackAnguscattleandsellsthemeatthroughitslocalfarmers’marketanddirectfromthefarmtoconsumersandrestaurants.

Indeed,TennesseeranksfourthinthenationbehindTexas,OklahomaandMissourifornumberofcow-calfproducers.

“WestillhavealongwaystogowithgettingproducerstobuyintotheProcessVerifiedProgram,”Neelsays.“Ithasn’tbeeneasy.Wehadalotofresistanceearlyongettingpeopletounderstandmarketing,butwe’remakingheadway.”

Hordagrees.“IamoptimisticforthefutureofcattleinTennessee,”hesays.“Givenourgeographyandourgrass,wecanaddextraweighttocattlecheaply.Wearewellpositioned.Wehavealotoflandandalotofpeoplewhoenjoyraisingcattle.Anewgenerationissteppingupandmaybebetteratrespondingtowhattheconsumerwants.”

– Charlyn Fargo

Tennessee’s Top Livestock

cATTlE AND cAlvESTennessee’s mild

climate and proximity to fresh water sources make it a prime location

for beef operations, and more than 45,000 cattle producers raise one million cows. The state’s cattle industry represents almost 18

percent of all agricultural cash receipts.

bRoIlERSIn 2010, Tennessee

poultry farmers raised more than 193 million head of broilers, or, chickens grown for meat. The poultry

industry represents a $475 million

contribution to the state’s agricultural

cash receipts and $65 million in exports.

DAIRyEast Tennessee is

home to the state’s top three dairy-

producing counties – Greene, McMinn and Monroe. The Tennessee dairy industry includes 52,000 milk cows,

which produced 850 million pounds of milk

in 2010.

SwINEIn 2010, Tennessee swine producers

raised 185,000 head of swine, a decrease of 20,000 head from the prior year. Yet, cash receipts were

up, with $51 million in swine cash receipts.

mEAT GoATSThe state ranks second nationally in meat goat production, yet most operations are small

with less than 15 head per farm. According to a recent study, most meat goat producers

do not rely on the farm operation as a sole source of income.

More than 1 million cows graze on Tennessee’s lush, green grass each year. The state’s rolling terrain and some 3.5 million acres of forage-friendly agricultural land makes beef cattle its most lucrative commodity.

www.tncattle.org

ExploreBeef.com

BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com

www.beefup.org


ANImALS & LIvESTOCK

I tmayseemironicthatfundsfromtobacco,acropthatTennesseefarmersusedtoproducebutnowtypicallydon’t,arehelpingfarmersprosper.Sinceits

startin2005,theTennesseeAgriculturalEnhancementProgram(TAEP),fundedwith$5millionintobaccosettlementfunds,hasbenefitedfarmersacrossthestate,manyofwhomarebeefproducers.

“Afterthetobaccobuyout,allthemoneywentbackintothebudgettohelpthestate,”saysJustinBryant,directorofTAEP.“In2005,itwastimetodosomethingwiththeextrarevenue.TheydecidedtousesomeofthatmoneytostartTAEP–tomakealong-terminvestmentinfarming.”

Fivedifferentproducerprogramsweresetup,rangingfromlivestocktocropfarming.

“Wefacedsomecutbacks,butournewgovernorworkedtogetitfundedto$21million,”Bryantsays.

ForeverydollarthattheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculturespendsthroughTAEP,another$3.89isgeneratedinthestate’seconomy,accordingtoaUniversityofTennesseestudy.Bymid-2012,TAEPisexpectedtohaveinvested$115millionthroughagriculturalgrantandcost-shareopportunities.Thatcalculatestoanestimated$447millionpumpedintothestate’seconomy,inadditiontothecreationofanestimated4,654jobs,thestudyfinds.

TAEP’sprimaryfunctionprovidescost-sharefundsforlong-terminvestmentsonfarmswithlivestockorcrops.Anestimated$83millionwillhavehelpedfundnearly29,000farmprojectsfrom2005throughmid-2012,Bryantsays.Meanwhile,farmershaveusedtheirownmoneytopayfor50percentto65percentoftheseprojects.Farmerswhocommittoaneducationprogram,oftenthroughtheUniversityofTennesseeExtension,becomeeligiblefor50percentfunding.

Farmerscanqualifyfor$1,200to$15,000incost-share,dependingontheprogramarea.

Thefundinghelpsalltypesoffarms:cattle,poultry,pigs,sheep,goats,corn,soybeans,smallgrains,fruits,vegetables,horticulture,viticultureoragritourism.

Projectsrangefrombuyingaccesstohigherqualitybullstoconstructingagrainstoragebin.Inbetween,farmershavebuiltgreenhouses,addedspecialanimalhandlingequipmentandpurchasedfeedsystems.

Bryantsaystheprogramismeetingitsintendedpurposes:increasefarmprofits,improveefficiencyandmakefarmssafer.Meanwhile,improvedpractices,incomeandeducationonfarmsthroughoutthestateenhancethereputationofTennesseeagriculture.

Inarecentprogramsurvey,morethan86percentoffarmerssaidTAEPhelpedthemimprovetheirfarm’sefficiency,andmorethan67percentsaidithadincreasedfarmprofits.About21percentrespondedthattheywerenotsuretheywouldstillbefarmingorindicatedtheywouldnotbefarmingwithoutTAEP’shelp.

– Joanie Stiers and Charlyn Fargo

Programimprovesfarmprofits,stimulateseconomyFarm Futures Flourish

86 percent of Tennessee farmers say TAEP

has helped them improve farm efficiencies.

TAEPhashelpedfundnearly29,000 on-farm projectsforTennesseeproducers.

Every $1 investment by TAEP generates $3.89 for rural economies.

$ $$$$

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ANImALS & LIvESTOCK

sargeanT James (J.d.) harber had no idea he’d one day be able tocombinehisloveforhorsesandhispoliceuniform.

“IwasintheTennesseeWalkingHorseindustryinthe’70sand’80s,”saysHarber,founderoftheNashvilleHorseMountedPatrolUnit.“IlivedinWisconsinforawhileandtrainedhorses,andatthesametime,studiedlawenforcement.WhenIfinished,theNashvilleMetroPolicehiredme.Thatwas1981.In1996,mylifecamefullcircle.”

HORSES’ GAITS ARE CITy’S GAINAfterbeinghired,hewroteaproposalforestablishingaMountedPatrol,butitsat

inadraweruntil1998.Theneverythingcametogether–anewmayorfamiliarwithaMountedPatrol,andtheTitansfootballfranchisecomingtoNashvillewherepoliceonhorsebackcouldbehelpfulincrowdcontrol.

“SomeonerememberedmyproposalandaskedmeifIwasstillinterested,”Harbersays.“IwenttoD.C.totalktotheCapitolpolicewhousedhorses,thenspenttimeinLexingtonlearningabouttheirMountedPatrol,andIcamebackandputittogether.Ihadalotofhelp.”

HechoseTennesseeWalkingHorsesfortheirgait–theyaremoresure-footedandfasterontheasphaltstreets.

Tennessee is home to more than 140,000 horses, mules and burros

EquineEquipped for

Nashville Metro Police Mounted Patrol Officers Karen Krause and Rita Harden ride Tennessee Walking Horses while on duty at Green Hills Mall. The Mounted Patrol uses Walkers because the breed is sure-footed and fast on asphalt streets.

Equine



3.2 MILLION

AcRES of ThE STATE’S

10 MILLION fARm AcRES ARE uSED foR EquINE.

TENNESSEE IS homE To moRE ThAN

135 EquINE DESTINATIoNS.

Top EquINE couNTIESBedford: highest number of horses and ponies

Wilson: highest number of mules, burros and donkeys

how TENNESSEE RANkS

6Th foR hoRSES AND poNIES oN fARmS

2ND foR mulES, buRRoS AND DoNkEyS oN fARmS

Top Five Equine Breeds in Tennessee 1. Tennessee Walking Horse

2. Quarter Horse

3. Donkey

4. Mule

5. Spotted Saddle Horse

WhileTennesseeisprobablybestknownforitsnamesakeTennesseeWalkingHorses,thestateisalsowell-knownwithintheequineindustryformules.Infact,MauryCountyisconsideredthe“Mule Capital of the World,”andisthesiteofMuleDay,a170-year tradition.

What’s Online Visit PickTnProducts.org and click on Equine Resources for a free Tennessee Trail Guide.

bEDfoRD

wIlSoN


“Westartedwithsixhorses,donatedbytheTennesseeWalkingHorseAssociation–someofthosehorsesarestillwithus,”Harbersays.“Ilikeagaitedhorse.There’ssomuchyoucandowithit.Theyhaveaneventemperament,andyoucantakeariderwithoutexperienceandgethimconfidentinhisseat.Hedoesn’thavetolearntopost.AWalkingHorseslidesalongthepavement,whileatypicaltrottinghorsebreakscontactwiththeground.”

Eachyear,theMountedPatrolputsonaschoolforotherpolicedepartments.“AbiggerdrafthorsewillbesweatingtokeepupwithourWalkers,”Harbersaysproudly.“TheadvantageofanyMountedPatrolisthatpeoplecanfinduseasilyinacrowd,andwecanseewhat’sgoingoninacrowd.TheMountedPatrolispartofourhomelandsecurity.”

HisNo.1horseisaWalkernamedJoey.“He’sabigsorrel,andwe’vebeentogetherfor13

years,”Harbersays.“Wehavearelationship–andthat’swhatittakestodealwithcrowdsandfireworks.Youhavetoknowyourhorse,andyourhorseknowsyou.”

NOT JUST HORSING AROUNDNamedforthestate,theWalkingHorsehasbeenone

ofthemostpopularhorsesintheabundantequineindustry.Tennesseehasmorethan200,000horses,and3.2millionacresofthestate’s10billionfarmacresaredevotedtothehorseindustry,accordingtoBridgettMcIntosh,ahorsespecialistwiththeUniversityofTennesseeExtension.

“That’s30percentofourlandforhorses–ahugetaxbase,butit’salsoagreatnumberofpeopleinvolvedinthehorseindustry,”McIntoshsays.

ThelastU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureNationalAg

StatisticsSurveyrankedTennesseesixthinthenationfornumbersofhorses,behindTexas,California,Kentucky,OklahomaandMissouri.Thestaterankssecondinthenationfornumbersofdonkeysandmules(behindTexas),andsecondinthecountryfornumbersofquarterhorses.MulesraisedbytheReeseBrothersinMauryCountyinTennesseeareindemandasGrandCanyonguidesandfordowntownbuggiesinCharleston,S.C.

“Backinthe2004survey,therewereover60,000headofTennesseeWalkingHorsesandabout45,000quarterhorses,”McIntoshsays.“Thosenumbershaveshiftednow.TheTennesseeWalkingHorseisourmostwell-knownbreed,butquarterhorsesareequaltoorexceedingtheirnumbersbecausetheyaresopopulartoshowanduseontrails.”

Thestatehasmorethan50equinetrails,whichhavebecomehugetourismdraws,andhasoneofthebestrodeoprogramsattheUniversityofTennesseeatMartin,andoneofthelargesthighschoolrodeoassociations.HorsesarealsousedforharnessracinginLincolnCounty,andaSteeplechaseinNashville.Butthebiggestdemandisforpleasurehorsesandtrailriding.

“We’reunique–wecangrowwarm-seasongrassesandcold-seasongrasses,”McIntoshsays.“Thatprovidesanextendedgrazingseasonforourhorses.

“Ican’timagineTennesseewithouthorses,”shesays.“Backin2004,wehad41,000horseoperations,mostwithlessthanfivehorses.Alotofmyworknowisinsustainablehorsemanagement.Asthestateisincreasinglyurban,wehavemoreandmorehorsefarmettes–5acreswithacoupleofhorses.Peoplewanttoknowhowtoprovidethenutritionforthosehorsesandstillprotecttheenvironment.”

– Charlyn Fargo

From left: Tennessee’s 50-plus equine trails draw riders to rural areas; a horse grazes in Bedford County, home of the highest number of horses and ponies in the state.

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The Tennessee solar insTiTuTe’s mission is To promoTe energy independenceandprovideamoresustainablefuturethoughsolarpower.However,thereasonsforchoosingsolarpowerarealittledifferentforagricultureproducerTimHitchcockofDayLilyNurseryinRockIsland.

“Ihadalwaysbeeninterestedinsolarpowerfromthestandpointofenergyself-sufficiencyandenvironmentalresponsibility,plusitjustseemedcool,”Hitchcocksays.

Asagrowingindustrythatofferssmallagriculturalentitiescleanandefficientresultswithoutdrasticallydisturbingthelandscape,solarfarmsaresproutingupalloverTennessee.

Thesolarfarmsacrossthestateexistonaslittleasoneacreoflandanduseground-mountedphotovoltaic(PV)panels,generating1megawattofelectricityonaround5,000panels.Thesun’srayshitthePVpanelsandareconvertedfromdirectcurrentenergytoalternatingcurrentenergyanduseableelectricity.AccordingtotheU.S.EnergyInformationAdministration,themonthlyaverageelectricityconsumedbyaTennesseehomein2010was1,393kilowatt-hours.Onemegawattequals1,000kilowatts,soevenaone-acrefarmcanmakeabigimpactonthestate’senergyneeds.

“Weareseeingsmallagentitiesputtingsolarraysontheirdairybarnsorinfieldstosupplementtheirincome,”saysChrisDavis,communicationsmanagerfortheTennesseeSolarInstituteattheUniversityof

Solar panels pop up on Tennessee farms

Here Comes

Sun the

ENvIrONmENT & CONSErvATION


Tim Hitchcock uses solar panels to supplement the power at Day Lily Nursery in Rock Island.

www.utm.edu/ag

www.utm.edu/ag


TennesseeinKnoxville.“TheTennesseeValleyAuthoritypaystheproducerforalltheelectricitygenerated,andtheproducerbuystheenergybackatalowerrate.”

Thankstogovernmentgrants,DayLilyNurseryisoneagribusinessthathasaddedasolarfarm.

“Theprocessofapplyingforthegrantswasthemosttimeconsuming,”Hitchcocksays.“Theconstructionwentrathersmoothly.Theincomeitgeneratesispayingforitinatimelymanner,andIhavemanyvisitorswholovetohearaboutsolarenergy.”

Wampler’sFarmSausageinstalledtwosolarsystemsatitsfacilityinLenoirCity.Thesystemsaretopping500kilowattsinenergygeneration,whichissavingmoneythatcanthenbereinvestedbackintothebusiness.

“Thecostofsolarelectricityisrapidlyapproachingthecostofelectricityproducedthroughtraditionalmeans,”saysDr.JohnSanseverino,directorofprogramsfortheTennesseeSolarInstitute.“Formanystates,Tennesseeinparticular,that’saneconomicdriver.”

Inadditiontocomparableprices,solarenergyoffersmanyotherbenefits.

“Incontrasttootheralternativefuels,solarenergyprovidescleanair,isrenewableanddecreasesdependencyonimportedoilandcoal,”Dr.Sanseverinosays.

Notonlydoessolarenergyhelptheenvironment,italsohelpsTennessee’seconomy.

“Thenation’ssolarindustrygrew69percentlastyear,oneoftheonlyindustriesthatisseeinggrowthandjobcreationduringtougheconomictimes,”Dr.Sanseverinosays.

Tennesseeisoutinfrontintermsofsolarenergydevelopedandalsosolareducation.TheWestSolarFarmofHaywoodCountyhasbeenconstructedadjacenttoInterstate40.Thesolarfarmiscomplete,buttheownersplantobuildaninteractivewelcomecentertohelptravelersunderstandtheroleofsolarenergyinlesseningenergydependence.

– Kirby Smith

moRE ThAN 200 oRGANIzATIoNS AND buSINESSES ARE pART of TENNESSEE’S GRowING

SolAR INDuSTRy, wITh A GRowTh of 15 buSINESSES IN 2010 AloNE.

TheTennesseeSolarInstitute’sgrantprogramshaveleveragedmorethan$40.3 millioninprivateinvestmentsanda$64 millionbenefittothestate’seconomy.

The owners of Wampler’s Farm Sausage in Lenoir City installed a 28.05 kW solar photovoltaic system.

The expected market for the solar industry worldwide over the

next 10 years is

$2.2trillion

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TNagriculture.com

TNagriculture.com


ENvIrONmENT & CONSErvATION

Deeply RootedFarmland Legacy Partnership works to keep state’s family farms in business

rolling acres Farm has been in lucille Ryan’sfamilyforsevengenerations.At84,sheisturningitovertoherson,whowillmanagethebeefcattleoperation.AndshehopeshergrandsonwillonedaybetheninthgenerationonthatlandinHawkinsCounty.

SodoestheTennesseeFarmlandLegacyPartnership,agroupofadozengovernment,universityandnonprofitagenciesworkingtoraiseawarenessaboutthestate’sagriculturalhistoryandtheimportanceoffarmlandtoitsfuture.Tennesseehas77,300farms,accordingtotheNationalAgriculturalStatisticsService,butbetween2000and2010,thestatelostanaverageof1,000familyfarmsand95,000acrestootheruseseachyear.

Thecostsarereal–lesslandforfoodproduction,fewerruraljobsanddiminishedscenicbeauty,saysJoeGaines,assistantcommissionerfortheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture.


Rooted


“ I would like it to be passed down like this, as a farm. It is important to me. ” – lucIllE RyAN

The family of Lucille Ryan, her son Timothy and his children, Collin and Leah, has owned Rolling Acres Farm in Rogersville since 1789.

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“Peopleliketobeabletodrive20minutesandseethecountry.Wehavegreenfieldsandtreesandcowsandbarns.Itispartofourheritage,”Gainessays.“Farmlandhasavaluethatshouldbeconsideredwithinthedevelopmentprocess.”

MAkING IT WORkFivestatedepartmentsandtwofederalagencies,plus

CumberlandRegionTomorrow,theMTSUCenterforHistoricPreservation,TheLandTrustforTennessee,theTennesseeFarmBureauFederationandUT’sInstituteofAgriculturecametogetherastheFarmlandLegacyPartnershipinFebruary2010.TheLandTrustacquireseasementsonfarmstopermanentlyprotecttheland.

TheMTSUcenterrunstheCenturyFarmsprogram,whichcertifiesandrecognizesTennesseefarmsthatare100,150and200yearsold.AsofDecember2011,Tennesseehadmorethan1,400CenturyFarms,saysCanetaHankins,directoroftheprogram.

Recognitionhelpsboostawarenessandagriculturaltourism,butakeytofarmlandpreservationismakingfarmingitselfprofitable,Gainessays.

Tothatend,theTennesseeAgriculturalEnhancementProgramoffersgrantstohelpfarmerspayforhoophouses,irrigationandhaybarns.Morethan4,000haybarnswerebuiltinthelastfiveyears,generating4,500jobsinruralTennessee,Gainessays.Farmershadtomatchthegrantamountwiththeirownfunds.

HecitesanOctober2011studybytheUniversityofTennesseethatfoundevery$1investedinagriculturegenerates$3.89inadditionaleconomicimpact.

GOING LOCALEffortstopreserveTennessee’sfarmlandsdovetail

withincreasedinterestinlocallysourcedfood.“Idothinkmorepeopleappreciatelocalfoodsand

localfarms,”Gainessays.TheCenturyFarmsprogramseesarushofnew

applicationsearlyintheyearfromearly20thcenturyfarmshittingtheircentennialyear,Hankinssays.

Toqualify,farmsmusthaveatleast10acresoftheoriginalfounders’land,beeninthefamilycontinuouslyforatleast100years,produceatleast$1,000ayearinfarmincomeandhaveatleastoneownerwhoisaTennesseeresident.

RollingAcresmeetsthoserequirementsquiteeasily.ThefarmingoperationbeganinRogersvillein1789andthroughgenerationsproducedtraditionalEastTennesseecropsaswellashoney,lyesoap,chicken,

turkeyandeggs.Formuchofthe20thcentury,thefarmwasalarge-scaledairyoperationrunbyRyan’sfather,thefounders’great-greatgrandson.LucilleRyan’slatehusbandswitchedtobeefcattlein1989.RollingAcresalsoproducescorn,wheatandhayforitscattle.

“Wetriedeverythinglikemostfarmersdo,”shesays.Thesenseoffamilyheritagehasbeenoneconstant.“Iwouldlikeittobepasseddownlikethis,asafarm,”

Ryansays.“Itisimportanttome.” – Pamela Coyle

fRom 2000 To 2010, TENNESSEE loST AbouT 1,000 fAmIly fARmS AND 95,000 AcRES of fARmlAND EAch yEAR.


CONSumEr & INDuSTry SErvICES

wheTher iT’s a Jar oF Jam, abottleofbarbecuesauceorapieceofpie,ifit’smadeinTennessee,it’sgoingtobemorethanjusttasty.It’salsogoingtobemadewithcare.TheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture(TDA)makessureofitthroughtheeffortsofitsFoodSafetysectionoftheRegulatoryServicesDivision.

“Iliketosaythatweaddresseverythingfromthestabletothetable,fromthegatetotheplate,fromthefarmtothefork,fromthegrasstotheglass,fromtheboattothethroat,andfromthedelitothebelly,”saysJohnSanford,TDAfoodmanufacturingadministrator.

Whatdotheydotoensuretheintegrityofthefoodchain?Sanford,a35-yearTDAemployee,explainsthat

it’sarecipethatrequiresequalpartsdiligentinspectionefforts,strongcollaborationandresponsiveness.

Frominspectingdairyfarms,foodmanufacturingfacilitiesandcommercialkitchenstosamplingfinishedfoodproductsforlaboratorytesting,Sanford’steamworkstoprotecttheconsumerandmaintainafairmarketplace.

HOME SWEET HOMEAchievingthosegoalsmayseem

straightforward–sendoutinspectors,evaluatethefacilityandmanufacturingprocess,andtesttheproduct.

Manyofthestate’sfoodinspectionteamalsoworkinthestate-of-the-artL.H.“Cotton”IvyLaboratory,locatedatEllingtonAgriculturalCenterinNashville.

However,ensuringthatfoodis

safesometimesrequiresalittlecreativityonthepartoftheTDAinspectors,especiallywhenfacedwithagrowingindustryofhome-basedfoodbusinesses.

“Wesawthatthereweremoreandmorepeoplelookingtobuildabusinessbypreparingproductsfromtheirownrecipesintheirownhomesandsellingthemtothepublic,”Sanfordsays.“Thisisn’tafad,it’satrend,andwewantedtoberesponsivetotheinterestsoftheentrepreneurswhileprotectingthehealthofthepublic.”

Toaccomplishthat,theTDAinitiatedaprograminJanuary2007fordomestickitchensthatallowsthein-homepreparationoffoodforretailsaleaslongasthefooddoesnotrequirerefrigeration.Forinstance,youcanmakecandiesandbreadsin

State inspectors ensure food safety and quality

Recipe Successfor


yourhome,butnotcheesecakes.Also,entrepreneursmustsuccessfullycompleteasix-hourcourseonfoodsafetytaughtbyUniversityofTennesseefoodsciencefacultyandmusthaveakitchenthatmeetsanestablishedsetofsafety,equipmentandarchitecturalguidelines.

“Safetyoffoodpreparedinahomeandsoldatafarmersmarketisofnolesssignificancethanfoodspreparedcommerciallyandofferedforsale,”Sanfordsays.

kEEPING IT LOCALSincetheprogrambegan,more

than800peoplehavetakenthecourseandmorethan125domestickitchenshavebeenestablished.ForTennesseeentrepreneursandconsumers,it’sgoodbusiness.

“Thedomestickitchenruleallows

anentrepreneurtotestthemarketplacewithoutincurringthecostsofaseparateprocessingfacility,whichcanmeanthousandsofdollarssavedinstart-upcosts,”Sanfordexplains.

Italsoencouragestheideaof“buyinglocal.”Notonlydoconsumerssupportareabusinessesatfarmersmarketsandothersuchvenues,buttheentrepreneurssupportlocalfarmersthroughthepurchaseoftheiringredients.

Suchresponsivenessandcollaborationcreatesafavorablebusinessclimateandensuresconsumerconfidence.

“We’reveryproudofwhereweareinfoodsafetyinTennessee,”Sanfordsays.

– Cathy Lockman

26Tennessee Department of

Agriculture chemists perform testing to ensure

the safety of our food.

Dr. Amitabha Chakrabarti, a chemist for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, checks samples in the department’s food safety lab.



M ikeWeekshasturnedaweekendbarbecuesaucecompetitionintoa

business,andapartnershipwiththeCumberlandCulinaryCenterismakingtheentrepreneur’slifealittlebiteasier.Weeks,theownerofSouthernCityFlavors,hadgottenusedtotheeight-hourroundtripdrivefromhishomeinTennesseetotheIndianafacilitythatmettheproductionrequirementsforhissauceandjelly-makingbusiness.Butnowthathe’sfoundakitchenclosetohome,hisbusinessisreallycooking.

“It’swell-suitedformyoperationofbottlingjamsandjellies,”explainsWeeks.“Andithaslabelinganddatecodingmachinesthathelpmecreateamoreprofessional-lookingproductwhilekeepingmecompliantwithallfoodsafetyregulations.”

The2,400-square-footfacilityinLebanonisajointprojectoftheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture(TDA),theU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,CumberlandUniversityandtheWilsonCountyschoolsystem.Openedin2010,itisalicensedcommercialkitchenthatcanberentedbyTennesseefoodentrepreneursfortheirownfood-processingoperations.

“ThecenterisagreatassettothemiddleTennesseearea,”saysLindaShelton,agriculturalmarketingspecialistforTDA.“CompaniesareabletospendtimeandfundsongrowingandmarketingtheirTennesseebrandproductsratherthanincurringtheexpenseofhavingtheirownproductionkitchen.”

OrinWeeks’case,drivingto

anotherstatetouseone.

STIRRING UP MORE BUSINESSSueSykesisthevolunteer

kitchenmanageroftheCumberlandCulinaryCenter.Aspresidentofherowncompany,TennesseeGourmet,sheknowsfirsthandwhatentrepreneursneedandworkstoprovideit.

“Weoffertrainingforthebusinessesinfoodsanitation,equipmentoperationandkitchenprotocols,”shesays.“We’realsoavailabletosupervisetheiroperationuntilthey’recomfortablewiththeprocess.”

Sykes,andherhusband,GaryDummer,arealsoresponsibleforopening,closingandmaintainingthekitcheneachday,forensuringthatthefoodsafetyprogramisinfullcomplianceandforcalibratingthemachines–moretasksthattheentrepreneurdoesn’thavetoworry

about.Theyalsoorganizebulkpurchasingforglasscontainerstocreateadditionalsavingsforthebusinessesthatusethecenter.

Andit’snotjustbusinessesthatbenefit.TheLebanoncommunitydoes,too,throughaccesstolocallymadeproductsandthroughopportunitiesforlocalstudentstoexplorefoodproductionprocessesbyvisitingthecenter.

It’saconceptthat’scatchingonacrossthestate,withsimilarfacilitiesoperatinginCannon,MontgomeryandHamiltoncountiesandwithseveralothercommunitiesexpressinginterestinprovidingsuchaservice.

“It’sanopportunityforsmall-scaleproducerstousecommercial-scalefacilitiestobuildtheirbusinesses,”Sykessays.“That’sabenefitforeveryone.”

– Cathy Lockman

EntrepreneursfindaresourceincommercialkitchensWhat’s Cooking?

Mike Weeks of Southern City Flavors cooks at the Cumberland Culinary Center in Lebanon.



H aveyoueverwonderedwhatwouldhappenifyoudroveawayfromagasstationwith

thefuelnozzlestillinyourtank?Wouldtherebedamagetoyourvehicleandgasolinepouringoutontothepavement?

WhiletheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculturecan’tfixyourcarorcureyourembarrassment,theinspectorsinitsWeightsandMeasuresdivisiondoworktopreventagasspillhazard.That’sbecausethey’reresponsibleforinspectingeverygaspumpeveryyeartobesurethateverypumpisequippedwithashearvalvethatisdesignedtoshutoffthefuelflowifapumpisdislodged.

Theinspectorstakesamplesfromeachlocationinthestatethatconveysmotorfuelsandheatingoils–testingmorethan8,000samplesperyearfortestssuchasoctane,waterandsediment,andotherparameterstoensurethatthefuelmeetscompliancestandards.Theinspectorsalsochecktheactualfueldispenserstobesuretheyareproperlylabeledandcalibrated,sothatconsumerscanrelyontheaccuracyofwhattheyseeonthepump.

Gaspumpsaren’ttheonlydevicestheinspectorstest.Fromgrocerystorescalestotruckandlivestockscales,theinspector’sjobistoverifytheaccuracyofthenearly19,000scalesinbusinessesacrossthestate.

“We’reathirdpartythatworkstoprotecttheconsumerandeducatethebusiness,”saysBobWilliams,administratorofWeightsandMeasures.Heexplainsthatalthough99percentoftheirinspectionsareunannounced,theirjobisn’tadversarial.

“Ourinspectorsworkwithmanagementtohelpthemunderstandtherules,”hesays.“WevisitretailstorestodocheckweighingandtoverifythatscannedUPCcodesmatchpricesontheshelf.”Ifdiscrepanciesarefound,Williamssays,theinspectorsprovideguidance,allowashorttimefortheretailertofixtheproblem,andthencomebacktore-inspect.

Anotherimportantfunctionoftheunitisthetestingofliquidpropanegasandbulkfuelmeters.

Suchbehind-the-scenesworkmeansthattheinspectorsdon’tinterfacewiththepublicveryoften.

“However,ifconsumersareconcernedabouttheaccuracyofa

fuelpump,forinstance,andthey’vetalkedtothestationwithoutsatisfaction,theycancontactusat1-800-OCTANE1andwe’lllookintoit,”Williamssays.

– Cathy Lockman

TennesseeinspectorstestscalesandgasolinepumpsMeasuring Up

Tennessee inspectors evaluate the accuracy

of more than

18,000scales across the state

each year.

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A schiefinvestigatorfortheAgriculturalCrimeUnit,MaxThomasleadsateam

thatcoversalotofterritory.Withresponsibilitiesforinvestigatingeverythingfromlivestockthefttowildfirearsonin95countiesand15stateforestsinTennessee,thenineinvestigatorsinhisunitareonthefrontlinesofensuringthesafetyandsecurityofruralcommunitiesinthestate.

“We’reasmallgroupwithalargejobtodo,”Thomassays.“Wecollaboratewithlocallawenforcementtohelpsolvefarmanimalandfarmequipmenttheft.Wehandleallcrimesthatoccurinthestateforests,andweinspecttruckscarryinglivestocktobesurethey’reincompliancewithstatehealthregulations.Ourunitalsoisresponsibleforinvestigatingwildfirearson.”

Infact,thewildfirearsoncasesrepresentthebulkoftheinvestigators’work.Thomassaysthatofthe600crimestheunitinvestigatedin2010,nearly65percentofthemwerearsonrelated.Theteam’sexpertiseandspecializedtraining,primarilyfromtrainingattheFBIacademyinGeorgia,havepaidoffforthepeopleofTennessee.

“Wehavereducedthenumberofarsoncasesalmostinhalfoverthepast10years,”Thomassays.Heattributesthatsuccessto“diligentinvestigations,makingarrestsandpublicizingthecasesandtheresults,”whichdeterwould-bearsonists.Infact,theAgCrimeUnithasbeenrecognizednationwideforitsexpertiseandinnovationinwildfirearson

investigation,havingreceivedtheNationalSmokeyBearAwardandrecognitionfromtheInternationalAssociationofArsonInvestigators.

ExPECT THE UNExPECTEDAlthoughtheunitconsidersno

crimesroutine,therearesomethatcanmakeeventhemostseasonedinvestigatorsshaketheirheads,explainsThomas,himselfa28-yearveteranofthestate’sDepartmentofAgriculture.

Forinstance,thestate’sforestshavebeenthescenesofcrimesagainstunexpectedvictims.

“Thereareforgottencemeteries

inthestateforestswherepeoplefromthemidtolate1800sareburied,”Thomassays.“We’vehadtoinvestigatecaseswherecriminalsusingmetaldetectorshavevandalizedthesecemeteriessearchingfortheswordsandbeltbucklesoftheCivilWarveteransburiedthere.”

That’swhytheAgCrimeUnitistrainedtoexpecttheunexpected.

“Ourtrainingandexperience,plusourfocusonbuildingrelationshipsinthecommunities,helpkeeptheruralareassafer,”Thomassays.

– Cathy Lockman

AgriculturalCrimeUnitworkswithfarmerstosolvefarm-relatedcrimesandensureruralsafety

Fighting On-Farm Crimes

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INTErNATIONAL TrADE

From unique pasta to marinades and green

beans, Tennessee’s food exports fill demand for

niche productsFooDS


Tennessee

Go GlobalFooDS


when mosT people ouTside theUnitedStatesthinkaboutwhatproductscomefromTennessee,theirfirstresponseistypicallyJackDanielsandElvisPresley.

AsaninternationalmarketingspecialistwiththeTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture(TDA),KyleHolmberghearsitallthetime.Butintruth,thestatehasquiteadiverseandgrowingrangeofexports,especiallyfoodproducts.MajorbrandswithrootsinTennesseeincludesomewell-knownbrandslikeBush’sBeans,YoPlaitandPringles,butthelistalsoincludessurprisingbrandslikeTastiD-Liteyogurt,whichin2011expandedwithshopsinAustralia.

Theyogurtcompany,alongwithotherTennesseecompaniesthatproducevalue-addedfoods,aretappingintobigNorthAmericanmarketssuchasCanadaandMexicoandalsoseegrowinginterestfromotherpartsoftheglobe,includingAsia,SouthAmericaandEurope.

Themostsuccessfulcompaniesproduceanicheproductanddon’ttrytobeeverythingtoeveryone,saysHolmberg,whoisTennessee’srepresentativewiththeSouthernUnitedStatesTradeAssociation,orSUSTA.Hecoordinatestheregion’smarketingforsixinternationalfoodandagricultureeventseachyearaswellashelpscompaniesfindpotentialnewmarketsfortheirproducts.

“Itcanbedifficulttocompetewiththebignames,”hesays.“Nicheproducts,qualityproducts–that’swhatmakesthesell.”

SNOOPy SELLS – IN JAPANThePastaShoppe,basedin

Nashville,makespastawithunique,funshapesandhasavidcustomersinJapan,whereatasteforAmericanatranslatesintonearlyhalfamillionbagsofpastaannually,saysJohnAron,presidentandCEO.

“Ourproductfits,”Aronsays.“TheylikeourHalloweenpasta,snowflake,EasterandValentine’sDaypastas.”

ThePastaShoppeevenmakesa

SnoopypastafortheJapanesemarket.DisneyswitchedproductionofitslicensedshapesandcharactersfromamanufacturerinItalytoThePastaShoppewhentherecessionhit.

Seventy-fivepercentofthecompany’ssalesstartonline,includingadealthatlandednoveltypastainGuatemala,Aronsays.

“Thisisafemale-targetedbusiness,andvarietyisthedifferentiator,”hesays.

OtherTennessee-specialtyfoodsdowellabroad,too.LynchburgCakeandCandy,aJackDaniels’neighbor,makeswhiskey-tingedcakes,candiesandpralines.AllegroFineFoods,basedinParis,Tenn.,producespopularmarinadesandsaucesthatincludespecialtyitemssuchasRaspberry&ChipotleMarinade,Soy&LimeMarinadeandamarinadeformulatedforgamemeat.

GREEN BEANS DIRECT TO CANADAThestate’sfreshproductsalsosee

opportunitiesonagrandscale.TennesseeVegetablePackers,a

family-ownedbusinessinitsfourthgeneration,specializesingreenbeansbutalsocultivatesbutterbeans,peas,greenandyellowsquash,eggplant,cucumbers,corn,bellpepperandcabbageonnearly5,000acresinthreestates.BasedinCrossville,thecompanyownsmuchoftheacreageitselfbutalsorepresentsfarmerswiththeirownland.

Canada,especiallytheTorontoarea,isagrowingmarket,saysLewisWalker,presidentofTennesseeVegetablePackers.

“WearegrowingadarkergreenbeanspecificallyfortheTorontomarketandalsoshipwaxbeans,whichisnotsomethingpeopleintheSouthbuy,”hesays.“CanadianshavealwayseatenmorevegetablespercapitathanintheU.S.,andit’sagoodmarketforus.”

Tennesseealsoisastrongexporterofcommodities,apositionexpectedtostrengthenwiththeopeningofthePortofCatesLandinglaterin2012.Thiswillbeabusyyear–SUSTAisbringingTennessee

BEVERAGESTop markets: United kingdom,

France, Germany 2011 value: $584 million

FATS AND OILS

Top markets: Canada, Djibouti2011 value: $84.4 million

CHOCOLATETop markets: Canada, Mexico

2011 value: $29.86 million

FLOUR PRODUCTS

Top markets: Canada, Bahamas$2.4 million

PREPARED VEGETABLES

Top markets: Canada, Japan2011 value: $2.6 million

TENNESSEE’S Top vAluE-ADDED

AGRIculTuRAl ExpoRTS

productsandproducerstotradeshowsinGermany,Argentina,Spain,India,Japan,China,Taiwan,Singapore,theNetherlands,NewZealand,AustraliaandFrance–aswellashostingmultipleinbounddelegationsfromabroad.

– Pamela Coyle



www.tnsoybeans.org


800 miles

500 miles

INTErNATIONAL TrADE


Tennessee’s newesT porT siTs in The cenTer oF a mulTisTaTe agriculturalregionandopensupopportunitieswithChinaandothergrowingAsianmarketsthatdemandcotton,grainandmeat.

ThePortofCatesLanding,locatedontheMississippiRivernearthenorthwestTennesseetownofTiptonville,boastsaproximitytointerstates55,155,40,24and69,plusmajorairandrailfreightcentersofMemphisandtheCanadianNationalRailwayline.

Itslocationwasstrategic,butnotwithoutchallenge.TheportisbuiltontheonlydevelopablesiteontheMississippiRiverabovethe100-yearfloodplainbetweenMemphisandCairo,Ill.Anditssurroundingareasarehighlyagricultural.

ThesefactorsgiveCatesLandinganedgeininternationaltrade,saysEdHarlan,TennesseeDepartmentofAgricultureDirectorofAgricultureandForestryDevelopment.

Gains Global

Cates Landing connects Northwest Tennessee to Asian, South

American markets

800 miles

500 miles

cATES lANDING

Mis

siss

ippi

Riv

er

NEw oRlEANS

mEmphIS

• Only developable site on the Mississippi River above the 100-year flood plain between Memphis, Tenn., and Cairo, Ill.

• Close proximity to five major interstates• Midpoint along corridor connecting Canada and Mexico• Near world’s largest freight airport and rail center, Memphis• Located in Tennessee Valley Authority service area

The fA c T S :



(931) 388-7872 ext. 2763

Visit www.tnfarmfresh.com for a listing of local farmers.

Buy from a local farmer and

Enjoy the Best that Tennessee has to offer!

GRAIN, COTTON ARE TOP PICkS“Weseehugepotentialforgrainto

comeoutoftheport,”Harlansays.“CountriessuchasChinaandJapanhavedevelopedatasteforahigher-proteindietbuttheydon’thavethelandmasstoproducegraintofeedchickenandbeef.We’vealsohadagroupfromChinalookingatourefficient,moderncottonpickers.InChina,muchofthecottonisstillhandpicked.

“InWestTennessee,bigfieldsgoonformiles,”Harlansays.“Theeconomiesofscalewillmakethisanextremelygoodspot.”

PRIME LOCATIONThePortfacilitysitson150acres

with350adjacentacresintheLakeCountyIndustrialPark.Thelevee-protectedareaincludessitesdesignedtowithstand100-yearand500-yearfloods.WhentheMississippifloodedinMay2011,a

helicopterfly-overshowedtheportsitewasfine,Harlansays.

“Itwasvery,verygoodnews,”hesays.

TENNESSEE A MAJOR ExPORTERTennesseealreadyranks8th

amongU.S.statesasanexporterofcottonandlinters,accordingto2010datafromtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture.ItisintheTop25forexportsofthreeothermajorcommodities:soybeans,wheatandpoultry.Inthelastdecade,Tennessee’sagricultureexportshaveincreasednearly50percent,andexportsofitsthreemainproductshavemorethantripled.

Growersandproducershavethecapacitytodomore,andCatesLandingwillgivemanyacloser,moreeconomicalwayofgettingtheirgoodsonthemove.Theoptimalmaximumdistancefromaportorrailhubforrawcommoditiesisabout

60miles,Harlansays.TheLakeCountysitenotonlywillbenefitTennesseefarmersbutalsogivetheirpeersinArkansas,MissouriandKentuckyanotheroption.

TheexpansionofthePanamaCanalby2014alsoopensupmoreSouthAmericanmarketsforTennesseecommodities,andCatesLandingispartofaplannednewfree-tradezone.

Theportwillbeaccessibletobargetrafficyearroundandtheharbor’ssouthernendwillhavea300-footturnaroundfortugboats.Aworkingdockisinplace,andthefirstcellpilingswereplacedinNovember2011.

“Aftermanyyearsoftrialanderrorandfitsandstarts,thefundingisinplaceandmachineryandpeopleareontheground,”Harlansays.“Finallyallthepiecesofthepuzzlehavecometogether.”

– Pamela Coyle

http://www.tnfarmfresh.com


The Center for

Profitable Agriculture is

a partnership program

of UT Extension and the

Tennessee Farm Bureau.

http://cpa.utk.edu (931) 486-2777

Helping TenneSSee FARMeRS

develop value-added enterprises.

http://cpa.utk.edu

www.thompsonmachinery.com


PASTHon. Ned R. McWherter

Governor of Tennessee, 1987-95

President, Dresden FFA, 1947-48

PRESENTHarvey Burniston, Jr.

Johnson County High School

Ag Teacher/ FFA Advisor

FUTUREKatelan Shartzer

Portland FFA

Agricultural Processing 2011 National Finalist

FFA MAKES A DIFFERENCE!Agricultural education and FFA … developing Tennesseans’ potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success since 1928. Tennessee Department of Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), data shows:

• 90% of high school students are enrolled in a CTE course or 285,415 students with 35,676 enrolled in ag education.

• Ag education students graduate at higher rate than general population of high school students (92.3% vs. 85.5%).

• TN FFA has 13,523 members, 204 active chapters in schools, 343 teachers in 94 counties and 57 active alumni affiliates.

For more information or to support Tennessee FFA, please contact:

Tennessee FFA Foundation Inc. Box 5034 • Cookeville, TN 38505

Call (931) 372-6050 or visit www.tnffa.org.

http://www.tnffa.org

tntech.edu/agriculture


INTErNATIONAL TrADE

M emphisisknownfortheblues,butthegreensareahugesectoroftheregion’s

economy.InthislongtimeMississippi

Rivercottontown,agribusinessisapowerhouse.Areafarmersstillgrowcotton,alongwithsoybeansandcorn,buthigh-techresearchandfarmingmethodshavetransformedMemphisintoahubofcutting-edgediversitythatincludeshardwoods,chemicals,meats,paperproductsandbiofuels,aswellasproducersofpackagedfoods.

AGRICENTER IN THE CITyAgricenterInternational,

locatedinaparkinthemidstofMemphis,isonemajorcatalyst.Thenon-profitindustryorganizationstartedinthe1970saimingtoperfecthydroponicsandgrowlettucewithoutsoil.Thatgenerationoffarmersandresearchcompanieswouldlikelynotevenrecognizetheplace–ornearbyfarms–today,saysJohnCharlesWilson,presidentofAgricenterInternational.

Today,morethan10,000test

plotsand30companiesarelocatedonsite,includingBayerCropScience,CaseIHAgricultureandHelenaChemicalCompany.Thesecompaniesutilizethefacilitytodevelopandshowcaseboththelatestequipmentandnewestgrowingmethods.

Tractorsoperatedbysophisticatedglobalpositioningsystemsareusedonthetestplots,witha“driver”monitoringtheonboardcomputer.Moreandmorecompanies,manyinresidenceattheAgricenter,areinvestinginresearch,frombioenergyproductiontonewseedtechnologyandplantspecies.Bigindustrynamesareworkingoneverythingfromimprovedfarmchemicalstogrowingricewithirrigationratherthanfieldflooding.TheAgricenterisalsoinstallingasolarfarm.

OTHER MEMPHIS AGRIBUSINESSES

InformaEconomics,aglobalagribusinessanalysisfirm,isbasedinMemphis.BioDimensionsisbasedhere,too.Itisaglobalagribusinessdevelopmentandconsultingfirmthatworkswith

farmers,seedcompanies,processors,manufacturers,universityresearchers,nonprofitsandeconomicdevelopmentagencies.Thecityishometothreeoftheworld’slargestcottondealers.

WiththeportandaFedExheadquarters,Memphisalsohasgeographyinitscorner,allowingeasymovementofrawproduct,processedgoodsandagribusinessequipment.

“Memphishasalotofdiversebusinesses,withbigcompanies,regionalcompaniesandalsoagriculturalfarmproducersinthiscounty.Wehavesomeverystrongproducershere.Everythingiscombining,andsmallproducersarefindinganichetostayinthemarket,”Wilsonsays.

“Wecanshiptoanyplaceintheworld.TheyproducefoodinIndiaandAfricaandCostaRica,andwecanmovetechnologyfromMemphistootherpartsoftheworld.

“Wearegoingtocontinuetobeimportantintheagindustry,”hesays.

–Pamela Coyle

Agribusiness,relatedresearchfindhomeinMemphis

Seeing Green

Our mission is to promote the interest and welfare of the municipal electric power systems and their customers in

the state of Tennessee. Please call (615) 373-5738 or visit www.tmepa.org to learn more about municipal electric systems.

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant.

It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

Living greenstarts from the ground up.

http://www.tmepa.org

http://www.epa.gov/radon


rurAL ECONOmIC DEvELOpmENT

Long before the term “Locavore” entered common conversation and even before shoppers asked where their produce was grown, the city of Columbia, Tenn., saw the potential of a farmers’ market to generate downtown traffic. Vendors set up shop in the town’s historic square, and the market was born.

These days, the farmers’ market, held four days a week from May through October, draws scores of shoppers to

downtown Columbia. And in spring 2012, the market will move to its new home, a pavilion on the riverfront that will connect the park and its greenways with the city center.

Its success is due, in part, to the Tennessee Main Street program. The program takes a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization, through managing the rebuilding of traditional business districts, promoting community self-reliance and encouraging local empowerment.

Main Street Program revitalizes town centers, links to ag heritage

Small-Town APPEAl



617new jobs

25new construction

projects

135new businesses

28new housing units created

The N u m b E R S : The Tennessee Main Street program’s impact in 2011 included:

The success of the farmers’ market in Columbia, which now has more than 25 vendors, resulted in part thanks to help from the Tennessee Main Street program.


AG TRENDS GROW DOWNTOWNS Columbia’ssuccessisanexampleofhowtointegrate

agriculturewithdowntownrevitalizationefforts,andatleasthalfofthenearly50communitiesintheTennesseeMainStreetandTennesseeDowntownsprogramsarerunningfarmers’marketsorcloselyinvolvedwiththeiroperation,saysKimberlyNyberg,directoroftheTennesseeMainStreetprogram.Theprogramincludes24designatedMainStreetcommunities,plusadditionaltownsandcitiesrampingupfortherevitalizationprogramthatusesfederalgrantsandlocalmatches.

“Downtownstraditionallywerethegatheringplaceofcommerceandliving,andmarketsaregivingpeopleaninterestingwaytogetfolksbackdowntown,”Nybergsays.“Wearecomingfullcircle.Manyofourcommunitieswerefoundedwithadowntownbeingthecenterofcommerceandcommunity.”

ColumbiaMainStreethasbeenaheadofthecurve.WhenKristiMartinbecamedirectormorethan13yearsago,theorganizationusedgrantstohireagraphicdesigner,brandtheevent,andpromoteitwithbillboards,directmailandtraditionaladvertising.

Today,vendorsmustapplyandreceiveassignedspaces.“Wearenotlimitedtoproduce,”Martinsays.“We

havehoney,andfresheggsarebignow.Onevendorbringsinbeefandpork,andwe’reinconversationwithavendorforlambandchicken.”

TheTennesseeDepartmentofEconomicandCommunityDevelopmentisthecoordinatingpartnerfortheNationalTrustforHistoricPreservation’sMainStreetCenter.TheTennesseeDepartmentofAgriculture,with

itsruraleconomicdevelopmentprograms,isalsoworkingwiththeprogramtohelpcommunitiescapitalizeontheiragriculturalheritage.

Gallatin,anotheroftheMainStreetCommunities,hasanewprograminpartnershipwiththeU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture’sruraldevelopmentdivision.

Dyersburg,inWestTennessee,reinventeditsmarket,whichisadjacenttorecreationoptionssuchascanoerentals.NybergalsocitesDandridge,Murfreesboro,FranklinandBristolascommunitiesusingeverythingfromsocialmediatolocalmusicianstopromotetheirfarmers’markets.

COLUMBIA MARkET PAVILION TO OPENFederalandstategrantshelpbothlocalfarmersandthe

marketstheyservetakeittothenextlevel.InMauryCounty,farmershaveusedgrantstobuildhoophousesandinstallirrigationsystems,boostingefficiencyandproduction.

Whenthefarmers’marketisnotinsession,thenewpavilionwillprovideamulti-usespaceforotheropen-airevents,Martinsays.

“Ourstageissetverywell,”shesays.“Wearecompletingtheriverwalkprojecttoconnectthedowntowndistricttowherethepavilionis.Theriverwalktrailgoesthroughthecenterofthepavilion.”

Downtownisactive,withtwomajorpropertiessellinginoneweekinDecember2011andongoingrenovationstootherproperties,Martinsays.Seasonalconcerts,holidayeventsandhousetoursareunderconsiderationtohelpkeepdowntownColumbiaadestination.

– Pamela Coyle

voluNTEERS DoNATED moRE ThAN 100,000 houRS of ThEIR TImE IN 2011 TowARD REvITAlIzING ThE TENNESSEE

mAIN STREET commuNITIES.

Downtownsplayanimportantroleinacommunity’seconomicdevelopmentstrategy.Theyoftenaccountfor30 percentofacommunity’sjobsand40 percentofitstaxbase.

24 TENNESSEE commuNITIES cuRRENTly pARTIcIpATE IN ThE mAIN STREET pRoGRAm.


advertisersVisit Our

Bayer CropSciencewww.bayercropscience.us

Center for Profitable Agriculturehttp://cpa.utk.edu

Farm Credit Services of Mid-Americawww.e-farmcredit.com

Middle Tennessee State University School of Agribusiness and Agrisciencewww.mtsu.edu/abas

Pick Tennessee Productswww.picktnproducts.org

Tennessee 4-H Foundation Inc.www.4h.tennessee.edu

Tennessee Beef Councilwww.beefup.org

Tennessee Department of Agriculturewww.tn.gov/agriculture

Tennessee Economic & Community Developmentwww.tennesseemainstreet.org/ag

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federationwww.tnfarmbureau.org

Tennessee Farm Freshwww.tnfarmfresh.com

Tennessee Farmers Cooperativewww.ourcoop.com

Tennessee FFA Foundation Inc.www.tnffa.org

Tennessee Forestry Associationwww.tnforestry.com

Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Associationwww.tmepa.org

Tennessee Pork Producers Associationwww.porkbeinspired.com

Tennessee Poultry Associationwww.tnpoultry.org

Tennessee Soybean Promotion Councilwww.tnsoybeans.org

Tennessee State Universitywww.tnstate.edu

Tennessee Tech University School of Agriculturewww.tntech.edu/agriculture

Thompson Tractorwww.thompsonmachinery.com

University of Tennesseewww.tennessee.edu

University of Tennessee Martin www.utm.edu

Vietti Foods Company Inc.www.viettichili.com

We’ve HATCHED a success story in Tennessee …

• Poultry accounts for 16.9% of all Tennessee farm income

• Family farms in 63 counties grow and sell broilers for Tyson Foods, Koch Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride and Equity Group (Keystone Foods)

• Premier broiler breeders and global leaders in poultry genetics include Aviagen, Hubbard and Cobb-Vantress

TEnnEssEE PoulTry AssoCiATionP.O. Box 1525 Shelbyville, TN 37162 (931) 225-1123 [email protected]

www.tnpoultry.org

http://www.bayercropscience.us

http://cpa.utk.edu

http://www.e-farmcredit.com

http://www.mtsu.edu/abas

http://www.picktnproducts.org

http://www.4h.tennessee.edu

http://www.beefup.org

http://www.tn.gov/agriculture

http://www.tennesseemainstreet.org/ag

http://www.tnfarmbureau.org

http://www.tnfarmfresh.com

http://www.ourcoop.com

http://www.tnffa.org

http://www.tnforestry.com

http://www.tmepa.org

http://www.porkbeinspired.com

http://www.tnpoultry.org

http://www.tnsoybeans.org

http://www.tnstate.edu

http://www.tntech.edu/agriculture

http://www.thompsonmachinery.com

http://www.tennessee.edu

http://www.utm.edu

http://www.viettichili.com


http://www.tnpoultry.org

www.viettivinyl.com

www.viettichili.com


rurAL ECONOmIC DEvELOpmENT

F oodisapowerfulforcethatconnectsfamilies,unitesfriendsandbuilds

communities.InruralPerryCounty,forexample,friedfruitturnovershaveprovenrecession-proofandhelpedcreateandretainmuch-neededjobs.

Morejobs–andmorepies–maybeontheway.ArmstrongPieCompany,aTennesseeclassicthatstartedinaHohenwaldkitchenin1946,willaddindividualchocolatechesspiestoitslineupin2012.Thecompanyaddedsmallpecanandchesspiesin2011andhasbeencontactedbyaLondon-basedimporterwhowantstodistributethetastytreatsintheUnitedKingdom.

AdozenpeopleworkatArmstrongPie,andownersBertandDalynPattersonhiredabakeryworkerinDecember2011andanewdriverinJanuary2012.Theyexpecttoaddatleastonemoreemployee–andiftheexportdealworksout,potentiallymore.

“Wearegrowingalittlebit,”DalynPattersonsays.

BertPattersonwasbornandraisedinLindenandhadeatenArmstrongpiessincehewasachild.Thecouplehappenedtobeintheofficeoftheirrealestateagent,sellingoneproperty,whenthelistingforArmstronglanded.Today,thebusinessislocatedinLinden.

Twelvejobsmaynotsoundlikemuch,butwhenthePattersonsstarted,theyweretheonlytwoemployees.Theirtimingcoincidedwiththestate’splantojump-startaneconomicrecoveryinPerryCountybyusingfederalstimulusmoneytopaywagesofupto$15.85anhourfor300governmentandprivate-sectorworkers.

Asmallcompanyortwocan

haveabigimpactinacountywiththehighestunemploymentrateinthestate–27percentatonepointin2009.Thestimulushiringthatyearbroughtunemploymentdownto19percent,andtheeconomicbenefitsrippledthroughthecommunity.

Theystilldo.ArmstrongPieisanactivememberofPickTennesseeProducts,thestateinitiativethatpromoteslocallygrownandmadefoods.Thecompanyboughtabuilding

downtownandspentmoneyonrenovationsandcommercial-gradeequipment.Thewagesubsidylastedonlyayear,butArmstrongemployeeswhowerewillingtoacceptunsubsidizedwagesstayed.Alloftheemployeesdid.

“Itdoeshelpstimulateoureconomy,”DalynPattersonsays.“Thosepeopleareabletobuygroceries,buyinsurance,makeacarpayment,ormakeahousepaymentwherebeforetheywereunableto.”

– Pamela Coyle

ArmstrongpiesboostPerryCountyrecoveryBakery Comes Back

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bri

an

mcC

ord

AD INDEX

6 Bayer CropSCienCe

71 Center for profitaBle agriCulture

c2 farm Credit ServiCeS of mid-ameriCa

13 middle tenneSSee State univerSity SChool of agriBuSineSS and agriSCienCe

18 tenneSSee 4-h foundation inC.

44 tenneSSee Beef CounCil

c3 tenneSSee department of agriCulture

27 tenneSSee eConomiC & Community development

c4 tenneSSee farm Bureau federation

70 tenneSSee farm freSh

1 tenneSSee farmerS Cooperative

72 tenneSSee ffa foundation inC.

38 tenneSSee foreStry aSSoCiation

73 tenneSSee muniCipal eleCtriC power aSSoCiation

71 tenneSSee pork produCerS aSSoCiation

78 tenneSSee poultry aSSoCiation

AD INDEX

4 tenneSSee Soy Bean promotion CounCil

62 tenneSSee State univerSity

72 tenneSSee teCh univerSity SChool of agriCulture

71 thompSon traCtor

2 univerSity of tenneSSee

52 univerSity of tenneSSee martin

78 vietti foodS Company inC.


Senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing Kim Newsom HolmbergContent Director Jessy yaNceyProofreading Manager raveN PettyContent Coordinator blair tHomasContributing Writers Pamela coyle, cHarlyN Fargo, celeste Huttes, catHy locKmaN, braNdoN lowe, Kirby smitH, JoaNie stiersPublication Design Director murry KeitHSenior Graphic Designers laura gallagHer, JaNiNe marylaNd, Kris sextoN, viKKi williamsGraphic Designers racHael gerriNger, taylor NuNleySenior Photographers JeFF adKiNs, briaN mccordStaff Photographers todd beNNett, aNtoNy bosHierColor Imaging Technician alisoN HuNterAd Production Manager Katie middeNdorFAd Traffic Assistants KrystiN lemmoN, Patricia moisaN

Chairman greg tHurmaNPresident/Publisher bob scHwartzmaNExecutive Vice President ray laNgeNSenior V.P./Operations casey HesterV.P./External Communications teree carutHersV.P./Sales Herb HarPerController cHris dudleySenior Accountant lisa oweNsAccounts Payable Coordinator maria mcFarlaNdAccounts Receivable Coordinator diaNa guzmaNSales Support Coordinator alex marKsSales Support Project Manager sara QuiNtSystem Administrator daNiel caNtrellDatabase Manager/IT Support cHaNdra bradsHawWeb Creative Director allisoN davisWeb Content Manager JoHN HoodWeb Project Manager Noy FoNgNalyWeb Designer II ricHard steveNsWeb Development Lead yamel HallWeb Developer I Nels NosewortHyWeb Account Manager laureN eubaNKPhotography Director JeFFrey s. ottoCreative Services Director cHristiNa cardeNCreative Technology Analyst becca aryAudience Development Director deaNNa NelsoNDistribution Director gary smitHExecutive Secretary Kristy duNcaNHuman Resources Manager Peggy blaKe Receptionist liNda bisHoP

Tennessee Ag Insider is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at [email protected].

For more information about the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, contact:Tom Womack, Director of Public Affairs 440 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN 37220 (615) 837-5118 or by email at [email protected]

For information about Pick TN Products, contact:Cynthia Kent(615) 837-5160 or by email at [email protected]

© Copyright 2012 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member The Association of Magazine Media

Member Custom Content Council

2012 EDITION, VOLUME 1

TENNESSEEAG INSIDER

I N G R E D I E N T S½ cup soy sauce2 tablespoons vegetable oil1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar2 cloves garlic, finely chopped1 teaspoon ginger, peeled and grated1 (1 ½-pound) flank steak

I N S T R U C T I O N S1. Combine the soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic and ginger in a shallow, nonreactive dish and stir until the sugar dissolves.2. Put the steak in the dish and turn to coat both sides. Marinate the steak at room temperature, turning occasionally, for 20-30 minutes.3. Preheat a charcoal or gas grill on high heat and oil the rack. Remove the steak from the marinade.4. Grill the steak for 5 minutes with the lid down. Turn and grill for 6 minutes with the lid open for medium rare. Remove from the grill and let the steak rest for about 5 minutes.5. Thinly slice across the grain and at an angle to the cutting board. Spoon the hot juices over the steak to serve.

Ginger-Soy Flank Steak

For more recipes, visit FarmFlavor.com

grow, cook, eat, learn

Spice up your steak with a sweet ginger soy sauce.




FarmFlavor.com

www.PickTNProducts.org

tnfarmbureau.org

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