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This is an extensive publication discussing weed control in all facets and multiple crop types. This includes corn, sorghum, cotton, soybean, tobacco, wheat, sunflower, forage crops, pasture, and farm ponds.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law by President Trump in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act allocated $349 billion to support small business owners and their workforce due to the current economic disruption caused by COVID-19. This fact sheet provides an overview of Title II of the CARES Act as it relates to people and employers of Tennessee. Title II covers “Assistance for American Workers, Families and Businesses” and is broken down into three subtitles: A. Unemployment Insurance Provisions B. Rebates and Other Individual Provisions C. Business Provisions
This publication provides a guide to value-added production using community supported agriculture. Information includes: what community supported agriculture is, is it a good fit for your operation, and planning and operating with community supported agriculture.
This publication provides a broad overview of licensing and inspection for dairy farms and dairy processing. This includes site-specific considerations for milk processing/manufacturing facilities, an overview of milk movement and storage from farm to processor, and additional information relavant to dairy cattle farmers and processors and dairy goat farmers and processors.
This publication provides extensive information on starting a commercial food-processing enterprise. Highlights include: overview of considerations of a commercial food-preocessing enterprise, requirements for commercial food businesses, construction, quality control, marketing, costs, and other considerations.
This publication describes the proper height to cut native warm-season grasses to maximize forage value and quantity. This publication also provides information on adjusting mowers to a greater height than usually prescribed for other forages.
This is a template for an agreement for the removal of litter, manure and/or process wastewater from a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO).
This publication contains information on plan numbers for various agricultural enterprises including: homes, irrigation, beef operations, dairy operations, horse housing and equipment, poultry operations, goat equipment, sheep equipment, rabbit equipment, swine operations, tobacco operations, greenhouses, fruit and vegetable growers, grain handling and feeding, and forage storage and feeding. Plans can be found here https://ag.tennessee.edu/BESS/Pages/Plans.aspx.
This publication provides information on starting up an agritourism business and the considerations that go along with it. This pulication provides an introduction to agritourism, steps for conducting a preliminary evaluation of your potential, business planning, marketing, costomer service, risk assessment and management, safety considerations, regulations associated with agritourism, and agritourism resources.
This publication provides information on planting and maintaining a high-quality alfalfa stand.
This video link provides information delived by Allison Ogle of American Farm Bureau Insurance Services at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resource includes information on what the Dairy Revenue Protection plan is, where it can be obtained, and how it can impact a dairy operation.
Livestock is one of the most popular projects in 4-H and FFA programs, with an estimated 1 percent of animals that enter the US food chain being from youth livestock programs. Because these animals become a part of the food chain, they are subject to regulations outside of exhibition policies. Education of youth related to their animals’ health and well-being, food safety, and subsequent public health and perception are vitally important learning outcomes of youth livestock programs. This publication provides information on official animal ID, premise ID, and certification of veterinary inspection.
This publication provides information on the annual reporting requirements of concentrated animal feeding operations.
Collection of aseptic milk samples is key to successfully identifying bacteria that cause mastitis infections. These same steps for teat cleaning are also vital for infusing antibiotics or administering an internal teat sealant when cows are dried of.
This factsheet provides suggestions for biosecurity on a farm.
This publication provides information on key performance indicators for dairy herds including voluntary waiting period, calving interval, signs of estrus (heat), artificial insemination, and timed artificial insemination.
This publication explains in detail the reasons for biosecurity, the responsibility associated with biosecurity, and the diseases that can be spread without proper biosecurity.
This publication provides information on bovine trichomoniasis or “trich”. Bovine trichomoniasis is an organism that colonizes the female reproductive tract and can result in early embryonic loss or abortion.
This publication provides information on bulk tank milk quality, milk safety, and bacterial growth standards.
This publication provides information on the parameters used to measure milk quality.
This publication provides information on a bull breeding soundness examination including: physical examination, scrotal circumference, sperm motility, and sperm morphology.
This publication provides guidance on burying large animal mortalities. Information includes proximity to water, property lines, and total size.
This publication provides information on inspections of medium and large concentrated animal feeding operations.
This industry article provides information on pasteurizing waste milk to feed calves. The article also provides information on pasteurizing colostrum. Information includes guidelines, pros, and cons of feeding pasteurized waste milk, pasteurized colostrum, and milk replacer
This publication provides information on disposing of large animal deaths in Tennessee. This publication also provides some common issues to check for to limit death loss.
This video provides information on how data and the power of analytics can help improve your dairy efficiency and profitability. Things included are PCDart, Key Performance Indicators, animal efficiency, and farm performance.
Template for tracking clinical mastitis occurence and treatment.
Template for tracking clinical mastitis occurence and treatment.
Template providing information on evaluating the cost of mastitis on a farm.
This publication provides information on closing or rehabilitating a waste storage facility such as a manure storage pond or lagoon.
This video provides information on small things that can have a big impact on milk quality and mastitis on dairy farms including cleanliness, stall dimensions, and parlor maintenance. Dr. John Laster is a veterinarian who works with dairies in TN and KY with an additional focus on milk quality.
This publication provides information on dealing with competitive species in native warm-season grasses. These competitive species could be weeds or non-native grasses that were previously established.
This publication provides information on composting large animal mortalities. Composting involves the aerobic break down of organic matter.
This publication provides information on what a comprehensive nutrient management plan is, who needs one, and what all is included in one.
This fact sheet from the University of Kentucky provides information on space per animal, controlling cold and heat stress, and ventilation recommendations. This publication does not provide detailed layouts or blueprints.
This publication provides information on managing cows during the transition period to reduce stress. Things to control included diet, pathogens, housing environment, and group movements.
This is an extensive publication detailing different kinds of agritainment enterprises and things to consider before beginning one. Considerations included developing a marketing plan, cost and financial analysis, and general management issues.
This publication provides information on consumer willingness to pay for and preference for products made with Tennessee Milk. Tennessee Milk is milk 100% produced and processed in Tennessee. Dairy products could include: cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and sour cream.
This publication provides information on consumer willingness to purchase and their preference for purchasing Tennessee Milk. Tennessee Milk is milk that is 100% produced and processed within the state of Tennessee.
This publication provides information on growing, harvesting, and storing corn for silage production.
This fact sheet outlines some frequently asked questions about the CFAP program, specifically focused on dairy producers.
This publication is intended to provide information about disruptions to the dairy supply chain during COVID-19 and resources for farmers and agents.
This publication provides information on developing an agritourism enterprise. Information includes: understanding the experience economy, viewing your farm from the customer’s perspective, creating the customer experience, and telling your story.
This publication provides information on overstocking and it’s impacts on cows during the dry period. Information provided includes what overstocking is, how it impacts nutrition and behavior, and how to control it in a farm setting.
University of Tennessee Extension has developed the Dairy Gauge Benchmarking program to help dairy producers better understand what their financial statements and key ratios
suggest about the financial health of their business. Within the program, there are three areas that were developed specifically for gauging a dairy business’s financial health. The three areas are 1) balance sheet and profitability dairy benchmarks, 2) dairy feed benchmarks, and 3) dairy non-feed income and expense benchmarks. This publication is focused on the dairy balance sheet and profitability benchmarks.
University of Tennessee Extension has developed the Dairy Gauge benchmarking program to help dairy producers better understand what their financial statements and key ratios
suggest about the financial health of their business. Within the program, there are three areas that were developed specifically for gauging a dairy business’ financial health. The three areas are 1) balance sheet and profitability dairy benchmarks, 2) dairy feed benchmarks, and 3) dairy non-feed income and expense benchmarks. This publication is focused on dairy feed benchmarks.
This publication provides information on the usage of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program in the Southeast and key points for the 2022 period of the program.
University of Tennessee Extension has developed the Dairy Gauge Benchmarking program to help dairy producers better understand what their financial statements suggest about financial health. Within the program, there are three areas that were developed specifically for gauging a dairy business’s health. The three areas are 1) balance sheet and profitability dairy benchmarks, 2) dairy feed benchmarks, and 3) dairy non-feed income and expense benchmarks. This publication is focused on the non-feed income and expense benchmarks.
This publication provides information on common flies of concern for dairy cattle. This publication also provides a check list of daily and long-term controls for horn, face, house, and stable flies within the milking parlor.
Reference for youth interested in participating in Dairy Skillathon at the State Dairy Show. Last updated September 2019.
This publication provides information on what to do in the event of a wastewater discharge into water of the state.
This publication provides information on alternative uses for milk that is emergency dumped including: feeding to calves, feeding in the total mixed ration, selling it as commercial feed, and land applying it as fertilizer.
This publication provides information disposal of large animal mortalities. This can include on-farm burial, composting, landfilling, burning, incinerating, and rendering.
This video link provides information delivered by Dr. Andrew Muhammad of University of Tennessee Extension at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resources includes information on the new Dairy Margin Coverage Program (formerly the Margin Protection Program) and changes associated with the 2018 Farm Bill.
This video link provides information delivered by Dr. Jeffrey Bewley of Alltech at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resource includes information on how to be successful in business as a small giant, a small company that applies the same tools as highly successful, larger corporations.
This video link provides information delivered by Dr. Mike Hutjens of University of Illinois Extension at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resource includes information on types of feed additves, silage inoculants, direct fed microbials, and keys to remember when feeding dairy cattle.
This video link provides information delivered by Dr. Mike Hutjens of University of Illinois Extension at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resource includes information on feeding strategies, forage varieties, and keys to remember when feeding dairy cattle.
This video link provides information delivered by Dr. Shawn Hawkins of University of Tennessee Extension at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resource includes information on corn silage nitrogen requirements and potassium and phosphorous uptake. It also includes a segment by David Bilderback discussing the economics of different levels of nitrogen application.
This video focuses on updating nitrogen application rates for corn silage and the potential of fertilizing just with manure. Corn silage measures included seeding rate, yield, and potassium and phosphorous removal rates.
This video link provides information delivered by Dr. Shawn Hawkins of University of Tennessee Extension at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resource includes information on land application of manure, along with a worksheet to determine the correct application rate per field.
This publication provides information on the economics associated with growing native warm-season grasses. This includes cost of establishment, production, fertilization, and revenue from grazing, harvesting, or selling hay from native warm-season grasses.
This publication provides information on establishing native warm-season grasses (NWSG) for livestock forage. Recommendations include site selection, species selection, site preparation, planting methods, planting rates, planting dates, planting depths, preemergence herbicides, fertilization, and weed control.
This publication describes how to estimate the production, reproduction, and economic losses associated with elevated somatic cell counts.
This publication provides information on tail docking, and encourages voluntary cessation of tail docking.
This is an example of an animal feed label provided by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. A feed label musts be submitted with a commercial feed license application for approval by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Calf health, growth, and productivity rely heavily on nutrition and management practices. Every heifer calf born on a dairy farm represents an opportunity to maintain or increase herd size, to improve the herd genetically, or to improve economic returns to the farm. The objectives of raising the newborn calf to weaning age are optimizing growth and minimizing health problems. To accomplish these goals, it is necessary to understand the calf’s digestive system, immune system, and nutrient needs, as well as the feed options available to meet those needs.
Some consumers are turning to raw (unpasteurized) milk because of perceived preferences in flavor or suggested health benefits. Regulations against the sale of raw milk, instituted in the 1900s to prevent unsuspecting consumers from being exposed to the hazards of unpasteurized milk, are now being overturned by state legislatures due to the consumer wishes. This has in turn created a market which producers have begun to make raw milk more available to consumers. With increasing availability, we have also seen a rise in outbreaks of illness from harmful microorganisms found in raw milk. Unfortunately, current and potential consumers of raw milk may not fully understand the risks associated with its consumption. We’ll discuss some of the illnesses linked to raw milk; consumers who are most likely to become ill; how raw milk becomes contaminated; and why you can’t test at home or otherwise tell if raw milk contains harmful microorganisms.
This publication provides explanations of commonly used forage analysis definitions.
This sheet is used to request a forage analysis from the soil, plant and pest center. If requesting ration balancing, additional information will be required. Information is available for beef cattle, horses, small ruminants, and dairy cattle.
This publication provides information on pasture feeding for lactating dairy cows, potential forage mixtures, and grazing management.
This publication describes subclinical mastitis, clinical mastitis, acute mastitis, chronic mastitis, and their symptoms and causes.
Numerous calls and inquiries from farmers and value-added entrepreneurs considering the startup of a pet food, animal feed or pet treat enterprise are addressed each year in the Center for Profitable Agriculture. The most common initial questions are related to whether or not a permit is needed to sell animal feed and pet food. Other questions involve packaging, labeling, certified scales and marketing. This publication is intended to provide a general overview about license and labeling for marketing pet food, pet treats and animal feeds in Tennessee. The information contained in this publication has been developed for educational purposes and summarizes the guidelines and regulations related to producing and selling pet food and pet treats as animal feed in Tennessee. Animal feed and pet food regulations vary by state. Feed and pet food operations that will be selling products in other states should evaluate the rules and regulations in those states.
This publication provides information on grazing native warm-season grasses for livestock. Information includes types of grasses, grazing management, stocking density, and fertilization.
This publication provides information on group housing dairy calves. This publication provides insight on group housing, using robotic calf feeders, and management in group housing.
Describes ideal moisture for harvesting, surveying fields for moisture content, and moisture testing for corn silage.
This article from the University of Kentucky addresses heat stress in goats, what temperature and humidity goats experience heat stress, and strategies to reduce or control heat stress.
This publication provides information on the history of milk marketing orders, the evolution of those marketing orders, and the future implications from those orders on dairy producers.
This publication explains the potential economic impact of investing in a new Tennessee milk plant. An economic model was created based on information from prior studies, inputs, and outputs based on Tennessee numbers.
The Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy producers was established by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) to reduce the market risk of dairy producers associated with the all-milk price and average feed costs. However, the MPP was amended in 2018. This article: 1. Summarizes key changes to the MPP program as a result of the 2018 amendments; 2. Summarizes the technical performance of the program, as originally established in the 2014 Farm Bill; 3. Summarizes, retrospectively, the technical performance of the program, as amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018; and 4. Summarizes feedback on the MPP provided to the authors by Tennessee dairy producers.
This factsheet provides a walkthrough of using a Koster Tester to estimate dry matter percentage for forage samples. Use this publication as a guide to operating a Koster tester to determine the appropriate harvest time to maximize nutritional value and digestibility for your animals.
This publication describes infectious bovine ketatoconjunctivitis, i.e. pinkeye in cattle. This publication includes causes, transmission, clinical signs, treatment, and prevention.
In this publication, we list some recommendations to prevent exposure to COVID-19 and protect the health of farmworkers. Farmworkers are considered a vulnerable population due to barriers to health care access, language barriers, lack of insurance and independent transportation, as well as unfamiliarity with local resources and systems.
This publication provides information on including legumes in stands of native warm-season grasses. Common legumes would include alfalfa, clover, hairy vetch, and partridge pea.
Your veterinarian plays an important role in preventing, diagnosing and treating disease in your herd. Selecting the proper treatment depends on accurately diagnosing the problem, so work with your local veterinarian to develop a health care program designed to fit your specific needs. This publication provides information on a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR), extra-label drug use, off-label use, treatment decisions, and storing drugs on a farm.
This publication provides information on sleep in dairy cattle. This includes the stages of sleep: drowsing, non-rapid eye movement, and rapid eye movement. This also includes sleep behavior and postures, how lactation changes sleep, and the interaction between sleep and the immune system.
This fact sheet is the second in a series of four explaining proper colostrum management techniques. The objective of this fact sheet is to discuss how cow management, collection protocols, and colostrum storage affect colostrum. This publication also includes techniques on evaluating colostrum quality and preparing colostrum for feeding.
This fact sheet is the third of four explaining proper colostrum management techniques. The objective of this publication is to discuss when and how to feed colostrum to newborn calves.
This publication provides information on sending large animal mortalities to landfills. This publication also includes a map with landfills that will accept dead animals and contact information for those landfills.
This is the spanish version of the publication “What you need to know about Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in your dairy.” This publication provides information on what COVID-19 is, how it is spread, it’s symptoms, and ways to protect yourself and prevent the spread on your dairy.
Esta publicación proporciona información sobre qué es COVID-19, cómo se transmite, cuáles son sus síntomas y las formas de protegerse y prevenir la propagación de sus lechería.
This publication provides information on feeding lactating dairy cattle. This includes promoting intake, determining dry matter, and feed way type.
This publication provides information on managing mastitis in heifers and dry cows. This includes types of mastitis, dry cow therapy, pasture managment, feed management, economic impact of mastitis, and a dry cow check list.
This publication provides information on pasture managment, specifically for dry dairy cows. This includes information on rotational grazing, managing grazing lanes and high traffic areas, and water access.
This publication provides information on marketing hay in Tennessee. This includes developing a marketing program, storing hay, and promoting and advertising.
This publication provides information on culturing bulk tank, clinical mastitis, whole herd, or stage of lactation milk samples. Additional information is provided on shipping samples and interpreting culture results.
This publication provides information on mechanical (fan driven) ventilation in dairy cattle housing. This publication includes placement recommendations, discussions on different types of fans available, and considerations for sprinklers.
This publication describes the role milk quality plays in milk products, milk safety, and milk exports. It also explains some reasons behind poor milk quality, and efforts made by the Tennessee Milk Quality Initiative to address poor milk quality.
This template can be used to keep a record of persons and/or firms that will remove litter, manure, and/or process wastewater from concentrated animal feeding operations.
This publication provides information on native warm-season grasses or NWSG. This includes name identification, seeding, establishment, and management of grasses for pasture and forage production.
This publication outlines the uses of native warm-season grasses for many uses, including livestock forage. This publication also includes an identification guide and description of big bluestem, little bluestem, broomsedge bluestern, indiangrass, switchgrass, eastern gamagrass, sideoats grama, and other native warm-season grasses.
This publication provides information the regulations associated with waste or wastewater handling systems, transport, treatment, settling basins, lagoons, holding ponds, sumps or pits, or other containment or treatment structures.
This video link provides information delivered by Keith Harrison of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture at the Tennessee Dairy Producers Association Annual Meeting in 2019. This video resource includes information on a new Tennessee Agriculture Enhancement Program for Herd Health Programs. This program aims to improve cattle health and herd records for both beef and dairy producers in Tennessee.
This publication provides information on requesting or qualifying for a “no potential to discharge” determination. In Tennessee, the only operations that would qualify are poulty operations with covered litter storage, and remove all litter from their operations.
This publication provides information on what a nutrient management plan entails and when it is required.
Outline of needed materials and how to set up an on-farm culture laboratory. This can be used to identify causative bacterial pathogens for mastitis infections, growing potential pathogens in milking and calf feeding equipment, or identifying pathogens present in a quarter to identify subclinical mastitis infections or quarters that need treatment when cows are at the end of their lactation.
Are you curious about what it means to be an organic dairy? If so, read this article which summarizes part of the USDA Organic Standards. Learn about what it means to be an organic dairy, how those animals are fed, housed, and cared for.
This publication provides information on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The PPP provides loans to small businesses that may be forgiven in part or in full to pay certain expenses during COVID-19.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law by President Trump in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act allocated $349 billion to support small business owners and their workforce due to the current economic disruption caused by COVID-19. The
funds were awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis and were exhausted in about a week’s time. On April 24, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act was signed into law. This law added an additional $310 billion into the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that was created under
the CARES Act to assist small business owners to maintain payrolls and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide an overview of the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program.
This publication provides an overview of the permits that are required for animal feeding operations and concentrated animal feeding operations.
This publication is a template for farmers seeking to terminate a national pollutant discharge elimination permit for an AFO or CAFO.
This publication provides information on the regulation associated with personal use and consumption of milk by an animal’s owner: Tennessee Code Annotated; Title 53, Food, Drugs and Cosmetics; Chapter 3, Dairy Law of the State of Tennessee; Part 1, General Provisions. This publication also provides some information on the dangers associated with consuming raw milk.
The objective of this workbook is to provide readers a solid foundation upon which they, and all of the people involved, can understand basic farm and forest succession planning concepts and processes. Of equal importance, this workbook seeks to prepareall of the individuals to effectively search for and use the appropriate professional services required for the development of a high-quality farm succession plan.
Throughout, this workbook assumes that the farm transfer will take place between two families, related or unrelated, and that their business relationship will continue over an extended period. However, the information contained in the manual is certainly applicable to a wide range of situations. Successful farm succession planning takes a comprehensive approach that involves all of the planning categories discussed below. Given the potential for each chapter to be used independently, some information may be reiterated in several chapters. Lastly, his manual is meant to be used in conjunction with the Web site www.farmlandlegacy.org where updated chapters, additional references and information on upcoming conferences and training will be continually added.
Describes considerations before purchasing technologies for a dairy farm including: economics, service team, and priority areas.
Animal welfare is becoming more of a key concern for consumers due to an increasing interest in how their food is produced and in the environment in which it is produced. This concern has created a need for greater transparency from farmers regarding their daily farm practices. Programs were established to fulfill this need and were designed to ensure farmers use best management practices while gaining the consumer’s trust. The Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program was created in 2009 to help farmers demonstrate their dedication to animal care, environmental and antibiotic stewardship, and food safety. As of 2016, 98 percent of milk produced in the U.S. originated on dairies enrolled in the FARM program. Examples of other evaluation programs include the Dean Foods Dairy Stewardship Program, Certified Humane, Food Alliance and American Grass Fed Association. However, these evaluation programs cannot be substituted for one another. This fact sheet focuses on preparing farmers for questions and the documentation of their management practices needed for participating in the FARM evaluation.
This publication provides guidance on sampling manure or litter. This can be for field application, animal management, and nutrient content. This publication also touches on safely sampling manure from liquid storage facilities.
This publication provides information on producing hay from native warm-season grasses. Information includes comparision to other grasses used for hay, cutting grass for hay, curing, and storing.
This publication provides information on taking bulk tank, cow quarter, whole herd, and stage of lactation cultures. Additional information is provided on interpreting culture results.
This publication provides quick steps on identifying mastitis problems and their potential sources.
Maintaining a dairy farm requires commitment, hard work and timely execution of interrelated tasks. Feeding, milking, animal care, heat detection, breeding, growing and harvesting forages, disease detection and treatment, maintaining machinery and equipment are examples of dairy farm tasks. Each task is associated with a labor force. Organizing and guiding the labor force is also part of dairy producers’ activities. With the high demands of time and continuous decision making, record keeping is a vital part of a successful dairy farm. For example, milk production is directly or indirectly affected by all activities on a dairy farm. Balancing between these activities is important for maintaining optimum milk production. Maintaining animal production records, financial records and inventories can augment management plans and improve decision-making to keep balance between these activities.
This publication contains information on recordkeeping for CAFO permits. This includes nutrient management plans, manure or litter storage, mortalities, any discharge events, any corrective actions, manure application equipment inspections/calibrations, sampling methods, application calculations, application methods, and crop yields.
Food processors in the U.S. are showing an increased interest in regional-local or short-chain food systems. A new milk condensing plant has the potential for enhancing the profitability of current dairy operations and the contributions of the dairies and dairy processing to the Tennessee economy. A vital step in determining the feasibility of any regionally based value-added processing facility is to assess the willingness and ability of local farms to supply the operation in question. To provide such an analysis, we initially examine the movement of milk through the processing process. We then review overall trends for the dairy industry both nationally and in Tennessee, and survey Tennessee dairy farmers regarding their willingness to supply a regional milk processing facility.
This is a complete list of the rules regarding selling commercial feed in Tennessee. For farmers selling raw milk as an animal feed, make sure to include the minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber contenct, and moisture content in the proposed label. The label must be sent with the feed applciation to Bethany Henderson at TDA for approval.
This publication provides information on incorporating small grains, ryegrass, and clovers into a farms hay, haylage, or pasture grazing. This publication provides information for both dairy and beef operations.
This publication provides information on evaluating current mastitis incidence, herd mastitis prevalence, and how to adress the situation.
This publication provides information on utilizing summer annuals as forage for livestock consumption.
This is a template for an annual report required for medium and large concentrated animal feeding operations.
This publication is a summary of a recent study done by the University of Tennessee in an effort to understand what Tennessee consumers are willing to pay for local, organic, and store-branded milk, identify milk purchasing trends and attributes associated with the three milk types, and to understand Tennessee consumers definition of “local” dairy products defined by geographic regions and distance traveled.
This publication provides information on managing common cattle pests.
Tennessee dairies can be an important economic engine for their local economies. In response to an industry request, we estimated the contribution of a dairy farm to a major dairy county in East Tennessee. We used an input-output model of the county economy (based on the IMPLAN economic model building system), data provided by the US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, and data from a Washington State University Study (regarding cow and calf culling rates) in estimating the contribution.
This application must be filled out before selling an kind of animal feed. For farmers considering selling milk to other operations, such as swine, this application must be completed and submitted to Bethany Henderson at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
This publication provides information on the risk of phosphorous movement based on the phosphorous index.
This publication provides guidance on terminating a permit when a CAFO is no longer in operation.
This fact sheet is the final in a series explaining proper colostrum management techniques. The objective of this publication is to provide suggestions on how to determine if calves adequately absorbed colostrum.
This publication provides information on feeding behavior, rumination behavior, and their relationship to disease, lactation, and production.
This publication contains information on the four main flies of concern for dairy farms: face flies, horn flies, house flies, and stable flies. This quick reference fact sheet can be used to easily identify flies visually and based on where they are on the cow’s body. It also includes information on fly control and prevention for each main fly type.
This publication contains information relevant to Tennessee farmers and agri-entrepreneurs who are considering developing products and marketing to Hispanics. It provides general market research data and information important to understanding demand components, including geographic areas where potential demand may exist, the ability of the target audience to purchase products and the willingness of Hispanics to purchase products based on tastes and preferences. Results of interviews with owners and managers of retail stores marketing to Hispanic consumers are also included. Although much of the information contained in the publication is available through secondary data sources, the information has not been available in a single, affordable resource before now.
This fact sheet is the first in a series of four explaining proper colostrum management techniques. The objective of this publication is to discuss the importance of colostrum and some of its functions. Other publications in this series will highlight the most recent colostrum management recommendations.
This publication provides information on the role of lying behavior in dairy cattle well-being and milk production. Information is also provided on bedding type, barn type, and overstocking impacts on lying time and behavior.
The purpose of this publication is to provide an overview of the dairy industry in Tennessee, identify valueadded opportunities and examine some of the most common milk labeling issues for the state. This publication gives a brief background about the state’s dairy industry, information about potential value-added opportunities and requirements to market and sell value-added milk products in Tennessee. The subject matter here serves as initial and introductory reading for farmers first considering a value-added dairy enterprise. Each dairy farmer has his or her own unique situation, and will need to consider value-added dairy opportunities that best meet individual circumstances and needs. This publication is not intended to answer all the questions involved with considering, evaluating or planning a value-added dairy enterprise. This publication is intended to provide basic and background information regarding the Tennessee dairy industry and to introduce basic concepts of adding value by processing, packaging and marketing
This publication provides informatino on recognizing heat stress in dairy cattle, the negative effects of heat stress, and how heat stress can be minimized.
This publication provides information on transferring large amounts of waste to a third party.
This publication describes areas to troubleshoot when bacteria counts are high from standard bulk tank tests.
This video covers management strategies to improve forage quality in Tennessee including growing degree days, dry matter tracking, and harvest strategies for corn silage. Led by John Winchell, a forage specialist from Alltech.
This publication provides information on the beef checkoff program (national program) and the Tennessee beef promotion program (state program). Information is provided about the history, purpose, and benefits of the assessments and explains how to calculate and remit them.
This publication provides information on the H-2A program during the COVID-19 crisis.
This publication provides information on the stages of calving, recommendations on calving environments, and possible outcomes of difficult calvings.
This publication outlines the economic, storage, and nutrition considerations a producer must address before purchasing commodities. Commodities can be an economical feed source, but the producer must consider storage and ration balancing.
This publication provides information on how to use a monthly DHI somatic cell count report. This report can be incorporated into mastitis management, help identify cows with mastitis, and evaluate current practices.
This publication provides information on mastitis infections, how somatic cell count relates to mastitis, and how to estimate production loss and economic costs of mastitis.
This publication provides information on using controlled burning to manage stands of grasslands. Burning can improve forage quality, control competitive species, and help with nutrient cycling.
This publication outlines the forage value of switchgrass, primarily for beef and dairy cattle.
This publication provides information on using the restricted use pesticide, Grazon P+D. The publication provides a checklist for use of Grazon P+D, formulation, and the counties where Grazon P+D is sold.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts.
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts
This publication provides information on current issues in Tennessee from university and industry experts
This publication provides information on controlling a dairy cow’s housing environment to control cow hygiene
This publication provides recommendation on weed management and control in pastures and hay crops.
Finding workers is a challenge for many Tennessee farmers. For example, about 70 percent of respondents to a recent survey of Tennessee fruit and vegetable growers indicated they did not have enough labor in 2019. The majority of these respondents considered the inability to find reliable and productive employees to be the most critical labor-related challenge they face. Similarly, results from another survey of Tennessee dairy farmers conducted in 2019 indicated 83 percent of respondents considered farm labor as a moderate, high or severe cause of stress. One strategy for addressing this challenge is the use of interns. However, the use of interns is not common among Tennessee farmers, and familiarity with this practice is likely to be limited. When asked what information the University of Tennessee could provide to help them address their labor challenges, more than half of the respondents to the fruit and vegetable grower survey indicated they wanted information about the use of interns. Thus, in this publication, we present general considerations farmers should take into account when hosting interns on their farming operations.
This publication provides information on what COVID-19 is, how it is spread, it’s symptoms, and ways to protect yourself and prevent the spread on your dairy.
This publication outlines management practices that can be used to maitain native species of birds, deer, and rabbits while still utilizing native warm-species grasses for hay, grazing, or biofuel production.
This publication provides insight into working with cattle in a safe way. The main points include understanding a cow’s vision, hearing, flight zone, herd instinct, maternal instinct, and territorial behavior.