NASHVILLE, Tenn  – Agricultural and forestry businesses in Tennessee are on track to strengthen and expand operations thanks to an innovative new program. 

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is announcing the first round of recipients for the Tennessee Forestry, Agriculture, and Rural Markets (FARM) cost share.

“We are proud that this new program attracted strong interest from the agribusiness community,” Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. “We received 259 applications and funding requests exceeded $107 million. We thank Governor Lee and the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group for the allocation to support Tennessee’s farm and forest families.”

The FARM cost share is designed to stabilize and strengthen the agriculture and forestry supply chain. Businesses that receive financial assistance through FARM are not required to repay the funds. In this first period, more than $18 million was awarded to 20 agricultural, food, forestry, and nonprofit entities in Tennessee.

The following businesses will receive funding in round one:

Appalachian Producers Cooperative, Washington County – Meat Processor

Back Country Harvesters, Bledsoe County – Forestry Manufacturer

Bill J. Surber, Hancock County – Grain Handling Operation

Clark Hardwoods, Houston County – Sawmill 

Cote du Roanne, Bledsoe County – Specialty Crop Producer

David L. Richesin, Loudon County – Grain Handling Operation

Double J Holdings, Lawrence County – Meat Processor

Flowers Creamery, Giles County – Dairy Processor

Hale and Hines Nursery, Warren County – Horticultural Producer 

Joseph Burks, Clay County – Logger

Lazy Dog Farms, McNairy County – Meat Processor 

Madison Mill, Cheatham County – Forestry Manufacturer 

S&S Firewood, Grundy County – Forestry Manufacturer

Schultz Brothers Farms, Dyer County – Grain Handling Operation 

Shayne R. Bickford, Bledsoe County – Logger

Underground Slaughter, White County – Meat Processor 

Union County Tennessee – Farmers Market 

Volunteer Meats, Henderson County – Meat Processor 

Wampler’s Farm Sausage Co., Loudon County – Meat Processor

Zephyr Development Group, Roane County – Meat Processor  

An estimated $15 million will be awarded in the second round of FARM funding. That application period is Nov. 1-30, 2023. More details can be found online at www.tn.gov/FARM. 

“We invite the businesses that did not receive funding this time to apply again,” Commissioner Hatcher added. “And if the FARM cost share isn’t the right fit for you, I encourage you to reach out to our Business Development Division to learn more about the Agricultural Enterprise Fund and other programs designed to boost agribusiness in Tennessee.”