Spotlight: Southeast A development rush is expected to convert 10 percent of farmland into housing or industrial sites over the next 15 years. Georgia’s legislature has allotted $2 million for the first year of the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund. Farm landowners across the state have applied for a piece of that funding to protect their […]
Can a State Conservation Fund Save Georgia Farmland? Read More »
Farm Park will provide; public access to edible landscapes and fresh food, outdoor learning opportunities for local schools with a farm incubator and living laboratory, gathering space for residents and small businesses, and integrated water systems designed to capture and reuse stormwater. This isn’t just about building a park. It’s about creating a future that Chattanoogans
A New Kind of Public Space is Coming to Chattanooga Read More »
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announces the launch of an updated Pick Tennessee Products website, offering a more streamlined way for consumers to connect with local farmers, producers and artisans across the state. The website redesign follows continued growth in the Pick Tennessee Products program, which includes nearly 3,200 active members. The updated site focuses
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With nearly half of Tennessee’s land dedicated to farming—and over $50 billion in economic output supporting 250,000 jobs—agriculture is deeply woven into the fabric of our communities. For the past few years, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee has been working with farmers to adopt regenerative practices that improve soil health, boost profits, and benefit nature.
Preserving Tennessee’s Agricultural Heritage Read More »
Last week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the Farmland Preservation Act, landmark legislation ensuring farms can be preserved for future generations. Upon passage into law with the Governor’s signature, the Farmland Preservation Act establishes a permanent conservation easement and creates a grant fund to support farmers who voluntarily choose to protect their farmland. The legislation passed
Gov. Lee Signs Farmland Preservation Act Into Law Read More »
When you touch soil, did you know there should be a village of microorganisms keeping the dirt viable for growth? Did you also know that often, this village is dwindling? Alter Eco Farms, a soil food web specialized lab in Hixson, has set out to reintroduce the biodiversity soil should naturally have. Read more. Haley
Local Farm Works to Fix Chattanooga’s Soil Read More »
Government Watch In a legislative move that echoes the deep-rooted heritage of Tennessee’s agrarian landscape, the state Senate has passed a watershed bill designed to safeguard its farmland from the relentless advance of urban sprawl. Senate Bill 207, a beacon of hope for the state’s agricultural future, promises to establish a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund.
Tennessee Senate Passes Bill to Protect Farmland from Urban Development Read More »
Governor Lee recently announced a proposal to establish a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund to help protect farmland across Tennessee. If passed, this fund would provide grants to farmers who want to permanently protect their land through conservation easements in partnership with land trusts like The Land Trust for Tennessee. Similar programs exist in 31 other states, including North Carolina
Proposed Fund Could Help Protect Tennessee Farmland Read More »
The Winter 2025 newsletter of the Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition features quite a collection of interesting topics, including: Resilience Farming Event Recap A resilience farming discussion at Sequatchie Cove Farm on January 18th brought together panelists Alysia Leon (Bird Fork Farm), Emily Stutzman (Caney Fork Farms), Melissa Shepherd
News From Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers Read More »
We’re losing 10 acres of Tennessee farmland every hour of every day. If we continue business-as-usual, without any restraint or wisdom, allowing sprawl to advance across this state, then we could lose more than one million acres of Tennessee farmland in the next 20 years. Read more. David Cook – Food as a Verb Photo: Sarah Unger
One Million Acres of Tennessee Farmland in Jeopardy Read More »