LISTEN: Sustainable Animal Husbandry & Fiber Farming with Bugtussle Farm
Hear from Eric & Cher Smith about their livestock management strategies and the process of creating fiber products in the context of their regenerative, biodynamic, diversified family farm.
Supporting Farmers After Winter Storm Fern: The Impact of the Farmer Relief Fund
When Winter Storm Fern caused historic damage across Middle Tennessee earlier this year, farmers faced costly repairs just as the busy spring season was beginning. TN Local Food’s Farmer Relief Fund quickly stepped in to provide support. Thanks to the generosity of Farmers Friend, LLC and Farm Aid, we were able to help farmers recover and return to the essential work of feeding our communities.
House Farm Bill Update
In February, the House Agriculture Committee introduced their draft of the next Farm Bill, which Young Farmers opposed for failing to prioritize equitable farmland access, to invest in critical nutrition and local food programs, or to provide climate action tools for farmers.
‘Pick TN Products’ Connect Consumers with Local Producers
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.
Accessing Cold Damage to Fruit Buds
With temperatures expected to dip below freezing and with buds of many fruit crops either being open, Dave Lockwood is here to answers your questions about possible bud damage.
Organic Market Report Shows Strong Growth
The 2026 Organic Market Report released by the Organic Trade Association shows that U.S. sales of certified organic products accelerated in 2025, reaching $76.6 billion with an annual growth rate of 6.8%.
We’re Hiring!
TN Local Food is seeking a Part-Time Marketing & Communications Coordinator to support outreach for ongoing programs. This role focuses on content creation, social media management, newsletters, and event communications. The position is remote but requires residence in Middle Tennessee with occasional in-person event coverage in the Nashville-area. Experience with social media platforms, Mailchimp, and Canva is required. Experience or interest in the agricultural/food systems space is a bonus. Interested? We’d love to hear from you!
SURVEY: Deer Damage to Row Crops
We are inviting you to participate in a study conducted by University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture focused on estimating the economic impact of deer damage to row crops, specialty crops, turfgrass, and nurseries. We tried to make the survey short but collects the data we need to measure the economic impact. We are not asking for any personal information.
HIRING: Two School Gardens’ Positions
A New Leaf Nature School is hiring for two positions this spring. Gardener Role: to develop and maintain productive, beautiful growing spaces across our campuses. As Farm Hand, you’ll do daily care of chickens and goats, plus weekly upkeep of the barn, coop, and grounds.
SEEKING: Farmers for Ujaama Café
Rebecca Selove is seeking farmers who want to learn more about Ujamaa Cafés in Nashville. Ujamaa Cafés are located within community centers, schools, health clinics, and pantries to offer free diverse and healthy food options.together farmers, chefs and food entrepreneurs, and folks living in economically underdeveloped neighborhoods with limited access to nutritious food.
APPLY: Strategic Sprint to the Southeast
The Strategic Sprint is a week-long executive-level education experience to bring the best in entrepreneurship training to farmers. Farmers are already business and community leaders: our Strategic Sprint invites them to spend a week off-farm in a luxury setting to focus deeply on the business side of their goals and to gain toolsets and mindsets to help catapult their growth and refine their strategies for achieving their Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs) for their operations.
RFI: TN Department of Children Services
DEADLINE February 4th - The State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services (DCS) is seeking information from qualified vendors, particularly Department of Agriculture Pick TN providers, who can supply locally grown fresh food products, including beef, produce, and shelf-stable items to various DCS facilities across the state.
RESOURCE: 2026 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook
This handbook comprises up-to-date information developed from research and Extension projects conducted across the Southeast. It contains the information that you need to manage your vegetable crops, including which varieties to plant, planting dates, fertilizer recommendations, cover crop selection and conservation tillage options, pesticide selection, grafting, fertigation, plasticulture, postharvest handling, and alternative pest management tools, as well as many other topics.
FUNDING: Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is a competitive small grant program administered by the Farmer Veteran Coalition that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 to purchase equipment or supplies that will support your farm business.
RESOURCE: The Periodic Table of Cover Crops
ATTRA's latest publication, The Periodic Table of Cover Crops, by Cody Brown, is a visual tool for producers interested in utilizing cover crops on their farms or ranches. The overall layout of the cover crop selection tool is meant to mimic the organized structure of the periodic table of elements.
Regenerative Agriculture Apprentice at Caney Fork Farms
Caney Fork Farms is hiring for a Regenerative Farm Apprenticeship This is a ten-month, hands-on training program that immerses you in livestock care, vegetable production, and chestnut agroforestry while building real skills in regenerative farming. You’ll work across the entire farm and gain direct-to-consumer marketing experience alongside our research, livestock, and vegetable teams.
HIRING: Chief Operating Officer & Community Agriculture Operations Coordinator at NFP
The Nashville Food Project (TNFP) seeks a collaborative, systems-oriented, and values-driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Community Agriculture Operations Coordinator (CAOC), to ensure that infrastructure and operations at the Community Farm at Mill Ridge, McGruder Community Garden, and the Growing Together Farm are well-maintained and function smoothly and consistently.
HIRING: Animal Systems Manager - Ocean Hour Farm (RI)
Asher Wright of Caney Fork Farms, sends a long this job posting. Ocean Hour Farm is a cool educational farm that does research and production demonstrations all surrounding the nexus of agriculture, land management, and ocean/aquatic health. They are hiring an Animal Systems Manager.
RESOURCE: Information Hub for Military Veteran Farmers in TN
TNDA has launched new online resources to help military veterans and service members transition into agriculture and grow successful farm businesses. The new Military Veteran Farmers webpage serves as a central hub for information, offering step-by-step guidance on how to start or expand an agricultural operation, access grants and funding, and connect with support networks across Tennessee.
Join the Tennessee White Oak Initiative
This initiative is asking Tennessee’s civic organizations, forestry groups, landowners and anyone interested to collect white oak acorns. The acorns will be planted and evaluated at the East TN