Who is Eligible for TAEP?
Eligibility Requirements
1. Applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America or lawfully present in the United States.
2. Applicant must be at least 18 years old at time of application.
3. Applicant must be a Tennessee resident residing in Tennessee. Documentation, including a current Tennessee Driver/Identification license, may be requested to verify applicant has established residency in Tennessee.
4. Applicant must be operating a farm* in Tennessee.
* To operate a farm means to share in the expenses, profits, and/or management of farm production.
A farm may involve the production of multiple agricultural products and may have more than one location in Tennessee.
A diversified farm with multiple species of livestock, crops, and/or multiple locations is considered a single operation regardless of tax filings or organizational structure.
If two or more individuals participate in the operation of the farm*, only one individual is eligible to apply for TAEP Application A cost share.
5. Applicant must have filed a Federal IRS Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Farming, within the last two years (2021 or 2022).
Applicant will not be required to submit a copy of their Schedule F at the time of application. However, applicant may be asked to submit a copy of their Schedule F prior to TAEP approval to verify their farming operation. If your operation does not file a Schedule F, please contact TAEP about alternate documentation (Schedule C or Schedule K) to verify farming status.
6. Applicant must meet at least one of the minimum livestock/acreage requirements for selected program. Verification of minimum requirements may be requested prior to approval.
• Head of Livestock = maximum number of single type, regardless of sex or age, at any one time during the last12 months
• Hay Acreage = acres of hay production; first cutting only
• Row Crop Acreage = acres in row crop production of corn, cotton, soybeans, and/or wheat
7. Applicant must have current (not expired) documentation (certificate or permit) based on type of producer at time of application. Documentation must be in the name of the applicant. No substitutions allowed.
Certifications:
Beef Quality Assurance Certification (BQA) for beef and dairy cattle
- BQA certification must be renewed every three years and be current at time of application.
- BQA is an educational class on cattle management and care. Courses are available in-person and online.
- In-person certification – administered in-person by your local UT/TSU Extension office (utextension.tennessee.edu)
- Online certification – two options
° Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), www.tncattle.org, 615-896-2333, info@tncattle.org
° Beef Quality Assurance, www.bqa.org
Master Producer certifications are to be completed by the applicant at the time of reimbursement if seeking 50% cost share. See Master Certification for more information.
Pork Quality Assurance Plus Certification (PQA) for swine
- PQA certifications must be renewed every three years and be current at time of application.
- PQA Plus is a two-hour educational course sponsored by the Tennessee Pork Producers Association (TPPA).
— Contact TPPA for additional information on PQA Plus classes at: 615-274-6533 or porkpromotn@tds.net
TDA Dairy Permit for dairy cattle, goats, and sheep
Dairy must be permitted by TDA to be eligible as a dairy at time of application.
— Contact TDA Consumer and Industry Services Division for dairy permit information at 615-837-5536.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America or lawfully present in the United States.
2. Applicant must be at least 18 years old at time of application.
3. Applicant must be a Tennessee resident residing in Tennessee. Documentation, including a current Tennessee Driver/Identification license, may be requested to verify applicant has established residency in Tennessee.
4. Applicant must be operating a farm* in Tennessee.
* To operate a farm means to share in the expenses, profits, and/or management of farm production.
A farm may involve the production of multiple agricultural products and may have more than one location in Tennessee.
A diversified farm with multiple species of livestock, crops, and/or multiple locations is considered a single operation regardless of tax filings or organizational structure.
If two or more individuals participate in the operation of the farm*, only one individual is eligible to apply for TAEP Application A cost share.
5. Applicant must have filed a Federal IRS Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Farming, within the last two years (2021 or 2022).
Applicant will not be required to submit a copy of their Schedule F at the time of application. However, applicant may be asked to submit a copy of their Schedule F prior to TAEP approval to verify their farming operation. If your operation does not file a Schedule F, please contact TAEP about alternate documentation (Schedule C or Schedule K) to verify farming status.
IMPORTANT
Certifications, permits, and other eligible requirements as specified by sector must be completed by the applicant. No substitutions allowed.