Producer Diversification Program Requirements

Application

1. Applications must be submitted during the application period October 1 – 7, 2021.

• Applications may be submitted by one of the following methods:

° Mail — applications must have a postmark date ranging from October 1 - 7, 2021

° Hand delivery to TDA, Holeman Building, 424 Hogan Road, Nashville, TN 37220 between October 1 – 7, 2021 during normal business hours

• Applications will not be accepted if faxed or emailed.

• Applications are ineligible if postmarked or received prior to October 1 or after October 7, 2021.

2. Application B cost share requests are evaluated on a competitive basis by industry sector.

• Only complete applications that include sufficient information will be considered for evaluation.

• All committee decisions are final.

3. Applicant may only submit one Application B per farm operation*, per Federal IRS Schedule F, per person, per application period.

*A farm operation may be owned and operated by a single individual, multiple individuals, company, corporation, or a partnership located in Tennessee. A farm operation may involve the production of multiple agricultural products and may have multiple locations in Tennessee. Only one person from the farm operation is eligible to apply for TAEP Application B cost share.

4. Applicant will be notified in writing of approval or disapproval. Notifications will be mailed mid-December.

5. Reimbursement packet supersedes all information printed in the application booklet.

Reimbursement

1. Receipts dated prior to October 1, 2021 are not eligible. All items, regardless of backorder status, must be purchased by the program reimbursement deadline. Backordered items may be ineligible for cost share if not delivered to the farm by the program deadline.

2. Receipts for in-kind services are not eligible. Trade-in value is not eligible.

3. Used equipment, used materials, and leased equipment are not eligible for cost share reimbursement unless otherwise noted.

4. Labor provided by applicant is not eligible for cost share reimbursement. Labor is for structures only.

5. Applicant cannot be reimbursed for purchases from a business where applicant participates in ownership (producer cooperatives excluded).

6. Applicants cannot combine projects and submit more than one reimbursement for the same item.

7. Reimbursement documentation must be postmarked or uploaded to your TAEP Online Account Portal by the reimbursement request deadline. Additional processing time is required for incomplete reimbursement requests and requests submitted within one month of the program deadline. It is recommended you submit your reimbursement request as soon as your project is complete.

8. There can only be one reimbursement payment per program approval. Projects must be completed by reimbursement request deadline.

Verification

1. Applicant must utilize equipment and structures reimbursed with cost share funds for the intended purpose of the program for a minimum of five (5) continuous years from date of purchase.

2. Site visits relating to the performance of the project before, during, and after completion may take place. Site visits may include verification of program eligibility to ensure applicants meet eligibility and minimum livestock/acreage requirements for chosen program(s).

3. Applicant may be required to repay funds for failure to comply with all aspects of the cost share guidelines.

4. Providing any false, fraudulent, or misleading information may result in penalties and/or make the applicant’s operation ineligible to participate in present and/or future Tennessee Department of Agriculture programs for a minimum of five years and may result in civil litigation or criminal prosecution.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture may:

  • Accept, modify, or reject any or all requests.
  • Modify program criteria, approval, and payment processes.
  • Provide partial funding for specific activity components that may be less than the full amount requested.
    • Require additional information from the applicant.
    • Deny payments for projects that do not meet requirements.