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The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) joins Governor Bill Lee and the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group in announcing new financial relief programs for businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. TDA has established the Coronavirus Agricultural and Forestry Business (CAFB) Fund to help ensure stability of the food supply chain and agribusiness economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are accepted between August 17 and August 31, 2020.

Tick season is in full swing, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) wants citizens to be aware of the potential harm to animals. Specifically, livestock owners and pet owners should be aware of the Asian longhorned tick (ALT) which appears to be spreading across the state.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry is accepting applications for the 2020 Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program until Sept. 11. Departments may now apply for VFA Wildland Fire Suppression Kits to supplement their department's wildland firefighting capacity.

Farmers markets throughout Tennessee have worked diligently to connect producers of fresh, local foods to consumers safely. From visiting a new market to lighting up the night in Nashville, there are many ways to celebrate farmers markets during National Farmers Market Week Aug. 2-8, 2020.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry will administer federal grant funds to help communities make their homes safer and more defensible from wildland fire.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. today announced 17 more businesses supported by the Agriculture Enterprise Fund (AEF), including 10 meat processing facilities.

Citizens have contacted the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) indicating they’ve received seeds in the mail that they did not order. The seeds appear to have been shipped from China, and in some cases, the envelopes are labeled jewelry or beads.

Two additional Tennessee counties have been quarantined for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) after the beetle was detected earlier this month. Hickman and Dickson Counties join 63 other counties under a state and federal EAB quarantine.

The State of Tennessee wants to make Tennesseans aware, that in several western states, there is currently an outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2). At present, RHDV2 has not been found in rabbits in Tennessee or any neighboring states.

Tennessee farmers who want to access additional markets and increase food safety can now do so with less expense. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) will reimburse qualified producers who become Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified. These producers can get 75% of the GAP certification inspection reimbursed, up to $1,500.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has now gone into effect, providing new market opportunities for Tennessee farmers.

The time to renew hemp growing licenses is here. The deadline to renew Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) hemp grower licenses is June 30, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. CDT.

Families faced with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic are finding relief from food banks, retailers and producers, and there are more donations on the way.

Firefighters with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry deployed this week to help fight fires affecting the western United States.