Applicant Eligibility
TAEP is a cost share program for individual agricultural producers. Applicant can apply for both Application A and Application B if eligible.
Agricultural associations, clubs, non-profits, and other similar groups are not eligible to apply.
Application A offers a variety of cost share programs for agricultural producers involved in the production of cattle, dairy, goats/sheep, hay, commercial poultry, row crop (corn, cotton, soybeans, and/or wheat), commercial swine, and commercial equine operations (horses, donkeys, and/or mules).
Programs include Dairy Solutions, Genetics, Hay Equipment, Hay Storage, Herd Health, Livestock Equipment, Livestock Solutions, Poultry Grower, Row Crop Solutions, Swine Producer, and Working Structures & Fence-line Systems. Producers must meet basic applicant eligibility and specific program requirements to apply.
Application B - Producer Diversification – offers cost share opportunities for agricultural producers involved in agritourism, fruit & vegetable, honey bee, horticulture, organics, and value-added products. Applicant must be an existing agricultural producer meet basic applicant eligibility and specific program requirements to apply. It is recommended to have at least three years of reported farm income to be considered a competitive applicant within Producer Diversification.
1. Citizenship
Applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America or lawfully present in the United States at time of application.
2. Age
Applicant must be at least 18 years old at time of application.
3. Tennessee Residency
Applicant must be a Tennessee resident residing in Tennessee at time of application.
Documentation, including a current Tennessee Driver/Identification license, may be requested to verify applicant has established residency in Tennessee.
4. Federal IRS Schedule F (Form 1040) Filing
Applicant must have filed a Federal IRS Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Farming, within the last two years (2023 or 2024).
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.
5. Farm Operation Participation
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.
Only one individual involved in the farm operation can apply for TAEP Application A.
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. Therefore, 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.
Agricultural associations, clubs, non-profits, and other similar groups are not eligible to apply.
6. Minimum Livestock/Acreage Requirements
Applicant must meet at least one of the minimum requirements of head of livestock or acres in production for program selected. 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 last 12 months. Eligible livestock include cattle, equids (horses, donkeys, and/or mules), goats/sheep and swine.
- Equids must be part of a commercial equine business (breeding, training, and/or boarding) to qualify.
- Goats/sheep can be combined to meet minimum head requirement.
- Swine must be part of a commercial operation to qualify.
Hay Acreage = acres of hay in production (first cutting only). Acreage can be owned or leased in Tennessee. Applicant may be required to list location (by county, control map, & parcel) of acres at time of reimbursement.
Poultry = number of birds per year. Poultry must be part of a commercial operation to qualify.
Row Crop Acreage = acres of row crop production of corn, cotton, soybeans, and/or wheat. Acreage can be owned or leased in Tennessee. Applicant may be required to list location of acres (by county, control map, & parcel) at time of reimbursement.
7. Educational Requirement - Master Certification
Approved applicants are required to have a current eligible master certification at time of reimbursement – not at time of application – to be considered for cost share reimbursement.
Eligible courses are determined by program.
Certificate must be completed by the approved applicant. No substitutions allowed.
Certificates completed 2022 or after will be accepted.
Applicant must submit copy of current certificate with reimbursement request.
1. Citizenship
Applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America or lawfully present in the United States at time of application.
2. Age
Applicant must be at least 18 years old at time of application.
3. Tennessee Residency
Applicant must be a Tennessee resident residing in Tennessee at time of application.
Documentation, including a current Tennessee Driver/Identification license, may be requested to verify applicant has established residency in Tennessee.
4. Federal IRS Schedule F (Form 1040) Filing
Applicant must have filed a Federal IRS Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Farming, within the last two years (2023 or 2024).
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.
5. Farm Operation Participation
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.
Only one individual involved in the farm operation can apply for TAEP Application B.
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. Therefore, if two or more individuals participate in the operation of the farm, only one individual is eligible to apply for TAEP Application B cost share.
Agricultural associations, clubs, non-profits, and other similar groups are not eligible to apply.
6. Sector Requirements
Applicant must meet any additional requirements as indicated within the sector applied for.
7. Educational Requirement – Special Requirements
Approved applicants are required to have a current eligible master certification or special requirement equivalent for Producer Diversification at time of reimbursement – not at time of application – to be considered for cost share reimbursement.
Eligible courses are determined by approved sector.
Special requirements/master certification must be completed by the approved applicant. No substitutions allowed.
Special requirements/master certification completed 2022 or after will be accepted.
Applicant must submit copy of current certificate or indicate special requirement courses completed with reimbursement request.
Email Producer.Diversification@tn.gov for the 2025-2026 TAEP Special Requirements list.
Applicant Responsibility
It is the applicant’s responsibility to review eligibility and program requirements prior to applying for cost share. Applicant must qualify for program selected at time of application to be considered for approval. Applicant is required to acknowledge the TAEP Applicant Agreement when submitting their application.
Applicant Agreement
- I warrant that I have carefully read and understand all TAEP requirements, guidelines, and criteria featured at www.tn.gov/taep.
- I understand that it is solely my responsibility to ensure my project is eligible for TAEP funding and that failure to comply with all TAEP requirements, guidelines, and criteria may result in denial of my application, denial of any or all reimbursement payments, repayment of cost share funds, and/or suspension from TAEP.
- I certify that all information provided by me is complete, true, and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.
- I understand that providing any false, fraudulent, or misleading information to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture may result in suspension of my operation from TAEP, civil litigation, and/or criminal prosecution.
Additional Information
Nondiscrimination
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against persons based on their race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Any person alleging discrimination based on a prohibited basis has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discrimination with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and/or the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. For more information contact TDA’s Human Resources office at 615-837-5116.
Public Disclosure
Under Tennessee’s Public Records law, information provided to the state becomes public record and is open to public inspection unless otherwise protected by state or federal law.
A public record is defined as all documents or materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics made or received in connection with the transaction of official business by any governmental agency. Please be aware that information collected by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture could be made available to the public upon request by any citizen of the state. Requests for public records will be examined for compliance with public record laws.