Farmland Preservation: BILL NUMBER TBD – Johnson | Lamberth
Tennessee continues to lose crucial farmland to growth and sprawl. Tennessee Farm Bureau has worked with both the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to find potential solutions to slow the loss of farmland, as well as provide resources for smart growth and expansion. Legislation is expected to be a part of Governor Lee’s administrative package which would establish a farmland preservation fund to allow landowners options for future decision making when it comes to their land.
Constitutional Amendment: SJR 1 – Haile | Darby
Continued from the 113th General Assembly. As proposed, this constitutional amendment would prohibit the state of Tennessee from ever collecting a statewide property tax. This tax, which has not been collected since the 1940s, is separate from local government property taxes. This legislation passed in the 113th General Assembly with the required simply majority vote. 2025 begins the second of three hurdles, as it must pass the Senate with a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate chambers. From there, it would head to the 2026 Gubernatorial ballot where half of those voting for Governor must support the amendment for it to be codified in the state’s Constitution.
Crop Protection Liability Protection: BILL NUMBER TBD – STEVENS I GRILLS
Seeks to establish liability protection to companies who manufacturer and label chemicals according to FIFRA standards from frivolous and unnecessary “failure to warn” lawsuits.
Supporting 4-H and FFA Camp Opportunities: BUDGET REQUEST
The 4-H and FFA Foundations are seeking a historic $92M investment into six youth education camps across Tennessee to improve infrastructure and expand student opportunities. 4-H and FFA members from all 95 counties utilize the camps and centers each year. Thousands of parents and families entrust these organizations to positively impact the lives of their children. 178,000 youth are directly engaged with either 4-H or FFA, and 81% of those students say attending camp makes them more likely to pursue a post-secondary education. Investing in facilities such as these which directly contribute to student’s success is not only a short-term investment for Tennessee’s education climate, but a direct investment into the state’s future workforce.
Cumberland, Greene, Hardeman, Maury, Warren, and Van Buren Counties are home to these facilities. Improvements to the camps is an improvement to these rural counties, which benefit from the economic impact of visitors who will come from across Tennessee and even from across America to utilize the camps and centers.
Precision Agriculture Expertise at UTIA: BUDGET REQUEST
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is seeking a $3M recurring investment to support the expansion of a precision agriculture expertise. This initiative will play a pivotal role in advancing agricultural technology and enhancing the vitality of Tennessee’s agricultural sector. UTIA’s precision ag team will focus on critical areas, including artificial intelligence, data science, sensors/sensing technologies, precision animal nutrition, cybersecurity, and livestock housing environments. By investing in these technologies, UTIA aims to not only bolster research capabilities, but also to equip our farmers with innovative tools to optimize land use efficiency and mitigate the impacts of farmland loss.
Providing Local Governments Resources for Planning: BUDGET REQUEST
Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Association of County Mayors, Tennessee Municipal League, and Tennessee County Services Association entered into a joint effort to support initiatives to help local communities plan for an manage growth while reducing farm and forest loss in Tennessee. The funding request has three key priorities: continued support of Governor Lee’s farmland preservation initiative, enhancing local government planning support with the help of University of Tennessee’s Institute of Public Service, and expanding landowner education through programming hosted by the Center for Profitable Agriculture, a joint venture from Tennessee Farm Bureau and the University of Tennessee. The total funding request is $2.6 million.
Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program
- More than $246 million has been invested in 80,860 producer projects from 2005 to 2022. Each TAEP dollar awarded to an eligible farmer generates $6.55 in local economies.
- New application materials are available mid-August. The annual application period is October 1st-7th. The application is taking steps to move toward a fully online application process but will still accept paper applications this year.
- Approval notifications are scheduled to be mailed mid-December. Program purchases can be made starting October 1st and must be completed by the program’s final reimbursement request deadline.
Agricultural Enterprise Fund
- The Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) is an incentive program which awards grants to those starting or growing their agricultural, food, and forestry enterprises. Businesses, nonprofits, local governments, or other entities in the Tennessee are considered. For every dollar the state awards to an eligible business, $17.55 is generated in the local economy.
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong potential for an impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity, or agricultural innovation within the state of Tennessee. Priority is given to those located in at-risk counties, distressed counties, and counties near those at-risk or distressed.
- The application is due in the month of July every year.
