Fair time is here once again
It’s time for the annual Warren County A&L Fair.
This event comes along every year in September and signals the end of summer as we move into fall weather. Many folks always say that it always rains during the fair so if that’s true everyone should be looking forward to the fair in a special way this year.
This weekend the fair gets off to a big start when folks show up Saturday for entry day in many of the departments across the fair. I went up to Spencer the other day to judge their crop exhibits and like many years there were lots of okra and tomatoes and a pretty good exhibit of agriculture crops. Okra and tomatoes are all many folks have left in their gardens.
However, the exhibits in the agriculture and the women’s building are just some of the many exhibits that you can see at the fair. The Warren County Master Gardeners are working to spruce up many areas of the fair grounds and will have their booth and some educational talks during the week. The many livestock shows start at the fair this Friday night with the market goat show and continue throughout the week with the Saddle Club Fun show and a dairy goat show on Saturday. Dairy shows are planned for Monday and Tuesday nights with a beef cattle show on Friday night. Saturday September 15 we have a sheep show, a dog show, a mule and colt show and the walking horse show on Saturday night.
There are many other activities at the fair during the week, including youth and adult live demonstrations, many different youth judging activities and don’t forget to go through the nursery building. It’s a great opportunity to see many of the different plants our nurseries produce and sell here in Warren County and it’s the coolest building on the fairgrounds.
Lot of interesting things to see, lots of good food and lots of good friends; the fair is the place to be next week. Don’t forget your umbrellas.
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STATE ANNOUNCES FEED STORAGE GRANT
The department of Agriculture has announced that they are offering Tennessee livestock producers the opportunity to increase farm income by providing producers with a cost share incentive for on farm storing and distributing feed that is necessary to their beef cattle, poultry, and swine operations. This cost share includes purchase/construction of feed bins, mixer wagons, grinder/mixers, silos, commodity baggers and commodity sheds. This initiative is funded through an appropriation for farm development in the state budget as proposed by Governor Phil Bredesen and supported by the Tennessee General Assembly.
Applications will be approved on a first come, first served basis until the funds are depleted. Producers will have until June 1, 2008 to complete approved activities and submit reimbursement paperwork. Only projects approved in advance will be eligible for cost share assistance. Standard Producer can apply for reimbursement of 35 percent cost share, up to the maximum of $3,500. Master Beef Producer can apply for reimbursement of 50 percent cost share, up to the maximum of $15,000. Only those cattle producers that have COMPLETED the UT Master Beef Program by June 1, 2008 will be eligible for 50 percent cost share up to $15,000. Those producers that have NOT COMPLETED the appropriate course by June 1, 2008 will be eligible for the standard cost share rate of 35 percent up to $3,500. Producers interested in taking the Master Beef Producer course are encouraged to contact their local UT Extension Office for details and dates of the programs. Producers may submit only one animal feed storage application per program year. Funding is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. TDA reserves the right to modify approval and payment processes in order to ensure fair and timely management of programs.
The following equipment is eligible for cost share under this program. Feed Bins: Eligible items include any bin that has a minimum capacity of 4 tons and its sole purpose is for on farm storage of animal feed. Any producer that is engaged in an operation that includes cattle, swine, or poultry will be eligible for these feed bins provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Ineligible items include those bins that will be used for storage of bulk commodities that are not directly used for feed. Mixer Wagons and Grinder/Mixers: Eligible items include all equipment directly related to the mixing of grain, hay, and other supplements for feed. Ineligible items include skid steers and attachment implements for existing equipment. Commodity Sheds: Eligible structures include those that are used for storage of materials that can be fed directly to animals or are used in a mixing process to produce feed. It is recommended that commodity sheds conform to guidelines set forth by University of Tennessee guidelines. Structures that are used for storage of materials other than feed will be ineligible. Commodity Baggers, Hay Wrappers: Machinery used for the bagging or debagging of grain and other commodities and wrapping equipment for hay are eligible. Plastic used in bagging or wrapping procedures is ineligible. Grain elevators or other equipment used to load or unload bins or silos are ineligible under this category. Silos: Ground and upright silos for feed storage will be eligible under this program.
The applications are available at my office or at the TDA website: http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/enhancement/index.html