After nearly four decades working for UT Extension, Kevin Ferguson is hitting the ground running as the new Executive Director of the Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee. FACT oversees animal welfare in the state. On this episode of Root of The Matter Kevin explains more about what FACT does and he hopes to accomplish in the role.
Sweetwater Valley Farm is one of the few dairies left in Tennessee. Owner John Harrison has grown the operation and turned it into an agritourism destination with their famous cheese being a big draw. On this episode of Root of The Matter Thomas Capps sits down with John and his son Charles to talk about how SweetWater Valley Farm was created and how they continue to evolve and grow.
The Herbert College of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee Knoxville hit record enrollment this fall. University of Tennessee Senior Vice Chancellor Keith Carver sat down with Lee Maddox to talk about this major milestone for the Herbert College of Agriculture and why he believes this is just the beginning for growth.
Each year on November 11th we pause as a Nation to honor our great veterans for their service. On this special Veterans Day episode of Root of The Matter Lee Maddox talks with veterans David Hochreiter & Ron Bridges who is the President of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Tennessee. They discuss what it means to them to have served and why it's important to honor veterans on Veterans Day & everyday.
It's been more than a month since Hurricane Helene left behind destruction in upper East Tennessee. Dr. Aaron Smith with University Of Tennessee Institute Of Agriculture has been working to put an estimate on the economic impact the storm damage will have on agriculture in the area. They estimate that the damage will cost a little more than $1 billion dollars in the agriculture sector in East Tennessee alone. Lee Maddox talked with Smith about their findings and how it's more than what soime exp...
Cotton has been a staple crop in the southern United States for centuries. That's not the case in other parts of the country or even world. A French newspaper reporter is spending several weeks in Alabama and southern Tennessee researching and talking to cotton growers with the intent of writing a 10 page article for the publication she writes for back in France. Her research lead her to Lincoln County, Tennessee for Josh Ogle's cotton picking day. That's where Lee Maddox talked to her about her...
Joseph & Meredith Redman are all in on the farm to table agritourism scene. Their Grace Meadows Farm in Washington County has become a go to destination for folks to take in the beautiful scenery on their farm and to eat at the restaurant they have there. They recently won the Tennessee Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence In Agriculture competition. On this episode the Redman's discuss what it means to win this award and talk about their Grace Meadows Farm.
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) is deploying its mobile veterinary clinic to Carter County, Tennessee, in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. This deployment is in response to a request from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). UT Veterinarian College Deploys Mobile Care Unit
People in Northeast Tennessee that were impacted by the massive flooding from Hurricane Helene are still assessing and dealing with the nightmare that is now their reality. Tons of donated supplies and volunteers have poured into the impacted area but the need is still great. Lee Maddox checked in with Tennessee Farm Bureau Area Field Director Steven Huff to get an update on the recovery effort and what is needed now. There is also a new initiative to collect donations to help farmers impacted b...
Northeast Tennessee is reeling from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene. More than 30 inches of rain fell in Western North Carolina, sending massive amounts of water down river into East Tennessee and causing excessive flooding. People lost homes, bridges have been wiped out, crops are gone and much of the area is without water. Tennessee Farm Bureau field director for upper East Tennessee, Steven Huff, updates on conditions on the ground there, and Shelli Rampold with UT Extension d...
The beef industry is ever evolving from genetics to the latest technology and feeding practices. Beef cattle farmers are constantly trying to stay up to date on the latest industry practices to improve beef quality and to meet a growing demand for American beef. Those cutting-edge practices don’t just happen as it takes hours of research. That’s why the work that the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture does on their research farms across the state is so important. For the third year...
It's no secret that each generation of Americans are becoming further removed from the farm. Because of that there is a lack of understanding about where our food comes from, and how it's grown and produced. All of that is leading to growing misinformation and untrue things being spread about the food and agriculture industry. Ray Starling is trying to push back against that false information. Starling served in the Trump administration as an agriculture advisor, and as Chief of Staff to former ...
Circle S Farms in Wilson County, Tennessee has a rich legacy that dates back to the late 1800's. Lily Steed is the eighth generation in her family to live and work on Circle S Farms. Lily explains how agritourism is something that's allowed she and her Dad to continue the farm that her ancestors started decades ago, and how it's helping educate the next generation about agriculture.
Tourists have traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for years to take in the beauty of the East Tennessee mountains, and to possibly get a sight of a black bear and her cubs. Recently though black bears have been seen outside of their native region of the state, but rather in Middle Tennessee. Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Black Bear Program Leader, Dan Gibbs, explains why we're seeing black bears outside of their typical habitat, and what you should do if you encounter one in your neighborhood...
It's no secret that Americans overall are not the healthiest. In fact studies show that Americans spend nearly two trillion dollars in healthcare due to poor nutrition. On this episode of Root of The Matter Kelsey Barnes with the Food Journal Foundation dives into a new idea called food is health. It's the idea that consuming fresh, local, healthy foods can prevent chronic disease. Barnes explains why she believes this idea is here to stay, and how farmers can take advantage of it to further div...
The Farmer's Almanac has been forecasting the weather since its inception in 1792. Sandi Duncan is the current editor of the Farmer's Almanac, and gives us their projections for this coming winter and the rest of 2025.
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall recently came to the Volunteer State to address farmers at the Tennessee Farm Bureau Presidents Conference. Lee Maddox caught up with Duvall after where they discussed how powerful advocacy at the county farm bureau level is powerful, and how Duvall is hopeful a new farm bill still might get passed before the end of the year.
George McDonald of Catesa Farms is the 2024 Tennessee Farmer of the Year. George farms more than 9,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, hay, watermelons and strawberries. As farmer of the year, George will represent Tennessee and compete on the national stage in Moultrie, Georgia at the Sunbelt Ag Expo this fall. On this episode of Root of the Matter, George talks about what it means to him to be selected for this award and details his operation.
Tracy & Katie Robinson of Franklin County are the 2024 Tennessee Young Farmers of The Year! They were named Young Farmers of The Year at the 2024 Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers Summer Conference. Lee Maddox caught up with the Robinson's right after they were named state winners to hear what it means to them to win this big award.
Each year the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium annual meeting is held in different parts of the country, allowing beef producers to meet and discuss ways to improve their product. This year the meeting is being held in Knoxville. Troy Rowan with the University of Tennessee discusses the importance of this meeting, and how improving cattle genetics has become one of the main topics at the meeting.
