Tag Archives: farming

Green is the color usually associated with spring. Although for many who own or tend pastures, spring brings lots of unwanted yellow, too. That pretty but undesirable yellow belongs to the flowers of the weeds commonly called buttercups. In Tennessee, there are two especially pesky species of buttercup, says Neil Rhodes, Jr., University of Tennessee professor and Extension weed management specialist. They are ...

The Gatlinburg Farmers Market, held every Saturday, May 16 – Oct 17, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Covered Bridge in the Glades Arts and Crafts Community of Gatlinburg, Tenn., welcomes vendors for the 2015 season. All farms and artisans providing foods and items grown, raised, or made by that farm or business are encouraged to visit ...

The onset of spring sends farmers and gardeners to the field with hopes of a bountiful summer harvest. Those who end up with excess produce or who want to find a use for less-than-best-quality produce often look for ways to transform the produce into profits. “Farmers and gardeners may use their extra vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, honey or other farm ...

You will rarely find tractor parts for sale at a grocery store or pre-packaged snack cakes offered on a dessert menu at a white tablecloth restaurant. Different products fit different market outlets, and this marketing principle is important for farms selling products directly to consumers. “Whether your sales outlet is a farmers market, roadside stand, Pick-Your-Own operation or any other ...

Most producers this time of year are not thinking about hay needs for next winter, but rather they wonder whether they will have enough hay to finish out this winter. However, March is a good time to evaluate what will be needed in terms of feed resources for the following winter. “March is an ideal time to evaluate hay needs ...

NASHVILLE— As the temperatures plummet and the icy conditions take hold, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is urging citizens to take steps to keep livestock safe and healthy. “Most livestock tolerate cold weather well,” state veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said. “However, extreme temperature changes can have a dramatic impact on an animal’s health and performance.” Access to fresh water is ...

More Tennessee farms are inviting the public onto the farm to purchase products. “Selling products directly from the farm can be an effective marketing strategy,” said Megan Leffew, a marketing specialist with the University of Tennessee Extension Center for Profitable Agriculture. However, she cautioned that such efforts should be considered within the whole farm context. “For farms near population centers, ...