It’s no secret that high input costs have greatly impacted American agriculture over the past several years, forcing farmers to allocate funds and make hard decisions regarding their operations. Because of price uncertainty, additional support helps in maximizing farming profits and allows producers to adapt to the changing market conditions.
That’s where the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) steps in. TAEP was established in 2005 to support Tennessee producers and give them the financial assistance necessary to invest in the quality, sustainability, and safety of their operations. What began as a program focused primarily on livestock handling equipment has transformed over the years to include livestock solutions, herd health, genetics, working structures, hay storage, row crop solutions, and more.
Many producers, such as Judy and Houston Herbert of College Grove, mark their calendars every year for the TAEP application period, which is Oct.1-7 this year.
“I’ve been using TAEP for seven years now — ever since my family and I took over managing the farm after my father passed,” says Judy. “Some of our best purchases have been through the program. Over the years, we’ve bought a cattle-working pen, corral panels, a squeeze chute, a grain bin, and a scale. This year, we’re planning to apply for cost-share on a hay shed.”
As a Vacc-60 producer, Judy says that the scale she purchased last year helps her track the gains of the cattle and ensures she is giving the proper dosage of dewormer and other medications.
“Weighing our calves is an advantage I wasn’t aware of until my son, Houston, encouraged me to buy a scale,” she says. “Being able to track weight every time we give the calves a round of dewormer has given me the needed information to create the best management plan.”
Based on the recommendation of Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M., TAEP is making several important modifications to the application for the 2022-23 period. Producers filing under Application A, specifically, will experience greater opportunity and support from the program than in previous years.
The primary modification to the program includes an increase in reimbursement maximums — from $2,000 to $6,000, for the herd health program — which is meant to further incentivize cattle vaccinations.
“A healthy herd is a profitable herd, and profitability leads to sustainability,” says Commissioner Hatcher. “Tennessee’s thriving cattle sector contributes to making agriculture the number one industry in our state. Herd health programs are key to maintaining that success, and we are glad to be able to offer this incentive to our cattle producers.”
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative (TFC) Livestock Program Manager Dale Bryson says that he is excited about the benefits that Vacc-60 producers, specifically, can receive from the new TAEP initiative.
“The increase in reimbursement funds for cattle vaccinations is important for Vacc-60 producers,” says Bryson. “This means that producers could get $37 total reimbursement per head, which will add to the profitability of the Vacc-60 program.”
Producers who are interested in the Vacc-60 program but don’t have the space to wean their calves can also apply for the $4,000 TAEP reimbursement for permanent working pens, which can be used for weaning purposes.
Other notable additions to the TAEP 2022-23 application include the addition of livestock trailers, pasture drag harrows, wick applicators, and a herd health management software/subscription incentive. The hay storage program is also on rotation this year with an increased amount per square foot maximum due to the increasing cost of materials and labor.
Although not operating on a large enough scale to utilize the vaccination reimbursement yet, brothers Ross and Perry Nash of Putnam County have put their TAEP purchases to good use after making the tough decision to close Nash Dairy in February to concentrate on the beef business.
“Handling beef cattle is nothing like the mild-mannered Holsteins we’re used to,” laughs Ross. “As we’ve made the transition, our TAEP purchases, especially the Tru-Test scale that we installed under our squeeze chute, have helped us safely keep up with our calves’ progress.”
As 15-year supporters of the program, Ross and Perry encourage both new and old producers alike to take advantage of the cost-share program.
“Operating a farm today isn’t the same as it was back in the ‘70s when my family first opened the dairy,” says Perry. “It’s getting harder to make a full-time living from farming, so any financial help we can get is worth it. TAEP has been extremely good to us over the years.”
The TAEP 2022-23 application period is open Oct. 1-7, 2022, and an online form is available at www.tn.gov/taep. For more program, visit https://www.ourcoop.com/vacc-60.