Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA)

View the application questions and complete your application online at this portal.

The Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) is an incentive program that supports Governor Lee’s priority of job creation and economic development by facilitating agricultural development in Tennessee. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Department of Economic and Community Development.

The AEF awards grants to starting or expanding agricultural, food, and forestry businesses; nonprofits, local governments, and other entities in Tennessee, or those whose project will be located in Tennessee. The program focuses on value-added&#x2004;and processing projects that benefit other producers or forest landowners. **Farming projects such as livestock, row crop, or horticulture production expansions will not be competitive, but may be supported through the [Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP)](https://ambrook.com/funding/tennessee-agricultural-enhancement-program).**

Successful grant recipients must demonstrate a strong potential for impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity or agricultural innovation. Priority will be given to businesses located in at-risk counties, distressed counties, and counties adjoining at-risk or distressed counties, and the AEF selection process is competitive.



The Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) is an incentive program that supports Governor Lee’s priority of job creation and economic development by facilitating agricultural development in Tennessee. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Department of Economic and Community Development.
The AEF awards grants to starting or expanding agricultural, food, and forestry businesses; nonprofits, local governments, and other entities in Tennessee, or those whose project will be located in Tennessee. The program focuses on value-added and processing projects that benefit other producers or forest landowners. Farming projects such as livestock, row crop, or horticulture production expansions will not be competitive, but may be supported through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP).
Successful grant recipients must demonstrate a strong potential for impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity or agricultural innovation. Priority will be given to businesses located in at-risk counties, distressed counties, and counties adjoining at-risk or distressed counties, and the AEF selection process is competitive.

Applicant Requirements
- Applicants must be a Tennessee entity (i.e. agriculture, food, or forestry business, farmer, local government, or nonprofit in Tennessee) or have a project based in Tennessee.
- Applicants must demonstrate that their project will increase farm income for local farmers, enhance access to agricultural markets, increase capacity of their business, or contribute to the agriculture industry through innovation.
- Applicants must be making an investment into the project. AEF funds may not be more than 25% of the project’s total budget.
- Applicants must submit project updates to measure impact of the grant on the applicant as well as the local economy, and agree to work with the Department of Agriculture to track success of the project.
- Applicants may not submit proposals that will result in relocation of a facility from one place in Tennessee to another.
- Applicants must purchase at least 25% of any agricultural inputs from Tennessee producers. This requirement may be relaxed when compliance would be impracticable – i.e. in times of drought, disease, etc.
Project Requirements
Projects funded by the Agricultural Enterprise Fund must match the description of at least one of the following four categories. Many projects will potentially match the description of more than one category and applicants should indicate so on their application.
- Increase in Farm Income - This category includes projects that will increase farm income by offering farmers higher commodity prices than other markets, processing value-added products for farmers, or allowing a single farmer to add value to their own farm products.
- Increased Access to Markets - This category includes projects that will create or expand a market for Tennessee farmers or forest landowners, including reducing miles that farmers must transport their products to market or creating a new market entirely. 
- Increased Capacity - This category includes projects that will expand the capacity of an existing agricultural, food, or forestry business, including their production or processing capacity or the number of employees.
- Agricultural Innovation - This category is appropriate for entrepreneurs who wish to market a new technological innovation with the potential to impact Tennessee agriculture or the forestry industry by creating efficiencies in production, reducing costs, etc.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

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Trees

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture established the Forestry, Agriculture, and Rural Markets (FARM) cost share program to help&#x2004;ensure stability of the food supply chain and agribusiness economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FARM program is designed to provide cost share dollars and financial incentives for projects that strengthen and expand Tennessee agricultural and forestry supply chains in response to the weaknesses revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded by the State of Tennessee’s allocation of American Rescue Plan funding through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.



The Tennessee Department of Agriculture established the Forestry, Agriculture, and Rural Markets (FARM) cost share program to help ensure stability of the food supply chain and agribusiness economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FARM program is designed to provide cost share dollars and financial incentives for projects that strengthen and expand Tennessee agricultural and forestry supply chains in response to the weaknesses revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded by the State of Tennessee’s allocation of American Rescue Plan funding through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.

Applicants must be an agricultural, food, or forestry business; or nonprofit agricultural entity in Tennessee or have a project based in Tennessee.

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Trade Relief

Wildfire

Weather

Coronavirus

Fencing

Local Food

Farmers Market

Hurricane

Tornado

Flood

Drought

Emergency

Food Systems

The FARM cost share program will cover 50% of costs for projects that impact counties that are not classified as economically distressed or at-risk. For projects impacting distressed or at-risk counties, the cost share rate will be 75%.
Financial assistance received from the FARM grant program is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. Funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis.

Applications and instructions by type are available here.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) was established in 2005 to provide cost share dollars to agricultural producers for the purpose of making long-term investments in Tennessee farms and communities. Participation allows producers to maximize farm profits, adapt to changing market situations, improve operation safety, increase farm efficiency, and make a positive economic impact in their communities.



The Enhancement Program is split across 3 Applications for different Enhancement types:
- Application A covers Livestock, Row Crop, and Hay Producers.
- Application B covers Producer Diversification
- Application C covers Poultry Growers
Eligibility for each Application can be found here

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Dairy

Row Crops

Livestock

Poultry

Butter

Cheese

Milk

Yogurt

Alfalfa

Amaranth Grain

Barley

Buckwheat

Canola

Corn

Cotton

Einkorn

Emmer

Flax

Grains

Guar

Hemp

Indigo

Kenaf

Khorasan

Millet

Mustard

Oats

Oilseeds

Peanuts

Quinoa

Rapeseed

Rice

Safflower

Sorghum

Soybeans

Speltz

Sugar

Sugar Beets

Sunflowers

Teff

Triticale

Wheat

Cattle

Pigs

Sheep

Specialty Livestock

Chickens

Cornish Hens

Ducks

Geese

Turkey

Cow Milk

Goat Milk

Malting Barley

Sweet Corn

ELS Cotton

Upland Cotton

Crambe

Sesame

Sunflower Seeds

Industrial Rice

Japonica Rice

Long Grain Rice

Medium Grain Rice

Sweet Rice

Wild Rice

Raw Sugars

Refined Sugars

Durum Wheat

Hard Red Spring Wheat

Beef Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle

Barrows

Boars

Feeder Pigs

Hogs

Sows

Ewes

Lambs

Rams

Alpacas

Beefalo

Bison

Buffalo

Caribou

Deer

Emus

Equine

Goats

Guinea Pigs

Llamas

Mink

Mohair

Ostrich

Pheasants

Quail

Rabbits

Reindeer

Water Buffalo

Broilers

Chicks

Fryers

Layers

Pullets

Roasters

Ducklings

Goslings

Poults

Toms

Beef Bottom Round

Beef Brisket

Beef Chuck Roast

Beef Eye Round

Beef Flank Steak

Beef Flat Iron Steak

Beef Heart

Beef Liver

Beef London Broil

Beef NY Strip Steak

Beef Oxtail

Beef Rib Steak

Beef Rump Roast

Beef Short Ribs

Beef Sirloin

Beef Sirloin Tip Roast

Beef Skirt Steak

Beef Soup Bones

Beef Stew Meat

Beef Tongue

Beef Top Round

Beef Whole Filet

Ground Beef

Ground Lamb

Lamb Chops

Lamb Heart

Lamb Leg

Lamb Liver

Lamb Shank

Lamb Shoulder

Lamb Stew Meat

Bison Calf

Bison Meat

Horses

Bucks

Nannies

Slaughter Goats

Other Commodities

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Greenhouse

Buildings

Construction

Storage

Public Health

Compliance

Marketing

Terms are specific to each different program. All details can be found here.

Submit project proposal, estimated cost, and any additional relevant information to: 
Tennessee Department of Agriculture 
Attn: Rachel Sullivan 
PO Box 40627 
Nashville, TN 37204

Rachel Sullivan

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is providing this opportunity through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement&#x2004;Program (TAEP). TAEP is a direct result of the State of Tennessee's continued commitment to supporting farm development and Tennessee's agricultural community.


The purpose of the Statewide Agricultural Producer Association Grant Program is to increase income to Tennessee farmers by providing assistance for eligible activities of statewide agricultural producer associations across Tennessee. These activities contribute to the education, training and marketing skills of Tennessee agricultural producers as well as developing markets for farm products. Total funding is limited and grant requests are competitive.



The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is providing this opportunity through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). TAEP is a direct result of the State of Tennessee's continued commitment to supporting farm development and Tennessee's agricultural community.

The purpose of the Statewide Agricultural Producer Association Grant Program is to increase income to Tennessee farmers by providing assistance for eligible activities of statewide agricultural producer associations across Tennessee. These activities contribute to the education, training and marketing skills of Tennessee agricultural producers as well as developing markets for farm products. Total funding is limited and grant requests are competitive.

Eligibility Requirements 
Grant funds are available to statewide agricultural producer associations who meet the eligibility requirements below. A qualified association must: 
1. Be statewide. Local and regional associations are not eligible to apply due to budget limitations. 
2. Clearly identified and quantifiable performance measures should be a part of the proposal. 
3. Associations must be legally organized (501C3, city or county government, university, etc.) and capable of receiving and managing state grant funds. 
4. Activities must meet all federal, state, and local building, food safety, and regulatory requirements. 

Eligible Activities 
Emphasis is placed on activities that directly impact the greatest number of producers and increase agricultural and forestry related economic opportunity. Projects must be innovative and not a substitute for existing programs. Eligible activities include:
1. Identifying and utilizing new marketing opportunities for agriculture and forestry related products 
2. Increasing sales of agriculture and forestry related products grown in Tennessee 
3. Education, demonstration, and training 
4. Expert speakers, training materials, and related educational items 
5. Statewide producer meeting expenses 
6. Other, as pre-approved by TDA 

Stewardship

Events

List of Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Funding Opportunities