What All Tennessean Farmers Should Know Right Now
In any economic crisis, all financial markets are hit in some way, but some are hit harder than others. Understanding where your business falls on this spectrum can help you weather the downturn. This time, the compounding health crisis has created new obstacles for small and big businesses, not only on a national level, but from state to state.
Which brings us to your farm. The agricultural sector in Tennessee has been hit a little differently than other areas of the country, and Tennessee farmers have different resources than farmers in other parts of the U.S. That’s why West Hills Tractor has provided some tips for farming in Tennessee during these unique and unusual times. Whether you have one or a thousand acres, careful planning and the right information can make all the difference. You can also contact us at our location in Jonesborough, serving Johnson City and Greenville, for additional tips and information.
The Impact So Far
Understanding how this particular crisis is affecting your farm and the farms around you is a complicated matter that certainly deserves your constant and undivided attention. The best advice we can give you is to subscribe to reliable agricultural news sources, both for the country and the region, for regular updates on how things are changing.
The most damaging part of this crisis is not that there’s a lack of product, but a lack of demand. With people and businesses less willing to buy farm products, or purchase it at a fraction of the value, Tennessee farmers have seen severe losses and increased waste.
Some of the hardest hit markets include livestock, cotton, and corn.
On top of that, some of the larger farms are wrestling with the issue of needing to hire a labor force to meet demands, but not wanting to endanger workers. Many operations have also been forced to try and enter a backed up supply chain to grocery stores as opposed to going directly to restaurants. This can mean trying to hold on to perishable foods while waiting for a lifeline to the buyers.
The Lifelines You Don’t Have to Wait For
At this point, there are a plethora of resources to help keep you informed and afloat. As we mentioned, there are ways to stay up-to-date on the latest developments for the state, like the Tennessee Farm Bureau, and nation-wide, like the USDA. You can also find additional information on these sites about safety and health through the crisis.
The USDA is offering a number of program flexibilities to provide relief to farmers across the country, including securities for dumped milk, crop insurance adjustments, farm loan flexibilities, and more.
And, now that much of the state and USDA offices are open again, you can schedule an in-person appointment to discuss your options with an agent.
Where Do We Go From Here?
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a hundred times: Find ways to stay up-to-date on the latest developments regarding both the health and economic crisis. Find reliable sources and check in once a day or once every other day to see how new laws, mandates, and opportunities might affect your farm.
Unfortunately, this is the best we can do. There’s much about this time in history that’s unprecedented and it’s impossible to predict the future. Weathering the ups and downs will likely require an adaptive strategy, but it’s safe to say that we will adapt.
And, of course, you’ll want to lean on the support of your community, as they’ll lean on you. You can also lean on West Hills Tractor to help you affordably continue working all your farm equipment efficiently. Let us know how we can help ease some of the burden or contact us to check out our farm equipment for sale. We’re open for business, so stop by our location in Jonesborough, Tennessee, serving Johnson City and Greenville, for quality service and a friendly face.