Tagged: USDA

Mayfield City Officials are seeking grant funding to buy land for a new farmers’ market.  Mayor Teresa Cantrell said currently the town's market has no permanent home and sets up on the downtown square on Saturday mornings and a borrowed church parking lot on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. 

“We thought that was something communities needed, especially small rural communities like Mayfield," said Cantrell. "We need our farmers’ market and they needed a home to conduct their activities. It needs to be a visible place where they can get drive-by traffic and have regular hours.”

U.S. Department of Agriculture loans and grants will help replace the troubled Grand Rivers wastewater treatment plant. The USDA’s Acting Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, John Padalino  said the $6-million allow for a new treatment plant and modified pump station. Grand Rivers Mayor Tom Moodie has said the current plant is underpowered and fails often.  Padalino said environmental impact studies have been completed to allow the project to move forward.

Tennessee has $170,000 dollars available for certified organic farmers and those transitioning to organic agriculture. The money is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Organic Initiative, which helps plan and implement conservation practices that allow their organic operations to be environmentally sustainable.  Some of these practices include cover crops, nutrient and pest management and crop rotation.

A partnership between two regional non-profit organizations and USDA Rural Development is helping West Tennessee veterans find jobs. Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode says the partnership is between Memphis Bioworks Foundation and the Crockett Policy Institute. The USDA is providing a $30,000 grant. The collaboration will establish a network of support organizations, a comprehensive database and outreach programs to help veterans find jobs in the energy sector.