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Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program

Basic Eligibility Requirements for TAEP Programs
  • Applicants must be Tennessee residents and operate a farm or agribusiness located in Tennessee
  • Applicants must be 18 years of age as of application date
  • Infrastructure must be built on applicant owned land located in Tennessee
  • Livestock Equipment and Handling Facilities can be located on leased land
  • Applicants must have demonstrated ability and financial capacity to complete the project
  • Applicants cannot combine projects with other applicants
Livestock Producer Requirements

Applicants with livestock must register their premises with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). Applicants can register their livestock premises at FarmService Agency, UT Extension, Farm Bureau or Tennessee Farmers
Co-op locations. Premises registration forms and instructions are also available from TDA online at www.tennessee.gov/agriculture/tpis or by calling (615) 837-5189. Important – the applicant’s name must match the name listed on premises account to be eligible for cost share.

Standard Producer

Beef and Pork Producers must be BQA and PQA certified
(Poultry and Goat/Sheep producers are excluded from this requirement.)

Beef Quality Assurance Program is a two-hour educational course on cattle management and care sponsored by the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association. Additional information on BQA classes is available by contacting TCA at
(615) 896-2333 or info@tncattle.org, or by visiting www.tncattle.org.

Pork Quality Assurance Programis a two-hour educational course on swine management and care sponsored by the Tennessee Pork Producers Association. Additional information on PQA classes is available by contacting the TPPA at (615) 274-6533 or tnpork@tds.net.

Master Producer

(Beef, Dairy, and Goat producers only) Successful completion of the UT Extension MasterBeef (MBP), Master Meat Goat Producer Program(MMGP), or completion of three or more Tennessee Quality Milk Initiative Program (TQMI) Modules prior to program reimbursement deadline is required.

The TDA is offering scholarships to producers who participate in the UT Extension’s
MBP, MMGP and/or TQMI programs.
Master Beef Producer Scholarship - $100
Master Meat Goat Producer Scholarship - $100                                                                                                                            TQMI Module - $40 per session
Tuition payments will be paid directly to the University of Tennessee or Tennessee State University. Contact your local extension office for class schedule. Visit www.utextension.utk.edu to find your local extension information.