October/November 2018 High expectations for Tennessee’s 2018 harvest Also inside USDA rolls out programs for farmers impacted by tariffs - p. 6 Greene Farmers Co-op member wins Great Tractor Giveaway - p. 10 Brown Farms one of many Tennessee agritourism operations - p. 26 Follow us on on us Follow Visit our official website at at website official our Visit ourcoop.com Sent to you compliments of: compliments you to Sent contentsOctober/November 2018 Cover Story High expectations 5 Tennessee’s harvest projections estimate most crops will see an increase in yield and production, with corn expected to reach a second consecutive year of record-setting numbers. As of press time (Sept. 26), the state’s farmers are full throttle in the fields, nearing the midway point of the soybean harvest. – Photo by Sarah Geyer On the cover: This year’s corn harvest is expected to average 174 bushels per acre, a 3-bushel increase over last year. — Photo by Glen Liford News and features Relief in sight 10 6 USDA rolls out trade mitigation package for farmers impacted by ‘unjustified’ foreign retaliatory tariffs. The Great Tractor Giveaway 10 Greene Farmers Co-op member Gary Rector is sweepstakes winner. Hobby beginnings 18 Bethel Springs championship horse trainer Josh Young finds success after transforming his father Ricky’s treasured pastime into a flourishing equine enterprise. Profit with winter wheat 18 22 As global demand for wheat continues to increase, agronomy specialists urge farmers to apply intensive crop production management to this often overlooked crop. Generations inspiring generations 26 Featuring family-friendly activities, Brown Farms is one of dozens of Tennessee agritourism operations offering a great time this fall. TenneScene In every issue 4 Snapshots ‘Back to our roots.’ 5 Our Country Churches Indian Ridge Baptist Church in Grainger County. 14 New at Co-op Learn about two new products. 16 Neighborly Advice Owned by you, built for you. 17 Neighborly Advice Feedstuffs for wild deer. 30 What’s Cookin’? Dutch dining. The annual sight of dark-fired tobacco smoking in the barn signals the unofficial start of fall for 34 Every Farmer Has A Story many Middle Tennesseans. These barns house part of the 132 acres grown at the D.W. Rollins Meet Robertson County’s Randy Goff, known farm in Montgomery County. — Photo by Chris Villines as “Uncle Randy” to many he’s influenced. October/November 2018 3 Snapshots ‘Back to our roots’ October/November 2018 Certified Angus Beef stages unique promotion for its 40th anniversary Volume 59, Number 10 Published by Tennessee Farmers Cooperative in the interest of better n celebration of the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) brand’s 40th anniversary, some farming through cooperation and improved 40 barns nationwide are being painted with the brand’s distinctive logo. In Ten- technology, and to connect the Co-op community through shared experiences, Inessee, two barns will feature the CAB trademark: WinCrest Angus in Johnson common values, and rural heritage. City and Deere Valley Angus Farm in Fayetteville. Editor: Glen Liford The idea for the promotion originated as the CAB staff brainstormed how to cel- [email protected] ebrate its 40-year history. A director suggested painting barns. Assistant Editor: Chris Villines “It’s one of those ideas that develops a life of its own,” says Margaret Coleman, [email protected] Communications Specialist: Sarah Geyer CAB director of digital marketing. “The brand was started by Angus producers, and [email protected] Glen Liford this [effort] connects us back to our roots. We’ve been able to visit some historic Senior Graphic Designer: Shane Read Angus operations.” [email protected] Editor The WinCrest Barn is the 33rd to be painted in the promotion. It is owned by Graphic Designer: Jason Barns [email protected] Sam and Betty Widener and sits near the intersection of Carroll Creek Road and Brown’s Mill Road, in Layout & Production Coordinator: clear view of bustling Interstate 26 in Johnson City. The front of the community landmark was already Travis Merriman [email protected] adorned with two quilt squares based on family heirlooms. Editorial Assistant: Polly Campbell According to 2016 traffic counts, some 6,400 vehicles a day pass by the barn on Carroll Creek Road [email protected] and another 63,000 on Interstate 26. Advertising Information: Jason Barns The Wideners bought the historic farm that was once the Wayland Crouch Farm in 1984. It is the 615-793-8316, [email protected] homeplace of John Crouch, who spent his career working for the American Angus Association and served The Cooperator is distributed free to patrons of member Co-ops. Since each as executive director of the organization from 2002 to 2006. Co-op maintains its own mailing list, requests for subscriptions must be made Sam and Betty farm more than 300 acres of land in Washington and Sullivan counties and have a through the local Co-op. When herd of 75 registered Angus, selling bulls and replacement heifers. The Wideners, who also own a whole- reporting an address change, please include the mailing label from a past sale flooring business, originally got into Angus cattle as a 4-H project for their children, Kim and Chris. issue and send to the following address: The Widener barn was built in the 1940s and was used as a milk barn for the family’s dairy operation. The Cooperator It originally sat where the Carroll Creek Bridge crosses over what is now Interstate 26. The road’s con- P.O. Box 3003 LaVergne, TN 37086 struction forced the relocation of the building in 1969, and the main structure of the barn was moved Phone: (615) 793-8339 intact to its current location. The wings on either side were added later. E-mail: [email protected] The CAB logo was painted in only three days by Troy Freeman of Free Sky Studios of Springfield, Ill. Guest Subscriptions: Guest subscriptions are available for He’ll return to Tennessee later this year to paint the 38th barn at Deere Valley Angus Farm. $12.95 per year by sending a check “This one was a pleasure to paint,” says Troy. “The smooth wood made it great, and the logo really or money order to Tennessee Farmers Cooperative at the above address. pops against that black background.” TFC’s website: www.ourcoop.com Follow our social media sites: www.facebook.com/ TennesseeFarmersCooperative www.twitter.com/TNFarmers www.pinterest.com/tnfarmers www.youtube.com/ TnFarmersCooperative TFC Board of Directors: Chairman — Mark Thompson, Cumberland Gap, Zone 3 Vice Chairman — David Sarten, Sevierville, Zone 3 Keith Fowler, Martin, Zone 1 Amos Huey, Kenton, Zone 1 Tim Luckey, Humboldt, Zone 1 Benjie Daniel, Charlotte, Zone 2 Donald Jernigan, Christiana, Zone 2 Stephen Philpott, Shelbyville, Zone 2 Johnny Brady, Riceville, Zone 3 Chief Executive Officer ­­— Bart Krisle NOTICE: This publication is for informational purposes only. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, its affiliates, subsidiaries, and member Co-ops are not responsible for any damages or claims that may result from a reader’s use of this information, including but not limited to actual, punitive, consequential, or economic damages. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative makes no warranties or representations, either express or implied, including warranties of merchantability or fitness of any product/ material for a particular purpose. Each article, document, advertisement, or other information is provided “AS IS” and without warranty of any kind. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative reserves the right to alter, correct, or otherwise change any part or portion of this publication, including articles and advertisements, without detriment to Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, its affiliates, subsidiaries, or member cooperatives. Unless otherwise noted, stock images courtesy of gettyimages.com. Sam Widener, left, along with his grandsons, from left, Will and Ben Edwards, and his son and daughter-in-law Chris and Cindy Widener and their daughter Kelsey, hosted some 100 people at the historic WinCrest Angus barn on Sept. 12 for the unveiling of the new Certified Angus Beef logo as part of the brand’s 40th anniversary. 4 October/November 2018 High expectations Tennessee’s harvest projections estimate most crops will see increase in yield and production, with corn likely reaching record-setting numbers By Sarah Geyer seen corn yields climb over the last few years,” says s of press time (Sept. Alan Sparkman, manager of 26), harvest projections agronomy marketing for Ten- A for Tennessee estimate nessee Farmers Cooperative. most of the state’s crops will net “Not only has the state been an increase in both yield and blessed with good growing production. conditions, but it’s also a tes- For the second consecutive tament to the improvements year, corn is expected to reach in seed genetics and growers record-setting harvest numbers. implementing best manage- According to the Sept. 12 report ment practices from crop from the U.S. Department of Ag- nutrient programs to timely Ag industry experts estimate that Tennessee farmers will see both yield and riculture’s National Agricultural pest control.” production increases for the state’s corn, soybean, and cotton crops. Statistics Service (NASS), Ten- The NASS report also esti- to reach 1,082 pounds per ed at 1,700 pounds per acre, nessee corn yields are expected mates increases over last year acre, up 49 pounds per acre an increase of 200 pounds to average 174 bushels per acre, in both production and yield from last year. from 2017. up 3 bushels from last year and for soybeans and cotton. The state’s production of Both dark fire-cured and a state record. Production is also The state’s soybean produc- burley tobacco is estimated air-cured tobacco should see expected to surpass last year by tion is forecast at 87.7 million to decrease as compared with increased production compared at least 5 percent with an esti- bushels, up from last year by 6 2017, while production acres of to 2017, with an estimated 22 mated 127 million bushels.