Help available for drought-stressed farmers

Help available for drought-stressed farmers

June 13, 2007

By JOHN HANEY
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- East Tennessee's extreme drought is affecting much more than front lawns and would-be boaters. It's also hurting farmers.

If the lack of rain continues, it will only get worse, so cattle farmers are trying to cope.

"As of May the 1st of this year, I had one bail of hay left in my barn," said Bob Schmidt. "So there are no reserves, and I'm like everybody else. I mean, we're bailing hay on no reserves, no cushion."

With the drought drastically reducing yields, it's important that none of the hay goes to waste.

That's where the state government is trying to help with a program encouraging farmers to get the hay out of their fields and into a barn.

"The Department of Agriculture has a cost-share program on hay barns right now, so that they'll pay up to 35 percent of the cost of a hay barn, with a limit of $3,500" said Dr. Gary Bates, a UT Plant Sciences professor. "It gives producers some incentive to build these barns, and it just so happens that it's coming at the right time when producers really need that help."

"The University of Tennessee and Penn State have proven that by storing your hay inside, a hay barn will pay for itself in seven years," Schmidt adds. "If you can get hooked up with the state with the incentive to build a hay barn, that's money in the hay bank, I'm telling you."

The state will begin accepting another round of barn assistance applications on July 2.

It hopes to fulfill as many requests as possible, and that's good news for some thirsty farmers.

You can apply if you are a Tennessee resident who operates a farm or agribusiness in the state with at least 10 head of cattle or 50 acres of hay production. 

Register at most Farm Service Agency, UT Extension, Farm Bureau or Co-op locations, or online at www.tennessee.gov/agriculture/tpis.