Givens Announces Key Marketing
Appointments for TAEP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State
Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens today announced key marketing
appointments with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to help
the state’s farmers invest in new and expanding opportunities in
agriculture.
“We have had a
tremendous response from farmers wanting to take advantage of cost
share opportunities through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement
Program,” said Givens. “These appointments will be critical to
serving the farm community and for building upon the success of the
program. Both Roger and Justin bring exceptional experience and
talents that will help us move the program forward. We’re proud to
have them join our team.”
Bedford County resident Roger Richardson has been appointed
to the position of state administrator for the TAEP, which provides
cost share assistance for farmers in the areas of cattle
improvement, farm diversification and animal health improvement.
The
TAEP was established in 2005 by Governor Phil Bredesen and supported
by the Tennessee General Assembly with a $26 million appropriation
for the current fiscal year.
“The
administrator oversees all TAEP operations,” says Richardson. “This
includes developing policies and guidelines that meet the goals of
the program and comply with state policy; monitoring the direction
and performance of the program; directing staff operations; and
focusing on TAEP outreach and marketing.
“I have a passion for agriculture and I’m excited to be working with
TAEP,” says the new administrator, “where the goal of the program is
to increase the income of the family farm.”
Previously, Richardson was employed with Farm Credit Services in
various locations for 16 years. The Rutherford County native is a
graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s
degree in agribusiness.
Justin
Bryant
has been named as the new TAEP hay and feed storage cost share
program coordinator.
Bryant, a Montgomery County native, graduated from the University of
Tennessee at Martin with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, and he
earned a master’s degree in plant science from the University of
Tennessee in Knoxville.
“As a
graduate student, the things I studied were cover crop management,
forage yields, and hay and pasture fertilization,” said Bryant.
“These
aspects of farming have always been my main interest. I can’t
imagine another post that would give me as great an opportunity to
use what I know to help our state’s farmers.”
The
purpose of the hay and feed storage program is to increase farm
income in Tennessee by encouraging producers to increase quantity
and nutritional quality of hay and feeds through proper storage and
management practices. To help achieve this goal, cost share funds
are being provided for producers to install hay storage facilities
which include the construction of new permanent hay storage
facilities or the addition of new hay storage sheds to existing
structures.
For
more information about hay and feed storage cost share
opportunities, contact Bryant at (615) 837-5323 or
Justin.Bryant@state.tn.us. For more information about other
TAEP programs, contact Richardson at Roger.Richardson@state.tn.us,
(615) 837-5324 or visit
www.picktnproducts.org.
###
(Click these links
for hi-res photographs of Richardson
and Bryant.)
This and other
news from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture can be found
online at
Tennessee.gov/agriculture/news
