 Tennessee Master Gardeners are hard at work! 2,500 Active Master Gardeners in Tennessee 39 County-based Programs 25 Hours of Service Returned to Community (after the first year) 8 Hours of Annual Continued Education MG's in TN The Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program is a volunteer service program that serves state citizens with home horticulture information! The program trains and certifies volunteers who provide community service through county Extension offices. Master Gardeners are trained, certified volunteers for the University of Tennessee Extension County Offices. Tennessee Extension Master Gardeners (TEMG's) are trained volunteers that help UT Extension share the latest and greatest gardening information! All volunteers are trained with 40 hours of horticultural classes and return 40 hours of volunteer community service through their Extension office. The Master Gardener Program is offered by The University of Tennessee Extension. Its main goal is to increase the availability of horticultural information to improve the quality of life with community garden/landscape programs. This could only be possible through the training and utilization of local volunteers! Nationally, there are approximately 94,865 active Master Gardeners volunteers in US and Canada with an estimated 5,197,573 volunteer hours (2009 statistics). MG's in Greene County
  
 It's National Agriculture Week! Celebrate with a fun fact for the Day… Did you know? Have you ever wondered just what Extension is? Where did the concept of Extension begin? How did it evolve into what it is today? Many people do not realize the historical significance Extension has played in the dispersion of agricultural information since the late 1800’s. The historical account of the creation of Extension is quite fascinating… THEN It was during the late 1800’s there was a political movement for the development of agricultural colleges to promote military, liberal, and practical education. The inception of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts facilitated the creation of land-grant colleges in both 1862 and 1890. It was during 1862 that each state received 30,000 acres of federal land, which was to be used to establish agricultural colleges throughout the nation. As a result, Kansas State University (formed in 1863) was the first land-grant institution formed under the Morrill Act of 1862. Several years later, the government saw the need for agricultural experiment stations to be created to facilitate research in the agricultural realm. Thus, the government gave monies to the states in order to create the agricultural experiment stations in 1887. This was known as the Hatch Act. These stations were associated with the land grant universities that stemmed from the Morrill Act of 1862. By 1890, the need to show race was NOT an admissions criterion drove the government to create the second Morrill Act. This act dedicated a separate land-grant facility for persons of color. This was primarily aimed at former confederate states. There are currently 106 total land grant institutions across the nation, of which 17 are 1890 institutions, (including Tuskegee, a private institution). The biggest difference between the Morrill Act of 1862 and the Morrill act of 1890 was the 1890 Morrill Act granted money instead of land (but they are both deemed land grant colleges due to having the same legal standing). Because of both Morrill Acts, Congress recognized the need in 1914 to disseminate knowledge gained at land grant institutions to famers and homemakers. Thus, the Smith-Lever Act established federal funds for the Cooperative Extension Service in every county in every state. NOW Extension agents live and work in every county in the state. They help people solve problems and lead richer, fuller lives. Agents are the two-way link between Tennesseans, both urban and rural, and university specialists, scientists and researchers. Education is Extension's goal. Approximately 16,000 professional Extension agents, employed in counties across America, are teaching citizens how to have better homes, farms and communities. Four hundred of these agents live and work in Tennessee, where they initiate, create and conduct educational programs for people who want to help themselves to an improved quality of life. Each county office of The University of Tennessee Extension is staffed with agents who are college graduates in agriculture and/or family and consumer sciences. These highly trained professionals are able to provide information on a variety of subjects, ranging from landscaping to nutrition, from animal health to family money management. These programs are available to all county residents. The Mission Statement of UT Extension UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the Institute of Agriculture. It is a statewide educational organization, funded by federal, state and local governments, that brings research-based information about agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and resource development to the people of Tennessee where they live and work. Because Extension emphasizes helping people improve their livelihood where they are located, most Tennesseans have contact with UT Extension through their local county Extension agents found in each of the 95 counties. Extension agents are supported by area and state faculty as well as by the educational and research resources and activities of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 74 land-grant universities, and 3,150 county units throughout the nation. The stated mission of the system is to help people improve their lives through an educational process that uses scientific knowledge to address issues and needs.  RESOURCES:
https://extension.tennessee.edu/Pages/About-UTExtension.aspx https://espnational.org/en/about-us/the-land-grant-universities https://nifa.usda.gov/  It's National Agriculture Week!
Celebrate with a fun fact for the Day… Did you know? Since today is Ag Day, let’s talk about agriculture on the home front. Here are some thoughts to stimulate your thinking of the world’s safest and most abundant food supply (which is right here in the “Good Ole USA”)…
Now how is that “food for thought?” Next time you enjoy a cheeseburger at the ballgame, a glass of milk with your Oreos, a fresh salad, a slice of white bread (to go with those tomatoes we are going to talk about tomorrow), a slice of pizza at the fair, watermelon at the family reunion, bacon with your eggs for breakfast (and the list goes on), think about where and how that meal was produced. Sure…there could always be arguments about GMO’s or organic versus conventional, or cage-free and pasture–fed options, but the thing to acknowledge is we are ALL involved with agriculture each and every day. Even if it is the clothes we wear, the make-up we apply, the tires on our vehicle we drive to work every day, the footballs (or baseballs or basketballs) at our favorite college rivalry sports games, the fuel we use to mow the lawn, our favorite beverage after a long days work, the crayons our young people use in art class, or just the roof literally over our heads housing products generated from American farms (both big and small) that we use on a daily basis...agriculture touches our lives. It touches yours; it touches mine... EVERY SINGLE DAY! RESOURCES: http://www.fb.org/newsroom/fast-facts  It's National Agriculture Week!
Celebrate with a fun fact for the Day… Did you know? The humble tomato ranks fourth as the most popular veggie (following potatoes, lettuce, and onions). Americans consume about 23 pounds of tomatoes per year (yes, that's counting ketchup). There are 25,000 different varieties of tomatoes! How incredible?! Not only that, but you can choose between hybrid and heirloom varieties. Heirlooms are a blast from the past packing enormous amounts of flavor, while hybrids tend to offer more disease control. In Tennessee, tomatoes rank as the number one veggie crop produced in the state, producing about 35,000 acres on about 1,500 farms. Grainger County leads production, but Washington and Unicoi are not far behind…Fresh Market sales have increased in the last several years with many folks producing and selling directly to the consumer through Farmer’s Market venues or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s). Greenhouse and high tunnel production are also on the rise. This trend facilitates an extended season so tomatoes can be enjoyed fresh for a few more months beyond the typical growing dates. Markets differ throughout the state, depending on your taste and preference. Some opt for the infamous (fried) green tomatoes; some prefer the Romas or San Marzanos for canning up some thick paste and sauces to get through the winter. Some just wanna big ole slicer to yield a fresh BLT, and yet still some prefer the tiny tims to toss in salads. Whatever your preference, you are sure to find what suits your taste buds. Be sure to visit your local Farmer’s Markets to explore some different varieties. The Depot Street Market in Greeneville will certainly have a delectable assortment to please every palette. They may even offer up white, purple, and orange types. If growing your own tomatoes is what you prefer, count on your local UT Extension Agent or Master Gardeners to answer any questions you may have on producing your best and most bountiful crop. We are here to assist you with production (both organic and conventional), pest control, and even harvesting tips and canning classes! The Big Spring Master Gardener Association hosts an annual plant sale each spring at the Greene County Fairgrounds. This year many varieties of transplants will be sold on Saturday, May 6th from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM...come early; we sell out FAST! Several Master Gardeners passionate about producing perfect tomatoes will be available to offer advice throughout the day...and if you miss the sale, there are plenty of folks around Greene County growing some healthy, local transplants for your garden! And one last thing… Don’t miss out the annual Tomato Festival celebrated in Grainger County each year in late July. You’ll learn lots about the humble tomato, and may even get a sample or two… RESOURCES: http://www.graingercountytomatofestival.com/ http://organics.tennessee.edu/ http://www.tnhomeandfarm.com/agriculture/farm-facts/ http://www.summerfieldherbfarm.com/ https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Tennessee/ https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/article/ag-farms-fruits-vegetables https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/article/ag-farms-farmers-markets http://www.depotstreetfarmersmarket.com/ https://www.utk.edu/research/ http://www.greenecountyfair.com/ https://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa/Pages/default.aspx  It's National Agriculture Week! Celebrate with a fun fact for the Day… Did you know? Not only is pork the number one eaten meat around the globe, but it is recognized as one of the top ten commodities in Tennessee, generating more than 55 million to the state’s economy annually! There are currently over 1300 hog farms across the state, ranking the state 22nd in the USA. Pork is considered by some to be “the other white meat.” A typical 3-ounce serving yields as lean as a skinless chicken breast afterall… From small family farm operations selling sausage and fresh pork cuts to their local communities (which I might add are quite delicious as I have been privy to samples right here in Greene County) to larger grow-out operations well over 1000 head, Tennessee is dependent on this important industry. Hogs contribute in a multitude of ways to daily living (similar to how we discussed corn on Sunday). I bet there are items you utilize every day in your household you never imagined came from a hog! Some may blow you away! Let’s explore a few… So, obvious to most would be bacon, sausage, pork chops, bacon, tenderloin, ribs, brats…did I day bacon??? Some of the not so obvious, you ask? Ice cream, fruit juice, butter, and beer and wine? Yep, you read that right. Gelatin is used in many products to absorb cloudiness, regulate sugar crystallization, or used for texture. Additionally, coated medicines, film, paper, bullets, whipped cream, marshmellows, chewing gum, and cream cheese... What about a paintbrush or fiddle strings? Pig hair! Washing powders and fabric softeners? Yep, these too. Have you ever played a tambourine? They’re made from pig bladders. Are you diabetic? Insulin is made from pig pancreas! What about energy bars and face masks? Collagen is used in both of these. Here’s a good one for all you dog owners…ever fed a milk bone to your furry friend? Hemoglobin is used as a red coloring agent! Pig parts are even used in human heart valve replacement surgeries. And for goodness sake, let’s not forget the football! And one last fascinating snippet…did you know Wilbur (of Charlotte’s Web) resides in middle Tennessee? He sure does! Just right outside Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He graced the cover of the famous book written by E.B. White when the remake of the movie occurred in 2006. Wilbur has been educating the public on pork production ever since… Pork is just another industry worthy of celebrating during National Ag Week and UT Extension Month. Hogs (pigs) provide so much in our everyday lives…most importantly? BACON! RESOURCES: http://www.tnhomeandfarm.com/agriculture/farm-facts/ https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Tennessee/ http://bateyfarms.com/ https://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa/Pages/default.aspx https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/article/ag-farms-livestock-resources-pork https://ag.tennessee.edu/AnimalScience/Pages/default.aspx https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/topic/ag-businesses-animals http://nppc.org/about-us/ http://www.pork.org/ https://ag.tennessee.edu/AnimalScience/4-H/Pages/Swine.aspx https://www.utk.edu/research/  It's National Agriculture Week! Celebrate with a fun fact for the Day… Did you know? Did you ever think of forestry as being considered agriculture? Well, it certainly is! Moreover, it contributes an enormous amount to Tennessee’s economy each year! Tennessee forests cover half the state’s land area. That’s about 14 million acres, and currently ranks as one of the three top hardwood lumber producing states in the USA. The forestry industry generates $15 billion each year for the state’s tourism industry by providing recreational opportunities from the Smokies to the Mississippi (think about the 56 state parks located across the state, encompassing over a thousand miles of trails and 36 campgrounds). Tennessee timber generates almost 300 million in revenue on private lands and contributes significantly to the 2.5 billion annual hunting and fishing industry each year through the provision of clean water and wildlife habitats. How about these fascinating forest facts? There are over 530,000 private woodland owners in Tennessee. Approximately 89 percent of Tennessee trees are hardwoods, with over 120 tree species located across the state. Sawlog and veneer logs comprise just under 50 percent of total volume cut each year, with pulpwood contributing almost 40 percent. Not only is forestry important from these vantage points, but many conservation education programs are conducted each year across the state to create awareness about various forestry topics, including the BurnSafeTN.org website and ProtectTNForests.org website, where citizens learn how to safely burn debris at home and obtain a burn permit. Forest health protection programs are also administered across the state on an annual basis. Have you heard of the emerald ash borer? Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA)? And how about the infamous Southern pine beetle or the gypsy moth? All these insects are assessed and managed across Tennessee through the Forest Service and partnering agencies. Currently, over 6,000 hemlocks have been treated for HWA (over 484 acres) which has been designated hemlock conservation areas. Urban forestry is gaining demand in Tennessee resulting in an increased awareness of Arbor Day activities and programs, of which the Tree campus Program is maintained at six campuses across the state. In addition, over 40 cities and towns are recognized as Tree City USA locations and approximately 20 Tree Line USAs were recertified last year, of which Tennessee ranks number one in the nation! Last, but certainly not least…remember those devastating forest fires Gatlinburg suffered last fall? 1,247 wildfires burned 17,772 acres, which was more than double from 2015. The Forest Service was one of the first on the scene, assisting in extinguishing the blazes, as was the Tennessee Department of Forestry, located within the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Moreover, in order to further increase protection across the state, the Forest Service provided 101 cost share grants to volunteer fire departments. As you can see, forestry contributes in numerous ways across the state. From State Parks to Arbor Day Celebrations; from administering burn permits to fighting wildfires; from conducting Forestry Camps for youth to educating landowners…forestry is a viable and worthwhile industry to the state of Tennessee. RESOURCES: https://ag.tennessee.edu/fwf/Pages/default.aspx https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Tennessee/ http://www.tnhomeandfarm.com/agriculture/farm-facts/ https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/topic/ag-eac-forestry http://tnstateparks.com/ https://www.fs.fed.us/ http://protecttnforests.org/  It's UT Extension Month &
National Agriculture Week! Celebrate with a fun fact for the day… Did you know? Sweet corn is pretty awesome stuff in the summer, and Tennessee grows A LOT of it (well over a couple thousand acres on less than a thousand farms), BUT did you know the majority of the corn you see growing across the state is actually field corn? This corn is used for feed and fuel! There is a BIG difference between the two. Read on for the details… Sweet corn is juicier and contains more natural sugars, which is what contributes to its fabulous flavor. However, corn is an ample provider of vitamins C and A, thiamine, and fiber, so although starchy, it provides good nutrition! Sweet corn is harvested when the kernels are still young and moist (one strand of silk = a kernel of corn…). If you wanna try your hand at growing an acre of sweet corn on your farm, homestead, or in your garden, plan on about 14,000 pounds to be produced. That’s a LOT of corn to be grilled out at cookouts during the summer months (don’t forget to invite your favorite UT Extension Agent over when you fire up the grill…). Now how about field corn? Well, it is typically harvested AFTER the kernels have dried, and then used to feed livestock and/or make the renewable fuel ethanol. A bushel of shelled corn weighs in at 56 pounds and has the potential to produce several goods you use on a daily basis (but may not necessarily think of corn being the primary ingredient). Here’s a few examples for ya: Remember that cookout I was referring to earlier? The one where you invite your favorite UT Extension Agent over to share? Well, what do you typically serve picnic fare on in the summer months? Paper plates? Well, you guessed it! Corn is an ingredient! Raw starch is used in manufacturing process. How about the tires on your vehicle? Did you know cornstarch is sprinkled on the molds before pouring the rubber? How about paint and varnish on your home improvement projects (special note: favorite UT Extension Agent may or may not assist in these endeavors but must receive corn on the cob as payment)? Resins developed from corncobs are used as solvents, lacquers, and dyes. In addition, drywall has it source in corn. On the subject of corncobs, ladies, how many of you slather on lipstick every day, apply eye or face make-up or use hand soap? You guessed it…corn! And fellas, how about a favorite summer beverage? If you like beer, you’re probably consuming corn in some fashion (primarily in lighter beers). Check your medicine cabinet. Are you stocked with aspirin, antibiotics, and toothpaste? Corn! The pantry? Pudding mixes, cereal, and even Splenda all have corn in them! What about Elmer’s glue and adhesives on envelopes? You guessed it! They contain corn. How about fertilizers, cat litter, spark plugs, Windex, matches, paving bricks, diapers? You get my point…the list goes on… Corn touches most all of our lives on a daily basis. From your shower in the morning to your drive to work to a lunch (processed or not) to a steak grilled to perfection in the evening, corn is a by-product. Next time you see a field of corn (sweet or not), think about all the endless possibilities corn contributes to agriculture and your daily life… RESOURCES: http://www.tnhomeandfarm.com/agriculture/farm-facts/ http://www.tncorn.org/ https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/ https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Tennessee/ http://www.utcrops.com/corn/index.html/ https://www.utk.edu/research/
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