Marion County TN SWCD

One week remains for Tennessee pesticide applicators to earn required continuing education units (CEUs) for the current certification cycle.

The current certification cycle ends June 30, 2026. Commercial pesticide applicators must maintain active certification to legally apply pesticides and operate their businesses in Tennessee. Certification renewal is based on earning the required number of CEUs during the current three-year cycle.

The June 30 deadline also applies to private applicators seeking to renew their certification through training rather than retesting. After June 30, no additional CEUs may be earned for the current cycle, and no extension will be granted.

Applicators who still need CEUs are encouraged to act now. Private applicators should contact their local Extension office to learn about available training opportunities. Commercial and private applicators can also review TDA’s searchable online listing of approved courses. Both in-person and virtual training options remain available.

Applicators are encouraged to complete their training requirements as soon as possible to avoid certification lapses and potential disruptions to their operations.

Learn more: https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/businesses/pesticides.html

We’re now accepting applications for $310 million in funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. This year we've streamlined and simplified RCPP to ease the burden on employees and partners, and to maximize flexibility, and we’re looking for projects that prioritize one or more of the following priorities:

🚜Land management that improves land health, enhances resource management, and promotes sustainable agriculture and long-term protection of agricultural, grassland, and forestland viability;

🌱 Soil health projects using practices that focus on minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing soil cover, increasing natural vitality, and maintaining living roots throughout the year;

📡 Precision agriculture projects that use technology to target conservation efforts based on specific field conditions, potentially reducing costs and improving resource efficiency;

🌽 Farmer-focused projects that provide financial assistance and/or technical expertise for planning and practice designs in support of producer contracts; and

🦅 Projects led by Indian Tribes.

For more details: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/regional-conservation-partnership-program/news/usda-invests-up-to-310-million

Pollinators support working forests, too! Many flowering and some cone-bearing trees rely on pollen transfer to produce seeds, fruits, and maintain genetic diversity. Pollinators also support the forest understory, pollinating the plants and wildflowers that provide food and shelter for various species. In states like Pennsylvania, where timber production is a key agricultural industry, NRCS offers conservation solutions to support the fluttering pollinator workforce in our forests.

Let us know if you have forested land and want to learn more.

From the hills of Boones Creek to meeting rooms across the Volunteer State, the life of Robert Helvey has been shaped by his love of agriculture and his community. Helvey’s family farm dates back to the late 1920s, when his grandfather returned to East Tennessee from the Great Plains and purchased 160 acres in what was then a river valley.

Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4xKvOwX

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Make Plans to Attend the 2026 Fall Gardeners’ Festival on August 25 More than 1,400 gardening enthusiasts are expected for the event

⏰Time's running out! There's only one week left of early bird registration for NACD's Summer Conservation Forum and Tours in Grand Rapids, MI.

With specialty trainings, breakout sessions, keynote speakers, tours, and more, this is an event you don't want to miss!

Register before June 29 to get a discounted rate.

Learn more about the meeting and register on NACD's website: https://www.nacdnet.org/news-and-events/summer-meeting/

Landowners – Remember to review and consider base acre increases on farms enrolled in Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage by Aug. 31, 2026. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/income-support/arc-plc

New World Screwworm is a serious pest of livestock, wildlife, pets, and people. If you spot suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations, report it right away.

Learn how to report suspected cases: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm/report-suspected-cases-screwworm