NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Forestry Commission will meet June 15 at 8:30 a.m. CDT in the Bruer Building conference room at Ellington Agricultural Center, located at 440 Hogan Road in Nashville.

The commission will review recent legislative activity, recognize recent appointments to the commission and hear reports on logging equipment tax issues, state forest storm damage and forest health issues. The commission will also hear a report from the Tennessee Forestry Association.

Farm Animal Care

Veterinarians Can Apply for School Loan Repayment Program

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has identified four areas of the state that are now eligible for USDA assistance in filling a shortage of large animal veterinary practitioners.

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in an underserved area for three years.

West TN Farmland Flooding

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Gene Davidson reminds crop and livestock producers throughout Tennessee who have recently experienced severe damage from tornadoes and flooding that there are FSA programs available to assist with recovery.

"The damage done by the recent severe weather has made things very difficult for many of our farmers and ranchers. The disaster assistance programs FSA has available may be an important first step for producers in the recovery process,” said Davidson.