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Appalachian Research, Conservation and Development Council is offering one-on-one technical assistance to farmers in Northeast Tennessee starting this spring, thanks for funding from a USDA Rural Business Development Grant.

This assistance will be available to farmers who want to learn more about available resources to support disaster recovery and best practices for mitigating risk from natural disasters, including floods, droughts, and fires. ARC&D can offer resources to help farmers update their infrastructure and adopt new management practices.

This support is currently available through October.

In addition to technical support visits, ARC&D will also be offering a series of workshops focused on Weather Wise practices, including cover cropping, rotational grazing, disaster preparedness, season extension, and more.

More information about these workshops can be found on ARC&D’s workshop webpage, arcd.org/workshops. Be on the lookout for their new webpage on ARC&D’s website focused on disaster preparedness as well.

To qualify for assistance, farmers need an FSA number; your farm must be producing a product for markets; you must have at least one year in production; and your property must be located in Northeast Tennessee.

To apply, contact Rachel@arcd.org for an application.

ARC&D will also host a virtual Weather-Wise Workshop focused on Insurance for Farmers. Insurance experts from federal, state, and private organizations will share their knowledge of standard best practices for insuring farm operations. Additionally, they will discuss specific opportunities and considerations for farmers in Tennessee, especially in light of recent historic storms.

The workshop will be held Thursday, April 23 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. online.

To learn more and sign up, go to https://arcd.org/workshops.

The Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving northeast Tennessee and beyond. ARCD provides training to farmers and gardeners, lends support to local farmers markets, and strives to improve the local food system.

Their mission is to conserve natural resources and improve rural economies through community leadership and enhanced educational opportunities.

For more information, visit ARCD.org.