Tennessee Department of Agriculture

NASHVILLE — Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that a confirmed case of New World screwworm (NWS) was detected in Zavala County, Texas, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is taking steps to protect livestock the potential spread of this invasive pest.

“NWS has not been detected in Tennessee, but we want to be proactively working to prevent the establishment of this pest in Tennessee,” State Veterinarian Samantha Beaty said. “Livestock, pets and even wildlife are vulnerable. This parasite can have a tremendous negative impact on our animal populations and associated industries. Early detection is our best defense. Our priority now is to prepare — to ensure surveillance, movement controls, and response plans are in place so that if we do detect NWS, we can act swiftly to protect the health of Tennessee’s animals and our agricultural industries.”

The State Veterinarian has instituted a temporary order implementing more stringent requirements for warm-blooded animals moving out of an infested area into Tennessee. These stricter requirements ensure that animals are thoroughly inspected and prophylactically treated prior to movement and allow officials to effectively implement other control measures.
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The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has issued temporary animal import requirements following a recent detection of New World screwworm in Texas.

There is currently no indication of an outbreak in Tennessee. This proactive order focuses on education, early detection and prevention to help protect animal health.

New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that can affect warm-blooded animals, especially through open wounds. Animal owners, producers, veterinarians and transporters are encouraged to monitor animals closely, especially wounds and areas around the nose, ears, eyes, mouth and genitalia.

Watch for drainage, discharge, bleeding, swelling, discomfort, lethargy, isolation or unusual odors.

Suspected cases must be reported to the Tennessee State Veterinarian’s Office within 24 hours at 615-837-5120 or [email protected].

To read more about the order, visit:
tn.gov/agriculture/animals/animal-health-resources/alerts.html

Governor Lee has visited all 95 counties this past year to celebrate the 250th year of America's independence and highlight the iconic people, places and events that define Tennessee's contribution to America.

TDA was proud to join him on his last stop and other visits with our rural communities along the way. Representatives from TDA's Business Development, Forestry, Animal Health and Agricultural Crime Unit were on hand for the festivities in Van Buren County yesterday.

To welcome the governor, community leaders and members of 4-H and FFA chapters from Van Buren County joined the celebration.

The kickoff event to the Wilson County Fair - TN State Fair is LESS THAN 30 DAYS away!

Tickets for the Farm to Fair Feast & Fundraiser are still available! All proceeds benefit the Blue Ribbon Foundation for Youth Development, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to raising the next generation of agricultural leaders.

This event will take place inside the Made in Tennessee building at the Fairgrounds.

Get your tickets at the link below:
https://www.wilsoncountytnstatefair.com/p/media/special-events/farmtotabledinner

As part of the Farm to School Program, Commissioner Andy Holt visited Trenton Special School District to see how local agriculture is making an impact in the classroom, cafeteria and community.

Through Food and Drug Administration funds, the district has expanded agricultural education, purchased local foods for school meals and introduced students to new foods through weekly Taste Test Thursdays. Each tasting highlights a featured food item, nutrition facts, the farmer who produced it and where the farm is located.

A special highlight of the visit was seeing students help prepare meals and distribute them to families, putting farm-to-school learning into action.

TDA’s Mike Brown and Bella Griffis joined Commissioner Holt for the visit, along with MarLea Finch and Lynsey Paul from the Tennessee Department of Education’s Farm to School team.

Our Food Safety Team partnered with Tennessee State University Extension to lead the West Tennessee New Farmer Academy workshop in Memphis last week.

Alongside our specialists, Food Safety Interns Cora Wildman and Madelyn Roedell delivered presentations on Food and Produce Safety, helping equip new producers with the knowledge they need to start strong. 👩‍🌾📚

This year’s academy includes 52 New and Beginning Farmers—each taking important steps toward building successful agricultural businesses in Tennessee.

The Tennessee New Farmer Academy is a seven‑month certificate program designed for anyone interested in becoming an agricultural entrepreneur. It’s ideal for those who are new to agriculture, transitioning from another career—including military service—or looking for a meaningful post‑retirement opportunity.

Through hands‑on learning and practical instruction, the academy helps participants gain the skills needed to launch and sustain viable farm operations. 🌾💼

We’re proud to support the next generation of Tennessee farmers and the future of agriculture in our state! 🌟🐝🌽

NASHVILLE — Two Tennessee men are behind bars following a joint investigation by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Crime Unit (ACU) and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office into the theft of more than $114,000 worth of cattle.

A Franklin County Grand Jury indicted Carl Dwayne Lynn of Franklin County and Nicholas Carl King of Grundy County on charges of theft of property valued between $60,000 and $250,000 and criminal conspiracy. The investigation found that 94 cattle were sold over a period spanning from March 2022 through November 2025 without the owner’s permission.

According to the victim, Lynn had worked for his family for more than 20 years and was entrusted with managing portions of the cattle operation.
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