TAEP Updates 2024-2025

2024-2025 TAEP Programs

Application A offers a variety of cost share programs for agricultural producers involved in the production of cattle, dairy, goats/sheep, hay, commercial poultry, row crop (corn, cotton, soybeans, and/or wheat), and commercial swine. Producers must meet basic applicant eligibility and specific program requirements to apply.

Programs: Dairy Solutions, Genetics, Hay Equipment*, Hay Storage, Herd Health, Livestock Equipment, Livestock Solutions, Poultry Grower, Row Crop Solutions, Swine Producer, and Working Structures & Fence-line Systems.

*Due to popular demand, TAEP is offering both hay equipment and hay storage for this program cycle. To accommodate both programs, the minimum requirements for hay equipment have changed for 2024-2025. Applicants must have a minimum of 100 acres in hay production (first-cutting only) to qualify for hay equipment.

Application B - Producer Diversification – offers cost share opportunities for agricultural producers involved in agritourism, fruit & vegetable, honey bee, horticulture, organics, and value-added products. Producers must meet basic applicant eligibility and specific program requirements to apply.

Important Updates

TAEP Application & Program Information – Online Only

To increase program efficiency, the upcoming 2024 TAEP application process will be entirely online. Application and program information will only be available online at the TAEP homepage. The traditional application booklets will no longer be printed or available online. Paper application forms are no longer available to submit.

Online applications will be available as a live link (no downloading required) on this webpage during the application period (October 1-7). The application link does not exist within the TAEP Account Portal. It is not necessary to have a TAEP Account to apply.

Applicants will need the following to apply online:

·  Email address – applicant must have a working email address which is exclusive to the applicant and not utilized by other TAEP applicants. Applicant must be able to monitor email account for confirmation email and other correspondence related to cost share participation.

·  Internet access – applicant will need access to the internet to apply.

·  Electronic device – applicant will need access to a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone to apply. Computers are preferred over smartphones.

Proof of Applying

· Applicant will receive a confirmation email from taep.online@tn.gov if application is successfully submitted.

·  Check spam/junk folder if confirmation email is not received within 15 minutes of submitting application. Applicant can add taep.online@tn.gov to trusted contact list.

· Applicant is encouraged to save confirmation email as proof of applying.

Educational Requirement – Master Certification & Special Requirements

· Master Certification - Application A - approved applicants will be required to have a current eligible master certification at time of reimbursement - not at time of application - to be considered for cost share funding. Eligible master certifications are determined by program. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training is now incorporated into Master Beef certification and is no longer required prior to applying. Cattle producers are encouraged to maintain their BQA certification.

· Special Requirements - Application B (Producer Diversification) - approved applicants will be required to have a current eligible master certification or special requirement equivalent for Producer Diversification at time of reimbursement - not at time of application - to be considered for cost share funding. Eligible special requirements are determined by program.

50% Cost Share

The amount of payment is based upon 50% cost share of expenses incurred for eligible program items up to the program maximum. The option of 35% cost share is no longer available.