2016

Eligible producers in Tennessee who are interested in
implementing conservation practices to improve natural resources on their agricultural land and
private forestland have until Friday, November 18, 2016, to submit their completed application to
be considered for fiscal year 2017 funding.
Funding is offered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Eligible applications that are received after November 18 will
be considered during a later time and will be processed throughout the fiscal year, pending funding
availability.
“We accept applications for EQIP on a continuous basis to help eligible producers improve natural
resources on private working lands in Tennessee,” said TN NRCS State Conservationist Kevin Brown.
“The program places a priority on water quality, water quantity, and promotes soil health practices by
offering financial and technical assistance to address these resource concerns on eligible agricultural
land.”
EQIP is an incentives-based program that provides technical and financial assistance for
conservation systems such as animal waste management facilities, irrigation system efficiency
improvements, fencing, water supply development for improved grazing management, riparian
protection, and wildlife habitat enhancement.
Completed applications for Cannon County farms will be accepted at the Natural Resources
Conservation Service office located at 740 Old McMinnville Road in Woodbury. Applications must be
received by 4:00 pm on Friday, November 18, 2016.
NRCS continually strives to put conservation planning at the forefront of its programs and
initiatives. Conservation plans provide landowners with a voluntary comprehensive inventory and
assessment of their resources and an appropriate start to improving the quality of soil, water, air,
plants, and wildlife on their land.
To find out more about EQIP, fill out the eligibility forms, or obtain an application, visit our website

 As producers finish harvest and turn their attention to the 2017 crop season, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is releasing a new tool that will allow farmers to quickly access information on yield performance and disease resistance for more than 200 soybean cultivars.

“Seeds are one of the most expensive purchases a farmer makes each year, and the choices are increasingly complex,” says Heather Kelly, plant pathologist with the UT Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “Our new searchable database will make this abundance of information more manageable and help producers quickly and easily find answers.”

The searchable database, which is available online at UTCrops.com, features disease and yield information on soybean cultivars tested in County Standardized Trials and replicated small plots at UT AgResearch and Education Centers and on-farm locations. Users can search and sort the results by herbicide trait, maturity group, brand name, cultivar, level of resistance to Frogeye Leaf Spot, or yield.

Where applicable, yield results are separately listed for high disease pressure locations, low to moderate disease pressure locations, and when planted behind wheat. Farmers can also compare a cultivar’s yields when treated with a fungicide to when it was left untreated. The site also supplies information on cultivar resistance to other diseases, such as stem canker, sudden death syndrome cercospora leaf blight and target spot, as well as soybean cyst nematode reaction.

While this information is available in UTIA’s Soybean Variety Performance Reports, the search query feature of the new online database allows users to quickly sort through the disease and yield data across different herbicide traits and maturity groups.

“This site is by no means a replacement for our Variety Performance Reports. Instead it will be a great first-step in helping producers efficiently find the information they seek,” says Kelly, who compiled the database. She adds that UTIA specialists are working to create a more comprehensive searchable database for soybean cultivars as well as other crops. At present, this additional soybean variety information can be found at http://utcrops.com/soybean/varieties_soy.htm
The UTCrops seed database is a free service. It can be directly accessed at http://search.utcrops.com

For the latest Tennessee crops news, pest and disease alerts and research information, be sure to follow the UT Crops News Blog.
 

Chief Petty Officer Robert Virgil Young United States Coast Guard has been selected, by the American Legion Post 279 in his honor and memory as the Coast Guard Grand Marshal for the 2016 Cannon County Veterans Day Parade.  A graduate of Woodbury Central High in 1954 he joined the Coast Guard and took his boot camp in New Jersey.  
Virgil was station in may places during his 20 year career in the Coast Guard.  First he was stationed at the Belle Isle Life Boat Station which is a search and rescue station.
His second duty station was Fort Huron Michigan where he served aboard the Huron Light Ship.  Virgil also was assigned to bases in New Orleans, DuLac, in Alaska, Virginia, Puerto Rico and Buffalo NY.  His ninth and last duty station was Captain of the Port in Nashville where he retired in 1974.
Virgil received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, The Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon and the Fourth Award of the Coast Guard Good Conduct Award In 1973.
The American Legion Post 279 and the Concerned Citizens for Veterans Of Cannon County will present a full program honoring the many veterans that served in the Armed Forces Friday morning in the Robert A Harris Gymnasium at Cannon County High School beginning at 8:30.  The public is invited to attend this free event.  The Cannon County Veterans Day parade will begin Saturday afternoon at 1:00.  WBRY will have live broadcast coverage of each event on AM-1540/Shine 107.1FM WBRY

Deck your halls with gifts that glitter at the Holiday Paisley & Plaid Handmade Market this Saturday, November 12.

The spirit of giving continues at this annual event with half of all door proceeds benefitting the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford & Cannon Counties.  The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit agency that serves victims of child abuse, child sexual abuse, drug endangered children, and their non-offending parents and family members.

This one-of-a-kind market features over 60 artisan vendors with items such as boutique clothing, home decor, jewelry, and children’s apparel.  Kids can have their pictures taken with Santa from 10 a.m. until noon.  And when your little elves get hungry, grab a tasty treat from one of the food trucks!  This complete holiday experience is November 12, 2016 at the Lane Agri-Park Community Center from 9am-5pm.

“Shop local and make a difference,” says Paisley & Plaid’s Amanda Payne.  “Not only are you supporting a local artist with every purchase, you are donating to a charity that is critical to the children in our community.”

Admission is only $3 at the door and children under 12 are free. For more details, visit  https://www.facebook.com/events/1742874555959182/

Location: Lane Agri-Park Community Center, 315 John Rice Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN 37129

When: November 12, 2016 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Admission: $3 for adults, children under 12 are free.

The Cannon County Board Of Education will meet tonight for their regular monthly meeting.  On the agenda.  The Board will discuss a proposal about the School Resource Officers.  They will look to approve pest control bids, a proposal of Jerry Warren, engineer on Woodland School drainage project, 2017-2018 school calendar.  The Board will also consider appraisal proposals for Pease property, discuss the Connections Academy and maintenance at Cannon County High School.  Board member Nathan Sanders will also give an update on the TSBA convention.  The meeting will take place tonight at 6:30 at the Woodbury Grammar School Cafeteria.

The UT-Extension Office in Cannon County continues to be concerned about the ongoing drought.  As much of Tennessee copes with drought and extremely dry conditions, the state veterinarian advises livestock owners to take precautions to maintain the health of their animals. “Pastures that would normally maintain livestock well into the fall are dry and brittle right now,” Dr. Charles Hatcher said. “Owners need to make sure livestock have access to quality hay and an abundant supply of fresh water. Depending on the animal and the environment, it may also be appropriate to give grain to livestock that typically do well on pasture alone.”
Tips for livestock owners and managers:
Ensure the water supply – When rainfall is in short supply, streams, ponds and wells can run dry. Any water that remains may become unappealing. Supply free access to fresh water at all times.
    Watch for algae – Algae can take over a stagnant pond and is toxic to livestock. Aerate ponds or restrict access if algae bloom is extensive.
    Watch for poisonous plants – Weeds and toxic plants may be the only vegetation that survives in a dry pasture. Hungry livestock will often resort to eating those poisonous plants if no other roughage is available. Provide fresh hay and mow and maintain pastures to keep weeds under control.
    Consider changing the diet – All livestock need fresh water and salt. Add hay and/or grain to the diet during periods of dry weather when pastures lack moisture and nutrients.
    Monitor for nitrate accumulations – Weeds, grasses and small grains can accumulate high levels of nitrate content during drought. Nitrate poisoning is possible with certain forages. Consult with your veterinarian or ag extension office for more information on risk and testing options.
For more information contact Bruce Steelman at the Cannon County UT Extension Office at 615-563-2554

The importance of a single vote was echoed Tuesday during the local election portion of the 2016 General Election.  Andy Duggin will be the new Mayor of the Town of Woodbury after he squeaked by opponent Charlie Harrell.  Out of a total of 790 votes in the Mayor race Andy Duggin received 394 votes while Charlie Harrell collected 386 votes.  10 votes went to write-in.  That however was not the closest local race as the difference of one vote separated candidates from the final seat of the Board of Aldermen.  LuAnn Curlee secured that seat with 367 votes while incumbent JoAnn Davis finished with 366 votes.    The six elected to the aldermen position are Dotty Duggin with 496 votes, Faye Northcutt-Knox 489 votes, Harold Patrick who did not run for Mayor will continue to serve in town government as he received 462 votes.  Final three positions include Curlee, Lois Larimer with 409 votes and Adam Melton will continue as an Alderman as he attracted 404 votes.  Deanna Brown finished the race with 294 votes and Walter “Chuck” Holt with 255 votes.  Auburntown incumbent Mayor Roger Turney ran unopposed and got 86 votes.  Two other votes were write-ins.  Three candidates for six seats in Auburntown Aldermen’s race.  Those three were as follows Janice Fletcher with 73 votes, Rita Kay Davis with 68 votes and Denise Crowell with 60 votes.
On the State scene Cannon County easily voted 46th District Representative  Republican Mark Pody to stay in office.  Voters cast 3723 votes for him in comparison to 1151 votes for his challenger Democrat Amelia Morrison Hipps.  7 votes were write in votes in that race.
Diane Black was the clear winner in the US House 6th District as far as Cannon County voting.  Out of 4903 votes Black garnered 3449 of the votes while her opponent David W. Kent only received 1006 votes.  David Ross who ran as an Independent got 440 votes and 8 write ins.
In the Presidential election Cannon County was all Donald Trump.  Trump collected 75 percent of the Cannon County vote with 4006 compared to Hillary Clinton’s 1126 votes.
5429 registered Cannon County voters voted in this election 2826 early and absentee and 2603 turned out at the polls Tuesday.

The day is finally upon us as the Federal and State General Election will take place between the hours of 7A to 7P.  Out of 8900 registered voters in Cannon County, 2614 took part in early voting.  The remaining are eligible to come to the various polling places in which they are assigned and cast their vote for the Federal, State and even some local positions.
Polling precincts and places are as follows:
11- Westside Precinct will vote at the Westside Elementary School 3714 Murfreesboro Road
21-Auburntown Precinct will vote at the Auburntown Community Center 192 East Main Street Auburntown
22-Gassaway Precinct will vote at the Gassaway Community Center 270 Gassaway Main Street
23-Pleasant Ridge Precinct will vote at the Woodbury Grammar School 530 West Adams Street
24-Short Mountain 2 Precinct will vote at the Short Mountain Elementary School 5988 Short Mountain Road
32-Woodland Precinct votes at Woodland Elementary School 8383 Jim Cummings Hwy
41-Eastside Precinct votes at Eastside Elementary School 5658 McMinnville Hwy
42 Short Mountain 4 Precinct will vote at the Short Mountain Elementary School 5988 Short Mountain Road
51-Woodbury will vote at the Woodbury Grammar School 530 West Adams Street.
Please be prepared to show proof of identification when you go vote.  A voter must have a Tennessee or Federal government issued photo ID.  If no phot identification is provided, the voter will vote a provisional ballot and the voter will have until two business days after the election to return to the election commission office and show a valid photo I.D. or the ballot will be rejected.
WBRY will broadcast the live coverage of the results tonight starting at 7:00 on AM-1540/Shine 107.1 WBRY.

The Cannon County Historical Society will meet tonight at 6:30 at the Cannon County Senior Center 309 Lehman Street in Woodbury.
Cannon and Rutherford County Public Defender Gerald Melton will give an account of “Pump” Kersey and his Confederate band which was massacred at Half-Acre on Short Mountain in July 24 1864 by a Union force operating out of Liberty.    
The story of Hiram Taylor “Pomp” Kersey is one of the major Civil War encounters taking place in Cannon County.
The Meltons reside at Half-Acre or Mechanicsville in the Short Mountain area.  Their home is about one mile from the massacre scene and about half a mile in the other direction from the Melton Cemetery where Pomp was buried.
Gerald is a long time student of the War Between the States with particular interest in the Pomp Kersey story.  His presentation will be of much interest to all Cannon Countians and Civil War buffs.  
Refreshments will be served at 6:30, program begins at 7.

The record setting temperatures of the past week combined with rainfall far below average, has led to drought conditions across Tennessee. Those brown pastures and hayfields are not only lacking in nutritional grasses, but may actually contain some plants that are potentially toxic to livestock. During drought and other times of pasture shortage, animals will eat plants they might otherwise not, and the possibility of consuming toxic plants increases. Plants may be toxic to livestock because they are nitrate accumulators, cyanide (prussic acid) producers, or because of certain chemicals found naturally in the plant such as those in many weeds. Being able to identify what plants can be potential problems is a critical step in keeping livestock healthy during periods of dry weather. In Tennessee soils, application of nitrogen fertilizer is critical to establishing and maintaining a healthy, productive stand of grass. Unfortunately, in certain situations, these nitrates can accumulate in the stems of plants and cause major problems in livestock. Nitrate toxicity is caused by cattle consuming forages that contain higher than normal levels of nitrates or nitrites.
Certain plants have a higher tendency to accumulate nitrates than others. Summer annuals such as sorghum, Sudan grass, and millet normally receive high levels of nitrogen fertilization that contribute to nitrate accumulation. High levels are also frequently found in Bermuda grass. Weeds such as pigweed and ragweed are also prone to accumulate high levels of nitrates. Some plants have especially high levels of cyanide early in their growth phase or have the ability to concentrate high levels during times of stress such as a drought. A drought while the plant is in an active growing stage can cause release of cyanide acid (prussic acid) from its bound state within the plant. Potentially toxic levels can develop in most varieties of Sorghum, Sudan grass, and Johnsongrass.
Finally, many plants contain chemicals which make them toxic to livestock. Weeds such as perilla mint, jimsonweed, and the various nightshades contain toxins that can cause respiratory disease, decreased production, and even death. Animals will normally stay away from these plants if other grasses are available, however during periods of drought when other options are limited, they will often consume amounts that will be harmful. The hot, dry weather experienced recently can be hard on livestock, just as it can be to humans. Take some time to check your pastures and see what plants are there that might be potential problems.