Agriculture

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide additional details on how many machines might be purchased beyond the initial requirement of 100 before October 1, 2026.

Agriculture Act for Hay Baling Machines

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to use funds from the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Fund to purchase and distribute round hay baling machines to eligible applicants.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the department of agriculture to buy and give out round hay baling machines using money from a special fund.
• Before October 1, 2026, the department must buy 100 machines.
• After October 1, 2026, farmers can apply for one machine instead of buying it themselves and getting a cost-share grant.
• Farmers who get a machine cannot receive a cost-share grant for a period based on dividing the machine's cost by $12,000.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Tennessee Department of Agriculture
• Farmers applying for hay equipment in the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program

Terms To Know

Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Fund

A fund used by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to support agricultural programs.

Cost-share grant

Money given to help cover part of the cost for a project, in this case buying hay baling machines.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact period during which farmers are ineligible for cost-share grants after receiving a machine is not specified and will be determined based on calculations.
• It's unclear how many additional machines might be purchased beyond the initial requirement of 100 before October 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires the
department of agriculture
to
use funds within the department's Tennessee agricultural enhancement fund to directly purchase and distribute round hay baling machines to applicants in the hay equipment portion of the Tennessee agricultural enhancement program.
The
requirements for the purchase and distribution of machines are as follows:



Prior to October 1, 2026, the department must purchase 100
machines.



On or after October 1, 2026, an applicant may apply to receive
one
machine from the department in lieu of purchasing a machine and applying for a cost-share grant associated with that purchase
.



Except for the reimbursement and cost-share requirements, an applicant must meet all other eligibility and program requirements to be eligible to receive a machine.



An applicant that receives a machine is ineligible for a cost-share grant in the hay equipment portion of the agricultural enhancement program for a period of time, to be determined by dividing the cost of the machine by the amount of $12,000.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 2606
By Southerland
SB2606
007886
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43,
relative to agriculture.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
The department of agriculture shall use funds within the department's Tennessee
agricultural enhancement fund to directly purchase and distribute round hay baling
machines to applicants in the hay equipment portion of the Tennessee agricultural
enhancement program. The requirements for the purchase and distribution of machines
are as follows:
(1) Prior to October 1, 2026, the department shall purchase one hundred
(100) round hay baling machines;
(2) On or after October 1, 2026, an applicant may apply to receive one
(1) machine from the department in lieu of purchasing a machine and applying
for a cost-share grant associated with that purchase;
(3) Except for the reimbursement and cost-share requirements, an
applicant must meet all other eligibility and program requirements to be eligible to
receive a machine; and
(4) An applicant that receives a machine is ineligible for a cost-share
grant in the hay equipment portion of the agricultural enhancement program for a
period of time, to be determined by dividing the cost of the machine by the
amount of twelve thousand dollars ($12,000).
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.