News 2015

Deer hunting season is coming to a close in Tennessee. The gun season for deer concludes on Jan. 4 while the second Young Sportsman Hunt for 2014-15 is Jan. 10-11.For the Young Sportsman Hunt, youth, 6-16 years of age, are allowed to participate. The young sportsmen must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 21 years of age who must remain in a position to take control of the hunting device.
The accompanying adult must comply with fluorescent orange regulations, as specified for legal hunters. Multiple youth may be accompanied by a single qualifying adult.
The first youth hunt of the season was held Oct. 25-26 and the young hunters had a harvest of 5,663. The gun season for deer for everyone across the state began Nov. 22. Archery and muzzleloader equipment are also legal during gun season.
Heading into the final regular hunting week, there have been 148,763 deer harvested since archery only season began Sept. 27. A final harvest tally for 2014-15 will be completed a few weeks following the completion of the Young Sportsman Hunt. 
Giles County is the overall leader with 4,582 deer harvested since the start of archery season. Rounding out the top 10 counties are Fayette 4,118, Henry 3,908, Lincoln 3,655, Hardeman 3,596, Maury 3,549, Montgomery 3,228, Carroll 2,910, Weakley 2,840, and Franklin 2,795.

The Tennessee Department of Health is urging all Tennesseans to increase their efforts to prevent flu and flu-related health threats by getting immunized and talking with their healthcare providers about flu-like symptoms.  Since 2007 there have been 29 pediatric flu-related deaths recorded in Tennessee, including three in December of this year.That is the highest number of pediatric flu deaths in the month of December since current reporting began in 2007. Prior to 2007 pediatric influenza deaths were not specifically required to be reported. 
“Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences go out to the families and friends affected by these tragic deaths and we are deeply sorry for the loss of each of these children,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. Regrettably there is no perfect protection against influenza, and some people are more vulnerable than others so we continue to urge everyone more than six months of age to be vaccinated, to provide the best available protection to the people we love, our communities and ourselves. We also urge individuals with flu-like symptoms to rapidly consult their healthcare providers about the advisability of beginning antiviral medications.”
Those with flu-like symptoms should ask about the use of anti-viral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, clinical benefits are greatest when antiviral treatment is administered early, ideally within 48 hours of symptoms starting. These antivirals may decrease the severity of flu but are not always advisable for every patient. The CDC also advises treatment with antivirals is recommended as soon as possible without waiting for confirmatory testing for those patients with confirmed or suspected influenza who have severe, complicated or progressive illness.
“It’s important to contact your healthcare provider so appropriate treatment can begin quickly,” said State Epidemiologist Tim Jones, MD.  “While common colds and the flu may have similar symptoms, including muscle pain, fever, sore throat, coughing and overall weakness, the onset of flu usually happens more quickly and the symptoms are often more severe.  Your healthcare provider can evaluate you and advise if anti-viral medications are appropriate. 
In some cases, he or she may provide antivirals before flu confirmation tests are complete, as a precautionary measure.”
Currently in Tennessee influenza-like illness activity is above CDC epidemic thresholds and by using the Tennessee sentinel provider network the TDH has detected confirmed cases of influenza in 44 of 95 counties. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. between December and February, but seasonal flu can continue to occur as late as May.  Flu will still be a threat for many months and for that reason, those who have not received flu vaccine by injection or nasal spray should do so quickly to have increased protection for the remainder of the 2014-2015 flu season.
Even in years, like this one, when other strains not present in vaccine are circulating, flu vaccine is still the best protection available. Other key protective measures include hand washing, avoidance of touching your face, covering a cough or sneeze and staying home if you are sick to avoid exposing others.
For additional information about the 2014-2015 flu season, visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/index.htm

In a joint effort to rebuild a declining Tennessee beef herd, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative have announced a unique public-private partnership. UTIA will make room at its Dairy AgResearch and Education Center in Lewisburg for 100 beef heifers consigned by farmers from across Tennessee for a development program with the goal of increasing cattle numbers in the state. Nationally, Tennessee has dropped from ninth in beef cattle production to 13th in the past two years due in part to a decrease in the state’s herd caused by economic and weather-related factors. Currently, the state hosts about 864,000 beef cows. The goal of the new Tennessee Beef Heifer Development Program is to increase that number, which is consistent with the recommendations of the Governor’s Rural Challenge.
Issued in December 2012, the challenge sets a goal of making Tennessee No. 1 in the Southeast in the development of agriculture and forestry, emphasizing efforts to increase farm income and agribusiness investment. With beef producers located in every county in the state, enhancing beef cattle production is a natural priority for the state’s agricultural community, said Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson, who offered the department’s full support of the initiative.
“Tennessee has the land capacity to support beef herd expansion and to recapture our share of the U.S. market,” said Johnson. “This project ties in with the recommendations of the Governor’s Rural Challenge to grow our industry and gives producers another tool with which to improve their operation and to maximize profits.”
The most economically straining aspect of beef management is the development of replacement heifers, said UT cattle expert Kevin Thompson, who serves as director of the Middle Tennessee and Dairy AgResearch and Education Centers.
“Replacement heifer development is expensive because of the time and resources it takes to bring a heifer to the point of production — that is, until she produces a marketable calf of her own,” Thompson said, adding that research has shown a positive correlation between proper heifer development and longevity of the animal within the herd. “This program will provide producers with the best management protocols intended to optimize development and increase the heifer’s lifetime productivity. We will be helping to rebuild Tennessee’s cattle herd, improve its quality and increase farm profits over time.”
The UT Dairy AgResearch Center in Lewisburg is perfectly located for the statewide program, said Thompson. With support through a $243,000 Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program grant from TDA and an in-kind contribution from TFC totaling more than $125,000 in supplies, equipment and other services over a five-year period, UTIA will construct or upgrade certain facilities to accommodate 100 privately owned beef heifers consigned for intensive management. Improved protocols for animal production — including nutrition, health, handling and reproductive management — will be developed so they can be replicated by individual producers across the state. After 11 months of intensive management and care at the UT AgResearch center, the heifers will be returned to consigners or offered in a bred heifer replacement sale. UT Extension has also been involved in the program development and will continue to have a leadership role as the program moves forward.
UT is working to identify select producers willing to consign heifers to the pilot project. Construction of required facilities is expected to begin by the end of the year, and the first shipment of heifers should arrive in October 2015. TDA has agreed to offer TAEP scholarships to producers who participate in the pilot project to help defray a portion of their management costs.
With the importance of beef production to Tennessee’s agricultural economy and the Co-op system, this new project makes “perfect sense for the cattlemen of our state,” said Bart Krisle, TFC’s chief executive officer.
“This program fits one of our core objectives of helping our farmer owners increase profitability,” said Krisle. “Helping beef producers find improved methods and compare management practices and results will strengthen their desire to increase herd size. The opportunity to replicate the program in their own operations is the most valuable part of this initiative, and all the equipment, herd health items, feeds and minerals can be sourced from their local Co-ops. This program will have far-reaching benefits, and we are proud to be a part of it.”
UT Institute of Agriculture Chancellor Larry Arrington reiterated the importance of research and extension to the process of economic development.
“Providing real life solutions to production problems is the mission of the UT Institute of Agriculture,” he said. “This new program has the potential to truly grow the state’s beef cattle industry and to have a substantial and lasting impact on the state’s rural economy.”
In addition to its AgResearch program, the UT Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.