Tennessee Department of Agriculture

What Tennessee Department of Agriculture does

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is an executive-branch state agency headquartered at 440 Hogan Road, Nashville, operating under Commissioner Andy Holt and accountable to the Governor. TDA regulates, services, and promotes Tennessee's agricultural industry across eight operational divisions: Agricultural Regulatory, Agricultural Resources Conservation, Animal Health, Business Development, Business Services, Forestry, Laboratory Services, and Soil Conservation.

TDA's product surface is regulatory rather than commercial and includes a portfolio of licensing programs (aerial applicators, commercial fertilizers, pesticides, livestock dealers, dairy plants, hemp growers/processors, meat/slaughter, weights/measures), diagnostic and inspection services anchored by the C.E.Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, food safety inspection and complaint handling, an Agricultural Crime Unit, and financial assistance programs including the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP), the Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund (ARCF), and forestry grants. Digital channels include the TN.gov services portal, the GoOutdoorsTennessee.com licensing platform, and the TWRA On the Go mobile application on iOS and Android. Sub-brands Pick Tennessee Products, GoOutdoorsTennessee, and the Century Farms Program (co-administered with MTSU's Center for Historic Preservation) extend the agency's reach into consumer-facing marketing, outdoor recreation licensing, and heritage farm recognition.

TDA's revenue model is non-commercial: the department is funded through state tax appropriations and receives limited administrative-cost-recovery fees from licenses, permits, and certifications. Service delivery occurs directly through department contacts, the TN.gov portal, and partner county clerk offices across all 95 Tennessee counties. The customer base spans Tennessee's ~6.91 million residents, agricultural producers, landowners receiving conservation cost-share, and food assistance recipients under USDA-administered commodity programs.

Name

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Legal name

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Website

https://tn.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1796

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is a state executive-branch agency headquartered in Nashville that regulates agricultural licensing, animal health diagnostics, food safety, conservation, and forestry, serving Tennessee's farmers, residents, and licensed agricultural businesses across all 95 counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Agricultural Regulation

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration (BPAIAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soil Testing & Nutrient Analysis Services (AFACAKAA), Livestock & Pasture Supply Retail (Feed Supplements, Animal Health Inputs) (AFABAJAJ), Herd Handling, Sorting & Restraint Services (Chute Work, Weighing, Tagging) (AFACAEAG), Irrigation & Water Use Efficiency Agronomy (AFACABAF)

Keywords

• Agricultural regulation
• Animal health diagnostics
• Agricultural licensing
• Food safety inspection
• Farm conservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Budget Appropriation: The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is a state government agency funded through state tax revenues and appropriations. As a regulatory and service department, it does not generate commercial revenue but operates on allocated state funds to provide agricultural services, licensing, and regulatory functions.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is a state government agency that regulates, licenses, and supports Tennessee's agricultural industry through licensing programs (aerial applicator, commercial fertilizer, dairy plant, livestock dealer, pesticide, hemp), animal health diagnostics, food safety inspections, weights and measures testing, conservation cost-share programs, and promotional initiatives such as Pick Tennessee Products and the Century Farms Program. Services are delivered to farmers, agricultural businesses, consumers, and landowners across Tennessee.

Product overview

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is a state government agency that regulates and supports Tennessee's agricultural industry. TDA offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services organized into several operational divisions including Agricultural Regulatory, Agricultural Resources Conservation, Animal Health, Business Development, Business Services, Forestry, Laboratory Services, and Soil Conservation. Key services include agricultural licensing (aerial applicators, commercial fertilizers, pesticides, livestock dealers, dairy facilities), animal health programs (diagnostic testing, avian influenza testing, livestock welfare), environmental programs (Agricultural Pesticide Waste Collection, Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund), consumer protection (Weights and Measures testing, food safety complaints), and promotional programs (Pick Tennessee Products, Century Farms Program, TAEP). Digital platforms include GoOutdoorsTennessee.com for hunting/fishing licenses and the TWRA On the Go mobile application. The department also supports rural development through various grant programs including rural forestry grants, agricultural enhancement programs, and pollinator initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GoOutdoorsTennessee: Online licensing and permit system for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation
• Pick Tennessee Products
• Tennessee Century Farms Program

Products and services

• Aerial Applicator License License authorizing the application of pesticides via aircraft in Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Anhydrous Ammonia License License authorizing the dispensing of anhydrous ammonia in Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Commercial Fertilizer License License authorizing the distribution of commercial fertilizer in Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Commercial Feed Facility License License authorizing the manufacture, distribution, or labeling of feed as the guarantor in Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Dairy Plant License License for dairy plants in Tennessee, including dairy barn inspections (Grade A/Grade B), frozen dessert licensing, and dairy testers certification, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Meat/Custom Slaughter Business License License for meat and custom slaughter businesses operating in Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• CAFO Permits Required permitting for certain Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory General diagnostic testing of animals including necropsy, herd and flock testing, and histopathology services at the C.E.Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory.
• Avian Influenza Testing Avian influenza testing services for poultry and birds, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory.
• Boll Weevil Eradication Program Part of a nationwide effort to rid the cotton belt of the boll weevil, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Agricultural Crime Unit Investigation of wildland arson, livestock welfare, livestock theft and other farm crimes, and criminal activities on state forest lands, operated by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Agricultural Pesticide Waste Collection Provides a means for the safe removal and disposal of unwanted pesticides for Tennessee landowners, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund (ARCF) Provides cost-share assistance to Tennessee landowners to install Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce agricultural water pollution, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) Provides cost-share assistance to Tennessee agricultural producers for various enhancements including livestock, grain, hay, poultry, and equipment purchases, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Commodity Distribution Program Administers USDA's Food Distribution Program for schools and residential institutions and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), providing nutritious USDA-purchased food to children and low-income families in Tennessee.
• Century Farms Program Identifies, documents, and recognizes farms owned by the same family for at least 100 years, administered through a partnership with the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU.
• Pick Tennessee Products Promotional marketing program that promotes Tennessee agricultural products and connects consumers with local farmers and producers in the state.
• Weights and Measures Services Includes commercial fuel pump testing, commercial scale testing, and Weigher/Sampler licensing to ensure accuracy in commerce, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Forest Management Services Includes forest management technical assistance, Forest Stewardship Program, forestry best management practices, Southern Pine Beetle prevention grants, and urban and community forestry grants.
• Hemp Program Industrial hemp grower and processor licensing program for Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Livestock Services Includes livestock brand registration, livestock dealer licensing, livestock market self-reporting, and livestock health reporting, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Certificate of Free Sale TDA-issued certification documents that many countries require to accompany products being imported into their country, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Apiary Program Includes apiary grants to local beekeeper associations for inspection of honeybee colonies and required registration of apiaries in the state, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Pesticide Program Includes pesticide application licensing (aerial, charter, commercial, consumer), pesticide waste collection, and pesticide complaint resolution, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Plant Certification Program Includes plant certificate licensing, greenhouse certification, nursery licensing, plant dealer licensing, florist licensing, and phytosanitary certification for exports, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• Grain Services Includes grain dealer licensing, grain moisture meter testing, and the Tennessee Grain Commodity Indemnity Fund, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
• GoOutdoorsTennessee.com Online portal for purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, available via web and TWRA On the Go mobile app, for Tennessee residents and non-residents.
• Deer Bait Privilege License License allowing hunting over bait for white-tailed deer in Tennessee, available through GoOutdoorsTennessee.com and the TWRA On the Go App.
• Rural Forestry Grants Cost-share programs including Rural Forestry Grants for Landowners (TAEP), Rural Forestry Grants for Timber Harvesters (TAEP), and Urban and Community Forestry Grants, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) - Center for Historic PreservationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tennessee Century Farms Program is administered by the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU. This partnership identifies, documents, and recognizes farms owned by the same family for at least 100 years, preserving agricultural heritage across Tennessee.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe department administers USDA programs including the Commodity Distribution program for schools and residential institutions, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), providing nutritious USDA-purchased food to children and low-income families.
• County Clerk OfficescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle titling, registration, and certain agricultural-related transactions are processed through Tennessee's 95 county clerk offices statewide, serving as the primary physical service delivery points for citizen interactions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kentucky Department of Agriculture: Neighboring state agriculture department with comparable regulatory portfolio including licensing, animal health, and marketing programs (e.g., Kentucky Proud). Most directly comparable peer given geographic proximity and similar agricultural economy.
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Larger Southeast state agriculture department providing licensing, food safety, and forestry services. Comparable in scope, though materially larger in budget and headcount.
• Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce: Southeast state agriculture agency providing licensing, regulation, and producers' market services. Functionally comparable to TDA in scale and service portfolio.
• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Mid-Atlantic state agriculture department with regulatory, animal health, and marketing programs (Virginia Grown). Comparable structure and cross-disciplinary regulatory scope.
• Arkansas Department of Agriculture: Neighboring state agriculture department with similar services including livestock licensing, forestry, and consumer protection. Comparable in scale and geographic focus.
• North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Larger-scale state agriculture department with comparable services including licensing, marketing programs (Got to Be NC), and research stations. Useful peer for benchmarking scale and service breadth.
• Georgia Department of Agriculture: Regional state department with similar regulatory and marketing programs (Georgia Grown). Operates an overlapping mix of licensing, animal health, and consumer protection services.
• Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries: Southeast state agriculture agency offering similar licensing, food safety, and commodity inspection programs. Comparable scope and structure to TDA, making it a strong functional peer.
• South Carolina Department of Agriculture: State agriculture agency offering similar regulatory and marketing programs (Certified South Carolina). Comparable in scale and service mix to TDA.

Broad incumbents

• USDA - United States Department of Agriculture: Federal-level agriculture agency that TDA partners with and partially implements programs for. Provides the broader regulatory framework and federal funding that governs Tennessee's agricultural operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TNDeptofAg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TNDeptofAg
• Facebookfacebook.com/TNDeptofAg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tennessee-department-of-agriculture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tennessee Department of Agriculture