Agriculture Legislation Advances at the Capitol

Lawmakers gathered for the annual Ag Day on the Hill on March 18 to celebrate the state’s multibillion-dollar agriculture industry. As always, the festivities included appearances from livestock and events like a corn-shelling competition. Meanwhile, several agriculture bills advance through the state legislature, as Tennessee farmers worry about imposed tariffs and loss of farmland. 

“From the minute [the Lee administration] came in here, recognizing, supporting and encouraging the ag industry all across the state has been a priority,” said Gov. Bill Lee during Ag Day. “From 4-H and FFA, from ag enhancement investments in the extension program, we have been committed to farmers and producers and stakeholders.

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Slideshow: Ag Day on the Hill 2025

On Tuesday, lawmakers celebrated the annual Ag Day on the Hill event at the state Capitol. See photographer Hamilton Matthew Masters' shots below.

“We want to continue to lead the country in ag, in ag tech and in ag production and in ag education.”

Pesticide Labeling

One bill that has sparked debate is House Bill 809/Senate Bill 527, which would expand legal protections for pesticide companies. The legislation would prevent pesticide manufacturers and sellers from being sued for their labeling if the pesticide had a label approved by the Environmental Protection Agency when it was sold.

Several people testified against the bill during the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, saying the legislation would limit legal action from being taken by people who develop serious illnesses like cancer as a result of pesticides. Others advocated for the bill, including some farmers, who said the pesticides are necessary for their work and for keeping a robust agriculture industry in the U.S. 

Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston) said he battled with his position on the bill, but ultimately decided to support it. 

“I’m concerned if we don’t protect this tool in the toolbox of farmers, we’re going to impact the capability and strike its capacity to not just feed that 9 billion in the world, but the 330 million that live in the United States,” Fritts said. 

Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) voted against the bill, saying it favors pesticide corporations. 

“This is in my perspective a blatant corporate giveaway to Bayer and Monsanto,” Behn said of the companies that make pesticides like Roundup. “If you vote for it, you are prioritizing the rights of a multinational corporation over the rights of Tennesseans to seek justice for cancer and childhood ailments.”

As of this writing, the legislation is set to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee this week, and is headed to the Senate floor.

Farmland Preservation

Another bill pushed by the Lee administration would establish a $25 million fund for programs working to preserve farmland and forestland and provide grants for conservation easements.

The bill (SB 207/HB 1325) aiming to curb the development of farmland passed the Senate on March 13 and, as of this writing, is set to be heard in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on March 26 — after this issue went to press. A similar bill was pushed by Lee in 2024 but failed in committee. 

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher addressed some of these challenges at Ag Day. 

 “Farm profitability is not good now,” Hatcher said. “We’re losing 10 acres of farmland per hour. There’s a lot of things we need to do to address that, a lot of tools in the toolbox, but we look forward to doing that so that we can keep the look and feel of Tennessee.”

Tariffs 

At the federal level, some Tennessee farmers are concerned about the potential implications of recent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. 

A recent report by Farmers for Free Trade and Trade Partnership Worldwide shows that $111 billion of Tennessee’s total imports came from Canada, Mexico and China in 2024. The report notes that tariffs could cost Tennessee more than $8 billion annually, while the state paid just $2.6 billion in tariffs in 2024. Tennessee would be the U.S. state paying the eighth-highest amount in tariffs, according to the report. 

Farmers for Free Trade hosted a Tariff Town Hall on March 6, where members said the tariffs could take a negative toll on farmers who look to export their goods overseas.

Additional reporting by Hamilton Matthew Masters.