The Future is Farming

It's an exciting time to be involved in agriculture.

Today's farmers have technology at their fingertips that their grandfathers could never have imagined. Biotechnology allows plant breeders to genetically alter seed. Precision farming combines Global Positioning Systems (GPS) satellites and computerized yield monitors to map a field's fertility and yield variability. Advances in feed research allow Co-op livestock specialists to balance rations to give producers a competitive edge.

Co-op employees are partners with today's farmers, working together to produce food and fibers for an ever-growing world population.

Agriculture — and related careers — have undergone many changes since Tennessee Farmers Cooperative was organized in 1945 as a federated farm supply cooperative. In the beginning, Co-op's primary purpose was to provide products and services for farmers. Then and now, it is owned and operated by its farmer-members. There are 70 member cooperatives with more than 150 outlets across the state.

These member cooperatives are separate corporations and are served by a regional office located in LaVergne and a complex of three main production-distribution centers: Tenco in East Tennessee, LaVergne in Middle Tennessee, and Jackson and Halls in West Tennessee. These centers provide a total of three warehouses, three fertilizer plants, five feed mills, a seed cleaning and processing plant, a vegetable and lawn seed packaging facility, metal fabrication plant, laboratory, maintenance shop, material handling shop, and a subsidiary company, ADI. After more than 50 years of operation, TFC has experienced phenomenal growth and annual sales now exceed half a billion dollars system wide.

Co-op employees are proud of the organization's long, successful history. But they're just as proud of the fact that Co-op has changed along with the times to reflect the needs of both farming and non-farming customers. Though Co-op's first concern is for the farmers, the urbanization of many rural towns creates a need to offer more products for the homeowner as well as conveniences such as 24-hour fuel facilities. Sporting equipment and hunting supplies are now popular at many Co-op stores and Hunter's Night Out events are fast becoming a Tennessee tradition. TFC's turf management group helps keep many of the state's golf courses and athletic fields green and lush. By expanding into these new areas, Co-op is able to operate more efficiently, which translates into improved service to farmers.