GAP Connections (GAPC) coordinates GAP Training annually to provide growers the opportunity to learn from content experts about the latest crop, environmental, and labor best management practices. GAPC appreciates and recognizes the partnerships we have with the tobacco Extension Educators and Specialists and other content experts to best serve the growers.

In 2025, GAP Training will be available online and at a select few in-person training locations and events.

Online training will launch January 15 and can be found on the Grower Dashboard in the Training Section.  

Not sure about online training? Watch the GAPC Training and Events Page for an in-person meeting near you. 

Are you a business looking for a way to connect with tobacco growers and boost your company's visibility? 

GAPC offers an opportunity for those organizations and companies that support our mission and want to reach our membership base with potential resources and solutions to market their product.  The sponsorship helps to offset the costs associated with GAPC education, training, and resource development.

We are thrilled to offer the opportunity to partner with our current sponsors Gold Leaf Seed Co., Gripp, and Yepzy as we work together to make 2025 a successful year. 

For more information about becoming a sponsor, please contact Katelyn White, GAP Connections Business Manager and Certification Coordinator, at 865.622.4606, ext. 113 or email kwhite@gapconnections.com

GAP Connections is excited to announce the launch of a new podcast "Let's Talk About Labor" that aims to address labor needs to farmers in Tennessee and other surrounding states. The podcast is a collaborative effort of University of Tennessee Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and GAP Connections

Episode 1: Let's talk about the H-2A program: Farmer's experiences with the H-2A program.

Listen here.

Episode 2: H-2A Worker Housing: Practical Things I Need to Know Before Considering the H-2A Program

Listen here.

Episode 3: H-2A Worker Transportation: Practical Things I Need to Know Before Considering the H-2A Program

Listen here.

Episode 4: H-2A Program Housing Requirements

Listen here.

Episode 5: H-2A Program Housing Inspections

Listen here.

Episode 6: Tobacco and Row Crop Growers' Experience with the H-2A Program

Listen here.

Episode 7: Tobacco and Row Crop Growers' Experience with the H-2A Worker Housing

Listen here.

Episode 8: Labor Challenges and Strategies to Overcome These Challenges – Lessons Learned by a Tennessee Nursery Operation

Listen here.

Episode 9: Mechanization as a Strategy to Overcome Labor Challenges –  Lessons Learned by a Tennessee Nursery Operation

In this episode, Terry Hines, owner of Hale & Hines Nursery, will talk about his experience using mechanization as a strategy to address labor challenges in his operation. Listen here.

Join NC Cooperative Extension on Thursday, December 19th at 9:00 a.m. for a flue-cured tobacco variety webinar! This event is hosted by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Services in Johnston and Wilson Counties. The Zoom webinar will feature Dr. Ramsey Lewis, NC State Tobacco Breeder, and Dr. Matthew Vann, NC State Tobacco Agronomist. They will cover new genetics and up-to-date yield information that has been recorded from 2020 – 2024.

Registration is required. The registration link is below.

Please contact Norman Harrell (norman_harrell@ncsu.edu) or Bryant Spivey (bryant_spivey@ncsu.edu) if you have any questions.

When: Tuesday, February 4 | 8:00am - 1:00pm CST

Where: Robertson County Fairgrounds

4635 Hwy 41 North, Springfield, TN 37172

Schedule: 

Growers must attend both GAP Training sessions in order to earn 2025 Annual GAP Training Credit. 

View flyer. 

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has extended the public comment period for its proposed rule to protect workers from extreme heat exposure in indoor and outdoor workplaces to remain open until Jan. 14, 2025.

As published in the Federal Register on Aug. 30, 2024, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings had an initial 120-day public comment period scheduled to end on Dec. 30, 2024. OSHA is extending the deadline for submitting comments to provide stakeholders more time to review the proposed rule and gather relevant information and data for their input.

OSHA also announced an informal public hearing on the proposed rule will begin on June 16, 2025.

Reducing the dangers of workplace heat exposure and illness is critical to saving lives and preventing workers from suffering needless illnesses,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas Parker. “This 15-day extension to the already lengthy comment period will take the deadline past the holiday season and help ensure that stakeholders can share valuable insights we need to craft a rule that protects workers from extreme heat indoors and outdoors effectively.”

Submit comments to Docket Number OSHA-2021-0009.  

GAPC has a partnership with Jackson Lewis to provide growers with a comprehensive risk management helpline service carefully designed to help manage workforce employment issues and reduce exposure to employment-related liability. 

This helpline is FREE to all GAPC grower members. Growers can access the helpline by phone (833) 499-0275 or email GAPConnectionsHotline@jacksonlewis.com.  When contacting the helpline, please be prepared to provide, your name, GAPC grower ID #, location, type of issue, phone, and email (if available). 

865.622.4606 | info@gapconnections.com | 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive Knoxville, TN 37996