2014 Advanced Master Beef Producer Program

The University Of Tennessee Cocke/Jefferson County Extension Offices are announcing plans for the 2014 Advanced Master Beef Producer Program. Producers are asked to pre-register for the class by September 1st. The class will start on September 16th, it will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings during the month of September with graduation on October 9.The classes will begin at 6:00pm. Participants must attend all classes in order to receive the certification. The cost for the class is $200.00, but the Tennessee Enhancement funds will pay $100.00 of the cost through a scholarship. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, producers must register their farms and have their premise ID number and have completed the Beef Quality Assurance course. A Beef Quality Assurance class will be held on Thursday, September 11 at 6:00pm for those who have not been certified or the certification has expired.

The Advanced Master Beef Producer Program is an educational program designed to help Tennessee cow-calf producers improve management skills and profitability and to ultimately help raise industry competitiveness with other states.  This course is led by a team of University of Tennessee Extension Agents and Specialists, covers business planning, marketing, genetics, feeding and forage, health management and cattle reproduction. The class is open to all participants, not only those that have taken the previous Master Beef Producer Course.

If the increased profits enjoyed by those who become Master Beef Producers aren’t reason enough, Tennessee cattle producers who become Master Beef Producer certified will be eligible for reimbursement of 50 percent, for genetic improvements in their herds. Certified producers will also be eligible to receive a 50 percent reimbursement for improvement to their cattle handling facilities.

To be eligible for the 50% reimbursements, beef producers should take advantage of this Master Beef Producers class. For those that have completed the original Master Beef prior to 2008, they must retake the course before December 2015 to remain eligible. To register for this class or to get additional information about attending this class, contact the Jefferson County Extension Office at 865-397-2969.