Fall training opportunities for beef producers

Marketing beef directly to consumers? New workshop to explore production techniques and costs

Consumers are becoming more interested in buying food from local suppliers, including local beef producers. Since beef cattle is among the top commodities produced in the state, with some 950,000 beef cattle in Tennessee, the number of cattle producers interested in marketing beef directly to local consumers is on the rise.

To educate producers interested in responding to the demand for locally produced beef, University of Tennessee Extension’s Center for Profitable Agriculture will be leading a new educational workshop this fall. According to Rob Holland, director of the Center for Profitable Agriculture, the same three-hour workshop will be available in six locations throughout the state to make it easier for producers to choose a workshop convenient to their location or schedule.

The program will focus on beef production techniques and cost considerations and will feature instruction by UT Extension Animal Scientist Justin Rhinehart. “This program will feature a variety of production techniques and cost factors for grain-finished, grass-fed and grain-on-grass systems,” Holland said.

Those interested in the “Production and Cost Considerations for Finishing Animals for Direct Marketing” workshop should register through a the program’s local UT Extension agent host. The dates range from September through December at these locations and times:

Alcoa – Sept. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. To register contact John Wilson, UT Extension, Blount County, 865-982-6430
Clarksville – Oct. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. To register contact Rusty Evans, UT Extension, Montgomery County, 931-648-5725
Cookeville – Oct. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. To register contact Scott Chadwell, UT Extension, Putnam County, 931-526-4561
Spring Hill – Oct. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. To register contact Richard Groce, UT Extension, Maury County, 931-375-5301
Greeneville – Nov. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. To register contact Milton Orr, UT Extension, Greene County, 423-798-1710
Jackson – Dec. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. To register contact Jake Mallard, UT Extension, Madison County, 731-668-8543

Seating is limited at some locations, so participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible. There is no cost to attend the workshops, but pre-registration is required so organizers can prepare adequate materials. A meal will be included with each session.

For more information about these and other value-added beef workshops, visit the Center for Profitable Agriculture website: http://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa/.

These educational sessions are offered as part of the statewide “Value-Added Beef Program” and made possible in part by funding from the sale of agricultural specialty license plates (the “Ag Tag”).  Funds received from Ag Tag sales are returned to the agricultural community in the form of grants for youth programs, market development projects and other agricultural activities. The Tennessee Value-Added Beef Program is also funded in part by the USDA, Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program.

The Center for Profitable Agriculture is a joint effort of UT Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the UT Institute of Agriculture. With an office in every Tennessee county, UT Extension delivers educational programs and research-based information to citizens throughout the state. In cooperation with Tennessee State University, UT Extension works with farmers, families, youth and communities to improve lives by addressing problems and issues at the local, state and national levels.