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The cattle industry in Tennessee generates some $344 million in cash receipts annually and is the leading source of agricultural income for Tennessee producers. Download this photo (28K)

The Master Beef Producer Program will get underway across Tennessee during the winter and spring of 2004. Hailed as the most extensive educational project planned for the Tennessee cattle industry, the MBP program is designed to help individual producers improve their profitability and competitiveness. The state's entire beef industry should benefit as well.

The cattle industry is the leading source of agricultural income in Tennessee, yet experts say with enhanced production, reduced costs and value-added marketing, annual receipts from the state's cow-calf operations could increase from $344 million to $500 million.

The MBP program will focus on 12 issues facing the beef industry. These include managing and planning for success, marketing, genetics, carcass traits, feeding and managing the cow herd, forage production, reproduction, herd health, cattle handling and behavior, environmental concerns and food safety. A beef quality assurance (BQA) certification or recertification session may also be included.

Specialists and agents with the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service and faculty of the UT College of Veterinary Medicine worked together to develop the MBP program. The project is part of the overall effort of the Tennessee Beef Cattle Improvement Initiative. Jim Neel, the Extension beef specialist who helped to bring the project to fruition, says input from agribusinesses, veterinarians and representatives of the Tennessee Cattlemen's Association was instrumental in developing course content.

The objective of this program is to help the state's beef producers "move to the next level" and be among the best in the nation, Neel said.

The program will be offered through county Extension offices. Participants will receive a certificate recognizing their training and a Master Beef Producer cap. They will also earn a sign to display on their farm. A registration fee of $100 will cover the cost of the course materials, including a beef production reference manual.

Producers interested in more information about the local availability of the Master Beef Producer Program should contact their county Agricultural Extension Office. They can also check for information online at http://utextension.tennessee.edu.

Partial funding for the program is provided by a grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Development Fund. Proceeds from this fund come from the sale of the Tennessee Ag Tag specialty license plate.

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Contacts: Jim Neel, 865-974-7294; Patricia McDaniels, 865-974-7141