By Chris Hicks, County Director – UT Extension Smith County
Producers who would like to become certified as “Master Producers” will have multiple options for certification over the next few months. We will be holding both Master Beef classes and Master Farm Manager classes. These classes not only teach essential skills, but they also serve as the educational requirement associated with the TN Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) grants.
For those producers who want to go through the Master Beef Producer Program but desire to avoid being around a crowd, we will be hosting a Tennessee Master Beef Webinar Series beginning September 13. This series will be “Back to the Basics” and focus more on the fundamental principles for managing beef cattle.
It will not be a repeat of previous Master Beef curricula and will be valuable for producers that are new to the program as well as those who have previously completed multiple certifications. Interested producers can contact the UT Extension office at 615-735-2900 or email me at cbhicks@utk.edu to receive a link to each webinar.
For those who would rather attend Master Beef in person, we will have a face-to-face Master Beef class on Tuesday & Thursday nights beginning October 21 in Hartsville. Class topics will include forages, genetics, health, equipment, and more. Registration information is available at the UT Extension office or online at smith.tennessee.edu.
Keep in mind that attending UT Extension events related to beef and forage production can also count towards Master Beef certification. Upcoming Field Days such as the Upper Cumberland Beef Summit on November 20 & the Bull Evaluation Field Day on November 20 will both count towards Master Beef Producer certification.
We also have a new class this year that I believe will benefit farmers of any commodity. The Master Farm Manager class focuses on solid business principles to help you better manage your operation. Topics include Farm & Management Transition Planning, Tax Planning & Recordkeeping, The Cost of Borrowing, and much more.
Completing the Master Farm Manager program qualifies eligible livestock and row crop producers for 50% cost share on TAEP. For those who have taken the Master Beef or Master Row Crop class in the past, the Master Farm Manager program is a great alternative and will teach you new skills. It’s also a great option for producers who are new to farming and would like to sharpen their managerial skills.
We have a variety of educational opportunities coming up that will benefit both new and experienced farmers alike. More information about these programs is available at smith.tennessee.edu or by calling the UT Extension office at 615-735-2900.
