Tennessee

Preserving the Future: How Tennessee is Protecting Farmland While Driving Development

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:58:53 GMT

How is Tennessee, one of the fastest-growing states in the country, balancing economic development while still protecting farmland? Gov. Bill Lee says it’s one of the state’s greatest challenges, but he believes there is a way to do both.

Last year, Lee signed the Tennessee Farmland Preservation Act into law, tasking the Tennessee Department of Agriculture with developing a grant program to incentivize farmland owners to voluntarily enroll their land in a permanent conservation easement.

“We lose 9 acres an hour to development,” Lee said at the 2026 Top Producer Summit . “We recognize that agriculture is our No. 1 driver of our economy, so we have to preserve farmland. This act will incentivize farm property, and agriculture property in particular, to be put in land trusts so it can never be developed. This effort has been widely accepted by farmers and is beginning to take effect.”

Where is the Push for Economic Development in Tennessee?

Although economic development is taking place in many different forms, the state of Tennessee is seeing a big push for data centers. For some farmers, this could be the revenue generator they’ve been waiting on, but for others, it’s a contentious issue.

“If we are going to have a data center, it has to work for all of us,” Lee says. “Most important is that the impact on the grid for power is one that our state can effectively manage.”

He believes the data centers and the companies behind them should be partners with the state and with regulatory bodies.

“They should come in and say, ‘If we’re going to come here, this is what we will deliver to the state,’” Lee says. “Besides just the investment in dollars and what they will take from the grid, how will they deliver to the state?”

AI, a major data center and supercomputing facility in Memphis, is an example of a good partnership, he says.

“They are producing their own power and contributing to the grid. It’s a great partnership and model for things that we should be looking for in the future,” Lee adds.

How is Tennessee Helping Farmers?

Tennessee crop farmers are feeling pain right now like their peers across the country.

“It’s a tough environment for crop farmers,” Lee says. “We’ve seen the staggering losses some of our producers have experienced. But they’re very resilient people. They know that a few years ago, crop prices were good. Right now, they’re really bad. A lot of patience is required in farming, and they know that.”

Stability and predictability are nearly impossible to have in agriculture, he says. But he’s working to help provide stability and predictability from a federal standpoint through ag policy efforts.

“I think that’s what farmers look for more than anything,” Lee says. “They don’t want a rescue or an immediate solution to the problem they have. I think farmers want some indication of what stability looks like and what predictability looks like and what they can expect in the future.”

From a livestock standpoint, Tennessee has been investing heavily in the development of more local processing options.

“We do believe that locally sourced products are helpful to our own ag community,” he says. “To the degree that we can facilitate that in this state, we ought to do it. We’ve broadly expanded our ability to process beef in this state. We’re not nearly where we need to be, but we’re headed in the right direction.”

Creating a Pipeline for Agriculture

Lee is passionate about thinking about the future and creating pathways for skilled trades, especially in the agriculture industry. His experience running a company in the skilled trades business — plumbers, pipefitters, electricians and welders — has helped him see the need firsthand.

“One of the most important things we can do is recognize that kids’ giftings are really different,” Lee says.

Lee’s passion to better meet the demand for skilled labor came to fruition through the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) Act.

“It created, initially, a $1-million program in high schools for vocational, technical and agricultural education programs,” he says. “It led to $500 million in middle school career and technical education programs, and ultimately $1 billion in our colleges of technology that deliver ag education, technical education and vocational education. We have removed the waitlist for our colleges of technology. We’re delivering 10,000 more workers a year who are skilled tradesmen.”

He believes it’s one of the reasons Tennessee has so many global companies making the decision to come to the state.

“We have a lot of activity here economically because the state with the workers is going to win every time,” Lee says. “We started seven years ago by creating a workforce that was much more diverse than what it had been previously, and that includes agricultural education.”

As a cattle producer and proud Tennessean, Lee says he’s most proud of how he’s helped support the state’s future in agriculture by investing in youth and the technologies that will be the future.

“It will be fun for me to look back years from now and say, ‘I’m really glad we did that. Ag was No. 1 in Tennessee when I was there, and ag is still No. 1 in Tennessee now that I’ve been gone,’” he says. “That’s what I hope for.”

Producer-to-Producer: That’s a Wrap on CattleCon 2026

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:57:56 GMT

As beef producers pack up and leave Nashville, Tenn., they are returning home with new strategies, renewed optimism and memories from a memorable CattleCon 2026.

Thank you to the five producers who were our boots on the ground and shared their perspective this week:

Jenna Fitzsimmons, Cunningham, Kan.
Rachel Gray , Blackduck, Minn.
Ken Odde , Pollock, S.D.
Logan Pribbeno , Imperial, Neb.
Kim Rounds, Johnstown, Colo.

Here are their final thoughts about this year’s event:

Fitzsimmons: “My first CattleCon was a great experience! I really enjoyed the overall positive energy at CattleCon that could be felt from meetings, discussions, presentations and interactions I experienced.

“My biggest highlights were the region and policy meetings, Cattlemen’s College sessions and the [National Cattlemen’s Beef Association] State of the Industry Town Hall. These felt the most impactful to me because they allowed producers’ voices to be heard, covered industry issues, expanded my knowledge, inspired me to be a leader and challenged me to improve my operation.

“I love learning and will always be a lifelong learner. CattleCon offered many various learning opportunities for any topic a producer could want. I was able to attend a few sessions I was interested in and even a couple that surprised me by providing knowledge I didn’t realize I needed.

“It is important to go outside of your comfort zone when learning because you never know what you might pick up to improve yourself and your operation. Learning also comes from networking, producer-to-producer.

“I was able to visit with several producers from all across the U.S. and Canada! Everyone was so genuine and kindhearted! Now, you have to take the next step and apply what you have learned, even if it can be daunting. It is pertinent to keep learning and improving as a beef producer for the benefit of the cattle and the consumer. This allows the industry to pave the way and move forward into the future.

“The beef industry is excited, passionate and ready to support the world.”

Gray: “I finished Wednesday attending some Cattleman’s College events. I learned a lot from the ranchers who were part of the legacy panel. Both gentlemen suggested Ranching For Profit and other classes. I am glad to hear the focus on education.

“Thursday, I enjoyed hearing U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speak and getting his thoughts on dietary guidelines . I then headed to the plane to return home for bull sales and calving.”

Odde: The biggest highlight for me was the education and celebration associated with the change in dietary guidelines. I think the change in dietary guidelines has long-term support for demand.

Pribbeno: “The biggest highlight was having [Kennedy] speak at the afternoon general session. He was greeted with a standing ovation. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein said it was the most packed he has seen a convention setting.

“Kennedy says he eats beef twice a day, and his favorite cut was the strip. He also touched on how and why he and his team rebuilt the food pyramid and the science behind putting proteins at the base.

“The early morning CattleFax session is a perennial favorite. I had an associate tell me that the CattleFax session alone is worth the trip to Nashville. Randy [Blach] and the team presented on a theme that I would call cautious optimism.

“After the CattleFax session, we hit the trade show floor for some networking.”

Rounds: “My biggest takeaway was that I spent the majority of my day with emerging leaders and leadership, and I’m so excited and positive about the future of the beef industry and knowing that our futures are in these kids’ hands.

“They are so hungry, and they want it so bad. Every single conversation that I had yesterday blew me away, and I know that we have a lot of fun and exciting things on the horizon.

“And, of course, the networking. The beef industry is full of the best people, and when we all get together in a room like we did yesterday, you can’t help but have so much fun.”

Producer-to-Producer: The Lessons We've Learned During CattleCon

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:26:52 GMT

It’s day two of CattleCon 2026. It’s been an exciting day of educational sessions, time on the trade show floor learning about new products, live AgriTalk broadcasts and taping of U.S. Farm Report.

To help us provide a producer’s perspective, we’ve invited five CattleCon attendees to be our boots on the ground and help us capture highlights from their experiences in Nashville, including:

A first-time CattleCon attendee, Jenna Fitzsimmons, from Cunningham, Kan.
Rachel Gray of Little Timber Farms, Blackduck, Minn., who specializes in developing heifers, is attending her fifth convention.
Ken Odde , South Dakota commercial cow-calf producer from Pollock, who has attended more than 30 NCBA Conventions and Trade Shows.
Commercial cow-calf producer Logan Pribbeno of Wine Glass Ranch, Imperial, Neb., will be attending his third CattleCon this year and is bringing his entire family to experience the event.
Kim Rounds, Five Rivers manager of talent acquisition and social media, is looking forward to her seventh CattleCon.

Tuesday morning two of our producers — Pribbeno and Gray — joined Chip Flory on “AgriTalk” for the Farmer Forum.

Congratulations to Pribbeno and his family on being named the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) national winner on Tuesday evening.

Here’s what the producers have to say about their CattleCon experience thus far:

What have you attended since you arrived in Nashville?

Fitzsimmons: I attended the NCBA policy meetings on Monday and Tuesday, specifically “Live Cattle Marketing” and “Cattle Health & Well-Being”. I also attended the opening general session and the trade show. I highly enjoyed being part of the policy discussion. The specialist speakers within the policy meetings offered great insight. The grassroots discussions throughout this week are so important to the future of the industry. The opening general session with Dale Earnhardt Jr. was very inspiring. I appreciated how he advised those who are at a beginning stage to enjoy it, because you won’t have that time again, and it has its own uniqueness. I loved seeing exhibitors in the trade show of businesses of all kinds and sizes. I cannot wait to learn more about what they all have to offer.

Gray: I attended the opening general session featuring Earnhardt. I’ve also been going to some cattle chats and the learning lounge sessions.

Odde: Probably the session I spent the most time at Tuesday was international trade, and it was a very good session. I learned a number of things. I also thought the BQA producer forum was really good. The BQA program has now gotten much stronger legs than what it actually had earlier in my career. I could really see that at the session, especially taking on the transportation issues, you know, taking this issue far beyond how we use animal health products.

Pribbeno: We went to the Dale Earnhardt Jr. session and turnout was great. I’ve been busy with ESAP discussions following last night’s award ceremony. I am speaking on a panel later this afternoon, and I’m going to the AI (artificial intelligence) Cattleman’s College session. I do think it’s going to be kind of a game changer. So, I’m looking forward to going to that and seeing how to more fully use AI.

Rounds: I spent most of the morning today preparing for my Cattlemen’s College presentation “Work that Works,” where I discussed finding jobs and keeping employees. So, I haven’t actually had a chance to attend too many informational meetings. The majority of my time here has been catching up with my connections I only see here and really seeing what the advocacy side of the industry looks like right now.

Big takeaways so far?

Fitzsimmons: The specialist speakers within the policy meetings offered great insight. I was very impressed with how they were beyond excited for producers to be involved with their processes. These specialists want to make sure what they are doing is working correctly for the producers they serve.

Veterinarian Dr. Sierra Guynn, from Clemson University, presented on the Asian Longhorn Tick (ALHT) in the “Cattle Health & Well-Being” policy meeting. Something I found very interesting was that, unlike most all ticks, the AHLT is resilient in the way that they will go back to feed on a host even if they were knocked off already. Guynn offered several ways of practical tick prevention and control that producers should already be doing through cattle and environment. Within our beef operation, we already are completing those steps through the cattle side. After Guynn’s presentation, I am inspired and challenged to add the environmental prevention and control to our operation plan. I am looking forward to attending her Cattlemen’s College session on New World screwworm on Thursday.

Gray: My key takeaway from Earnhardt’s comments was when he was talking about taking risks and using innovation. It’s okay to be a little bit of a risk taker. The educational sessions on trace minerals were good. It makes me wonder if we are paying enough attention to that in our rations. I will go home and check that.

Odde: No. 1 is the situation we’re in with regard to trade, and particularly the loss of the China market. I think we all kind of know that happened but didn’t really maybe understand the magnitude of that effect. That’s really a big deal for our industry. Our industry will be working hard over the next several years to see if we can recapture that China market.

No. 2 is the importance of the change in dietary guidelines . I’m old enough to remember the war on fat in the ‘80s. And what we started learning, especially in the ‘90s, is that it’s really not fat. It’s really sugar. Sugar is the big, bad, evil item associated with diet. I think this change in the pyramid is a really big deal. It’s not just a big deal for Americans — it’s a big deal globally.

Pribbeno: Earnhardt did a really good job talking about his career and when he knew to hang it up and focus on family. I really appreciated that as a high-performing athlete, and he just at a certain age decided to completely shift his focus, and now he’s really into the people development — his team and the cars that he runs. He’s not about getting the victories anymore. He’s about getting people into their prime positions and outside of his company and developing people. He did a really nice job.

Rounds: I’m always curious to see what the messages are being shared by the advocates of our industry, and that’s kind of where I’ve been focused so far today.

Producer-to-Producer: Our CattleCon Game Plan

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:22:03 GMT

As the beef industry descends on Music City this week, the Farm Journal team is on location to bring you the insights that can impact your bottom line.

With nearly 80 Cattlemen’s College, Learning Lounge and Cattle Chat educational sessions, three general sessions and more than 7 acres of trade show with the latest in equipment, technology, pharmaceuticals and feed supplements, covering CattleCon is not for the faint at heart.

To help us provide a producer’s perspective, we’ve invited five CattleCon attendees to be our boots on the ground and help us capture highlights from their experiences in Nashville.

Providing real-world insights to sessions and talks on the trade show floor will be:

A first-time CattleCon attendee, Jenna Fitzsimmons, from Cunningham, Kan.
Rachel Gray of Little Timber Farms, Blackduck, Minn., who specializes in developing heifers, is attending her fifth convention.
Ken Odde , South Dakota commercial cow-calf producer from Pollock, who has attended more than 30 NCBA Conventions and Trade Shows.
Commercial cow-calf producer Logan Pribbeno of Wine Glass Ranch, Imperial, Neb., will be attending his third CattleCon this year and is bringing his entire family to experience the event.
Kim Rounds, Five Rivers manager of talent acquisition and social media, is looking forward to her seventh CattleCon.

To kick off their CattleCon coverage, we asked the group to share why they are looking forward to this year’s event and why they chose to invest their time and money to travel to Nashville.

Q: What are you looking forward to at CattleCon?

Fitzsimmons: I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge about the industry, seeing NCBA in action at the convention and networking with other U.S. producers.

Gray: I’m really looking forward to networking — meeting and seeing people I haven’t seen in a year. But in particular, as I was looking through the Cattlemen’s College sessions, I am really interested in the nutrition sessions, particularly the session on heifer development. If I can come away with some tips and tricks to bring home just to make our operation even more successful, that’s what I go for.

Odde: I always anticipate the trade show and finding new technologies. I enjoy that.

Pribbeno: We are looking forward to seeing Nashville, trying some new cuisine. We are bringing our two children as well, so exposing them to CattleCon.

Rounds: Seeing industry friends and connections and hearing directly what the biggest topics and issues are.

Q: What is on your radar regarding hot topics to be discussed?

Fitzsimmons: Trade, disease and identification will be just a few of the hot topics.

Gray: I think markets are going to be a hot topic. Will the markets hold? What is CattleFax going to give as the outlook? That is always a really well-attended session. People look forward to that analysis of not only where we’ve been in the cattle industry, but what do the professionals see where we are headed. New technology will also be a hot topic, whether it is GPS tracking, fencing things or other uses of AI. I think we’re going to see a lot of that, both on the trade show floor and in the sessions.

Odde: I’m a big fan of letting the free market work. If I have any opportunity to influence policy, I’m a big supporter of the free market and keeping government out of our business.

Rounds: New World screwworm, imports, exports, immigration and the grain/weather outlook.

Q: What do you hope to learn from the event?

Fitzsimmons: I am hoping to learn more about industry issues, consumer trends and production innovation. One Cattlemen’s College session I am looking forward to most is “How to Lead Through Adversity” with John Sachse from Ranchfit.

Gray: My goal is to always learn something new. There’s a Cattlemen’s College session that has to do with heifer development and nutrition. I’m looking forward to going to that one. Another one called “Bigger Cattle, Bigger Decisions: Managing the Health and Welfare of Cattle.” I think there’s a lot of value in those sessions.

Odde: As a rancher, we’re always interested in things that might help improve our business and make us more profitable. So, we’re always looking for those kinds of opportunities.

Pribbeno: The Cattlemen’s College line up is looking promising. We plan to attend several of those sessions. And, of course, the one I would never miss is the CattleFax outlook.

Rounds: I like learning about things that weren’t even on my radar! It’s fun to stumble upon information I didn’t know I didn’t know.

Q: Why do you go to CattleCon?

Fitzsimmons: I think it is important to attend your state and national conventions to be involved. These organizations are run by producers for producers. It is vital to show up as much as possible at meetings to have one’s voice heard. No one speaks better for you than you. Change starts with the producer.

Gray: My feeling is, if I walk away with one new nugget of knowledge that I can bring home and change something on our ranch to make it better, it is completely worth my time.

Odde: It’s a way of staying attuned with the cattle industry, and, well, probably even more broadly, the beef industry. I always enjoyed the CattleFax presentation — it’s always been one of the highlights for me.

Pribbeno: The networking and meeting new friends is the main draw for me.

Rounds: To network and see all industry parts and opinions in one place. It’s rare to see that many producers and decision makers in one place, so it’s a hard event to miss.

Your Next Read: Providing You a Front-Row Seat to CattleCon

Hay Donated by Illinois Farmer Makes its Way to North Carolina

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:34:16 GMT

Through a generous donation from an Illinois farmer, trucks full of round bale alfalfa hay have been making a 700-mile trip to North Carolina to provide relief for farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Helene. Midwest Food Bank (MFB), founded in 2003 on the Kieser family farm in rural McLean County, Ill., is coordinating the transportation efforts.

CEO Eric Hodel says MFB has always been involved in disaster relief and typically provides food, water, supplies and family food boxes when the need arises. A hay donation wasn’t something he was expecting, but MFB got right to work making sure it could be put to good use.

“I was working on our family farm earlier this fall and received a call from a neighbor who had seen the loss people in the Southeast were experiencing and wanted to donate about 600 bales of hay to the people affected by the storm,” Hodel says.

MFB reached out to the North Carolina Farm Bureau and North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association to find out how best to put the donation to use.

“We quickly learned that this donation was going to be a huge blessing to those farmers and ranchers who have lost all of their hay and forage for the year,” Hodel says.

MFB had a donor and a place to take the hay; now, they needed to figure out the logistics.

“That’s a little bit of our operating mode — saying yes, then figuring it out from there,” Hodel says.

MFB currently distributes nearly $500 million worth of food to more than 2,400 non-profit organizations in 12 locations in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, New England, Haiti and East Africa, and has its own fleet of trucks. However, it doesn’t have flatbed trailers to haul hay. Through phone calls to area farmers and businesses, they were able to identify trailers and volunteers who were willing to deliver the hay.

“We’re hauling 17 bales at a time and should be right around halfway done at Thanksgiving,” Hodel says. “I just knew the first load was the key load to get there because we would learn a lot.”

Volunteers have been helping secure hay loads and make the 700-mile trip to North Carolina.

(Midwest Food Bank)

The combined efforts have been making a difference.

“It’s a ripple effect of everybody doing their part to help,” Hodel says. “From the person that donated the hay to some neighbors that are helping with loading of the hay and making sure that it gets strapped down correctly, and our local grain elevator allowing us to use its facility to park our trailers once we get them loaded, it’s been a group effort. We have also had donations for the fuel it takes to make these trips.”

Each truckload of hay costs approximately $1,500 in fuel. Donations for fuel costs can be made at midwestfoodbank.org/relief .

The WNC Livestock Exchange (WNCLE), located in Canton, N.C., has been at the center of receiving hay and other donations for those affected in western North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Stockyard manager Dan Messer has been working with MFB.

“Almost immediately after the hurricane, calls to help and loads of hay and supplies were coming in,” Messer says. “It was all unsolicited. The donations just started coming.”

WNCLE has been at the center for getting hay, feed, fencing and even human supplies out.

“This help has been huge because we lost probably six weeks of the fall grazing in places due to silt, landslides, flooding and downed trees,” Messer says. “A lot of times we can graze clear up to Thanksgiving or after on stockpiled grass, and having lost that the end of September, people are having to start feeding hay or sell out.”

A farmer in North Carolina receives a load of hay delivered by Midwest Food Bank.

(Midwest Food Bank)

Messer says as an auction yard, it’s important to keep people in the cattle business.

“We’re trying to get help to as many as we can,” he says. “Getting them feed, fencing supplies and hay to help them stay in business is our goal.”

Your next read: When Can Producers Start Grazing Wheat Pasture?

Producer Resources for Hurricane Helene Relief

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:43:27 GMT

As farmers and ranchers impacted by Hurricane Helene and the floods following begin assessing damages and loss, resources are available to help. The Category 4 hurricane affects producers across the Southeast from Florida northward into the Appalachians. Below is a list of resources for cattlemen and women to give and seek aide.

Florida
The Florida Cattlemen’s Association is collecting donations through their Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation: https://fca.memberclicks.net/foundationdonation#!/

For those wanting to donate to relief funds via check, please mail to:
Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation
Hurricane Helene Relief
P.O. Box 421929
Kissimmee, FL 34742-199

Georgia
To support Georgia cattle producers, donations can be sent via mail to:
Georgia Cattlemen’s Association
100 Cattlemen’s Dr.
Macon, GA 31220
Contact Georgia Cattlemen’s Association at (478)-474-6560 or gca@gabeef.org.

The Georgia Cattlemen’s Association is asking for donations of fencing materials. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

North Carolina
The North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association has asked for donations by check:
NC Cattlemen’s Association
2228 N Main Street
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Memo- Hurricane Helene Response

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has asked for donations to be made to:
• The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund: https://pay.payitgov.com/ncdonations
• Red Cross - North Carolina Region: https://www.redcross.org/local/north-carolina.html

Tennessee
The following resources were compiled by the Southeast TN Young Farmers.

Appalachian Sustainable Development has an extensive list of resources:
https://www.asdevelop.org/hurricane-helene-emergency.../

RAFI also has great information:
https://www.rafiusa.org/blog/helene-disaster-support/

For those of us outside the area that want to help:

UT is putting together a list of people who can house and transport livestock for those in need. If this is something you can help with please fill out the form below:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSc3Wd5LujFedW.../viewform

For those wanting to offer hands-on assistance... Blue Ridge Women in Ag, based in Boone, is organizing a farm recovery volunteer corps. Here’s the sign up sheet:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSf6K4HCqmSRrm.../viewform

Also if you want to donate money specifically to farmer support, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is still taking stock and checking in on farmers but will be offering farmer support into the future. https://asapconnections.org/donate

USDA Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path of Hurricane Helene that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices stand ready and are eager to help.

USDA partnered with FEMA and other disaster-focused organizations and created the Disaster Resource Center . This central source of information utilizes a searchable knowledge base of disaster-related resources powered by agents with subject matter expertise. The Disaster Resource Center website and web tool now provide an easy access point to find USDA disaster information and assistance. USDA also developed a disaster assistance discovery tool specifically targeted to rural and agricultural issues. The tool walks producers through five questions that generate personalized results identifying which USDA disaster assistance programs can help them recover from a natural disaster.

USDA also encourages residents and small businesses in impact zones to contact a local USDA office to determine which assistance programs might meet their individual needs.

NCBA Relief Resources
As more information becomes available, please visit our website for more resources and ways to assist at ncba.org/producers/disaster-relief-resource s.

Making Genetic Progress in the Fescue Belt

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:42:53 GMT

“In Kentucky and Tennessee, we’ve been fortunate to have some cost-share dollars that have been going into a genetic improvement program that each of the states has done independently,” said Dr. Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky extension professor, Lexington. Bullock gave his presentation “Genetic Improvement Programs in the Fescue Belt: Do Incentives Raise the Bar or Just the Price?” during the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium June 11 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Bull cost-share programs

The Kentucky Beef Cattle Genetic Improvement Program and the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program, both established in the early 2000s, were designed to assist cattle producers in making genetic progress through bull cost-share initiatives. Bullock explained bulls must meet expected progeny difference (EPD) requirements and be genomically tested to enter the program. Bulls are categorized by their general strengths, including calving ease, terminal production and trait balance. These programs are built on science and technology, including EPDs from various breed associations, genomic data and research from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center.

While implementing bull cost-share programs has led to faster genetic progress in cattle, that is not the only goal of the projects. “The educational part is huge,” Bullock explained. “For us to go out and actually educate commercial cattlemen on the best way to buy bulls, as well as other management practices, is a huge aspect of these programs.”

Continued education is a requirement to participate in either program; specifically, sound management practices, such as breeding soundness exams (BSE), Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training, vaccination programs and crossbreeding, are encouraged.

Program successes to date

Highlighting some successes of these programs, Bullock touched on behavior changes observed in producers and a comparison between beef genetics in the fescue belt and the national average. Since the start of each initiative, breed associations have seen an increase in data submissions and use of genomic technology by seedstock producers. Commercial producers have gained a better understanding of EPDs and the benefits of genomically enhanced EPDs. Based on data provided by the American Angus Association, cattle in Kentucky and Tennessee are currently better than average for multiple EPDs and important selection indexes. Bullock also pointed out that genomic testing in these regions has significantly increased. While only a small percentage of bulls sold each year in Kentucky and Tennessee go through the cost-share programs, these initiatives are proving to have a significant impact on beef genetics in the region.

To watch Bullock’s full presentation, visit

For more information about this year’s Symposium and the Beef Improvement Federation, including additional presentations and award winners, visit BIFSymposium.com .

Jury Awards Tennessee Rancher $485,000 for Livestock Seized Without Warrant

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 20:59:23 GMT

The Marshall County, Tenn., sheriff’s office and two of its employees were ordered to pay a Tennessee couple $375,000 in compensatory damages and $110,000 in punitive damages by a jury in federal court.

In 2019 Matthew and Julie Hopkins sued the Marshall County sheriff’s office, sheriff Billy Lamb and detective Tony Nichols in their individual and official capacities, after their cattle were unlawfully seized by the department without a search warrant in July of 2018.

According to a report in The Tennessean , the sheriff’s office received a complaint about possible animal mistreatment on the Hopkins’ farm. At the initial contact on July 2, 2018, detective Nichols and a state investigator observed a dead cow in a stream and also reported several of the cattle were in poor health. The Hopkins family claim the issues observed by the officials were due to the age of the cattle.

Nichols, Lamb and other officers returned to the farm on July 13 and seized 49 of the Hopkins’ cattle without a warrant, court records indicate. Matthew Hopkins was charged with 49 counts of animal cruelty.

Two weeks later, after his attorney requested that the sheriff’s office stay off Hopkins’ property, Nichols obtained his first two search warrants, which he then used to seize the Hopkins’ four remaining cattle, according to the lawsuit.

The sheriff’s office arranged for the cattle to be cared for by another farmer while the legal process proceeded. The cattle were sold at auction in December 2018.

Three days after the cattle were sold, the charges against Matthew Hopkins were dropped on the condition that the proceeds from the sale go toward the upkeep costs that had been incurred. The sheriff’s office agreed to pay any remaining amount.

The Hopkins filed their lawsuit in 2019, and the trial ended in October 2023.

The Hopkins and their two sons have since moved from Marshall County to a farm in neighboring Giles County south of Nashville and have begun building a new herd of cows.

Jacob Massey is 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 19:47:43 GMT

They started the week with 31 semifinalists from across the US and Canada. Saturday night- the best of the 2023 best was selected- the Livestock Marketing Association announced the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion is Jacob Massey of Petersburg, Tennessee. For more than a decade, Massey has participated in the contest. In 2022- he was the Runnerup Reserve Champion (3rd Place) in the contest that saw Will Epperly of Iowa named the World Champ. Saturday night- Epperly declared that Massey was one that would succeed him over the next twelve months.

Massey receives $6,000 in Cash, the use of a GMC pickup for the coming year and more. The Reserve World Champion hails from Canada- Dean Edge of Rimbey, Alberta. The third place finisher-the Runner Up Champion is Sixto Paiz of Portales, New Mexico.

Rookie of the Year was Troy Robinett from Decatur, Texas- while the High Interview Score Award was presented to Lynn Langvardt of Chapman, Kansas.

Two of these award winners have ties back to the Oklahoma. Third Place Finisher Pais sells weekly for the Western Oklahoma Livestock Market in Clinton and also at the Woodward Livestock Market.

Robinett travels each week to Durant, Oklahoma and sells for the Durant Livestock Market.

Not in My Backyard: Tennessee Residents Voice Concerns About Proposed Processing Plant Location

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

How long of a waitlist does your local locker have?

For some across the nation, it might be months to even a year or more before there is an open slot available to take an animal to butcher.

Meat Processing Cooperative

For folks in Washington County, Tenn., near Jonesborough, establishing a meat processing cooperative, to be operated by the Appalachian Producers Cooperative, was their first step in creating the opportunity for more animals to be harvested locally. This will be the first farmer-owned cooperative established in Tennessee in more than 50 years.

In March of this year, the county’s commissioners approved $2 million in county funding towards a $10-million project to build the processing facility planned to harvest 25 to 30 head of livestock per day. Additional funding is anticipated through government grants , bank loans and member contributions.

Many called it an investment in the future of Washington County agriculture, says a local news source. The facility would also employ a staff of 20 to 25 people, a local source states .

However, the project faced opposition early on, with county residents unhappy with the idea that $2 million of taxpayer contributions would be given to private industry.

After several amendments to the original proposal, the following resolution was created, according to a local news source :

• A right of first refusal for Washington County over the next 10 years

• In the event of the cooperation failing, either by liquidation, loans defaulting or failure to secure construction, the county would take control of the operation and assume any debt

• The cooperative must report back to the commission every six months and annually through the 10-year period

• The cooperative cannot spend any of the county’s money until it is needed

• The county will recoup some of its investment by receiving a cut of distributions from the cooperative based on the county’s percentage of the total investment in the project

Not in My Backyard

Location has also been a sticking point for local residents.

Originally, the project considered three site locations within the Jonesborough area. Most recently, the site options have been narrowed to two, considering one site near the Jonesborough Flea Market and the other next to the Eagle’s Nest subdivision.

A recent meeting of the Jonesborough Regional Planning Commission brought several disapproving residents of the subdivision with concerns, including:

• Value of their homes

• Unpleasant smells

• Noise from the facility

• Amount of traffic

• Effects on water quality

However, this meeting failed to meet quorum requirements, due to the absence of commissioners, including the chairman and vice chairman. Additionally, Scot Hamilton, the man applying for the re-zoning, was not present, says a local news source .

A recommendation on which property will be re-zoned will likely take place at the regional planning commission’s September meeting, and a decision may be reached at the county commissioner’s meeting in late September.

Though the site near the subdivision is not first choice, residents plan to continue voicing their concerns at the upcoming meetings.

Growing the Cattle Herd at a Quick Clip

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:45:25 GMT

Growing the beef cattle herd in the state of Tennessee and across the nation has taken front and center stage.
By: Andrew Griffith, University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and Tennessee Farmer’s Cooperative have teamed up for the Tennessee Beef Heifer Development Program which is part of the “Grow the Herd Initiative.” The program itself is not meant to drive herd expansion but rather demonstrate replacement heifer protocols that result in efficient and productive cows. The program is also structured in a manner to stimulate private custom heifer development which decreases the barriers that are encountered with heifer retention. It is important to understand the ultimate driver in the expansion or contraction or any industry is economic incentives. The aforementioned program will assist producers in the heifer development process and hopefully positively impact profitability.

It is likely the heifer development program will positively impact herd growth, but the key driver has and always will be cattle prices. When cattle prices increase, more heifers are retained and placed in the breeding herd which increases cattle inventory. Alternatively, when cattle prices decrease, a larger percentage of heifers are marketed into the feeding system which results in a reduced cattle inventory. Thus, in anticipation of the January 1 Cattle Inventory report, it may be useful to consider some information that may provide us an idea of what January 1, 2016 inventory will be.

U.S. beef cow inventory was just short of 29.7 million head at the beginning of 2015. It would appear inventory will increase significantly as of the first day of 2016, but how would anyone know? The first element to consider when estimating inventory in the beef herd is to consider beef cow and heifer slaughter. Through the first 42 weeks of 2015, federally inspected heifer slaughter was down 12.6 percent (856,000 head) compared to the same 42 week period in 2014. Additionally, federally inspected beef cow slaughter the first 42 weeks of the year was down 14.5 percent (300,000 head) compared to the same period in 2014. In order to get a little better grasp on the values, it may be pertinent to consider that 2014 federally inspected heifer and cow slaughter were 8.3 and 18.1 percent lower than 2013 respectively.

Year to date heifer and beef cow slaughter are much lower than a year ago, but weekly data appears to be showing some convergence to 2014 slaughter levels. The convergence toward 2014 slaughter numbers is largely due to the drastic decline in prices in late summer and early fall. The convergence shows up quickly in beef cow numbers as cows can be liquidated and harvested immediately. Alternatively, a price decline in the near term does not immediately influence the number of heifers slaughtered. Heifers generally do not move directly from the farm to harvest. Heifers leave the farm and are placed in the feedlot. Thus, it may be beneficial to keep an eye on feedlot placements.

The cattle on feed report provides a quarterly perspective on the number of cattle on feed by class. Looking at the past 4 quarters, the number of heifers and heifer calves on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity in 2015 was 6.5 percent below 2014 and 12.1 percent below 2013. It is not evident at this point if lower feeder cattle prices the past couple of months have led to more heifers making their way to the feedlot, but it is likely the market will reveal this information in the next six months.

Given the current information, it is possible the 2016 January 1 Cattle Inventory report will show heifers for beef cow replacement nationally up 6 to 7 percent from a year ago. (Some of these heifers are fairly low quality heifers to be placing in the breeding herd.) Similarly, it is likely beef cow inventory will increase between 1.8 and 2.3 percent. These type increases in inventory are rapid considering that in the past 20 years beef cow inventory has declined in 16 years. Furthermore, there has been only one year in which inventory increased more than 1 percent (2015: 2.1%). The story is not much different for heifers for beef cow replacement as the greatest percentage increase in the past 20 years was in 2015 at 4.1 percent.

Herd expansion is in full swing and it will be the end of January before the January 1, 2016 inventory report is released. Therefore, between now and then, the market will be in a wait and see mode. The one thing producers should be doing is keeping an eye on the Tennessee Beef Heifer Development Program. This program will prepare producers to produce high quality and profitable heifers in cattle herd expansion years and contraction years. The information learned and the markets developed from this program may be more important in contraction years than expansion years.