ATHENS, Tenn. (RFD News) — Tennessee’s beef cattle industry contributes more than $1.2 billion to the state’s economy, and producers gathered in East Tennessee this week for one of the region’s largest educational events focused on the industry.
UT Extension hosted the 10th annual Southeast Beef Summit at the McMinn County Expo Center, bringing together cattle producers, educators and industry leaders from across the region.
Tennessee is home to roughly two million head of cattle, making beef the state’s largest agricultural commodity.
Topics at this year’s summit included hay production, breeding and genetics, cattle marketing and technology updates, along with a large trade show featuring beef industry vendors.
Larry Mitchell with UT Extension in Meigs County says producers in the region continue working to improve herd quality and management practices.
“Our producers have, they have worked hard to move forward and be more progressive in the beef industry, whether it’s selling pre-conditioned calves, let’s say, one’s that’s been weaned, been vaccinated.”
Organizers also addressed misconceptions surrounding beef prices and producer profitability.
Tim Woods with UT Extension in McMinn County says higher beef prices at grocery stores do not necessarily mean farmers are seeing larger profits.
“When it leaves the farm and a lot of channels it goes through before it gets to that grocery shelf. So, there’s added costs that go along with all that which the farmer doesn’t get any of that.”
The event’s keynote speaker was Texas rancher and Cowboy Channel personality Justin McKee, who discussed concerns surrounding urban sprawl, commodity prices and the culture tied to the cattle industry.
“You know the cowboy code goes a long way in ordinary life, and that’s the message now that I’m hoping to take all around the United States, maybe around the world because my heroes have always been cowboys, and there’s a good reason for it. They’ve got a lot of good qualities.”
Beef cattle are raised in all 95 Tennessee counties, with Greene County leading the state in production.
