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It’s time to start thinking about beef

It’s time for beef producers to begin thinking about renewing Beef Quality Assurance and Advanced Master Beef Producer trainings. Certification from both programs lasts for three years.

If you haven’t been through these since 2016 or before, you might want to consider retaking the classes. Both programs are a requirement to be eligible for the 50 percent cost share reduction through the Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program (TAEP).

If you applied for TAEP funds last Fall, then you have until April 1 to request reimbursement for livestock equipment and September 1 is the deadline for all other reimbursement requests.

If you’re not sure when your current Beef Quality Assurance and Advanced Master Beef expire then please contact the Extension office and we will check for you. We will be hosting three Beef Quality Assurance classes this February.

They will be on February 14 from 3:00 to 5:00, February 19 from 5:00 to 7:00 and February 21 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

Please swing by at whichever day is most convenient for you.

The cost for Beef Quality Assurance is $40 if you are not a member of the Anderson County Cattlemen’s Association, $20 if you are a member. If you are not a member and wish to join, then the cost will be $45.

A multi-county Advanced Master Beef program will be held in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee.

This four-day program will take place on Saturday March 23, Tuesday March 26, Thursday March 28, and Saturday March 30.

Both Saturday classes will be 9:00 to 3:00 while the Tuesday and Thursday classes are 6:00 to 9:00.

The cost for this program will be $75 as long as you have been through Beef Quality Assurance.

If anyone needs to be certified for using restricted use pesticides, we will be offering Pesticide Safety classes in May and June.

If you wish to be certified, please contact the Extension office.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me at (865) 457-6246 or email me at wbruhin@utk.edu.