Tennessee is home to 1.75 million beef cattle as of January 2022 (USDA, 2022). The majority of cattle farms in Tennessee are cow-calf operations, with a few stocker-backgrounder operations across the state. Most of the cows in the state are maintained on tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort. pastures, with hay being fed in the winter months and sometimes during the summer. Maintenance of a strong cow herd and sufficient grazing land relies on utilization of sustainable production practices. With urban sprawl creating competition for land area, it is important to use production practices that are efficient and attainable to support sustainability goals. Additionally, with more companies being interested in purchasing beef that was produced “sustainably,” it is crucial for beef producers to be prepared to respond to that market demand. Educational programs administered through University of Tennessee Extension often focus on providing information surrounding sustainable production practices across various sectors in agriculture. One such program is the Tennessee Master Beef Producer Program (TMBPP). The program is a county-based program delivered in all 95 counties in the state. The program aims to provide Tennessee cattle producers with information and experience to improve profitability while simultaneously making more efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.A partnership between the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and UT Extension specialists addressed the challenge of quantifying sustainability of current management practices. This collaboration sought to help cattle producers evaluate their current management practices and provide training in the areas that need additional attention to improve economic, generational, and natural resource sustainability.
Many components of beef sustainability overlap: use of land and water resources, greenhouse gas emissions, animal health and wellbeing, efficiency and yield, and producer well-being. Implementation of grazing management plans, along with other improved management practices, positively contribute to sustainability in the beef sector. Educational programming from UT Extension, like the TNMBP program, aims to equip beef producers with the knowledge and resources to elevate the sustainability of their operations, through various modes of delivery that best serve the clientele
