Beef Month celebrates the Upper Cumberland’s most popular commodity each July, but the industry is changing.
Overton County Ag Extension Agent Jason Garrett is a beef producer. He said beef cattle remains the primary income stream for many farmers in the region. But Garrett said price increases have challenged beef farmers locally and nationally.
“When you’re selling a heifer off the cow for $1,400 to $1,800, that’s a record,” Garrett said. “So a lot of people are not keeping replacements. Also, a lot of the older cows that’s reached the end of their production life cycle are being sold.”
Garrett said the Upper Cumberland’s population boom over the last several years has cut into the beef cattle industry. Developers buying and dividing land for housing has contributed to a loss of available farmland.
Garrett said older farmers are liquidating their herd and retiring as a result of high prices. The buyers are often slaughter operations.
Garrett said higher production costs have also contributed to the industry decline.
“We’ve had inflation the last few years, since COVID, that has driven up the price of farm equipment, fuel, fertilizer, and basically anything,” Garrett said. “Parts, that’s another one that’s gotten rediculously high.”
Garrett said many cattle farms have been passed down through generations, which has kept it popular in the Upper Cumberland. Garrett said the region’s rolling hills and rugged terrain factor in as well.
“Just the geography makes it so suitable for beef production,” Garrett said. “I mean, like, If you go to other parts of the state, the ground is a lot flatter. You’re going to see more row crops.”
Garrett said most Upper Cumberland cattle are produced in White County. Overton and Putnam Counties are the next largest producers. Garrett said Fentress, Pickett, and Clay Counties also have notable cattle operations.
Garrett said the beef production process is very complex. He said he hopes calves are born healthy and with good milk. Calves are separated from their mothers by the time they are eight months old.
Garrett said the cattle are then sent to feed yards in the western part of the country. There, the cows are fed until they reach their maximum weight. They are then slaughtered and re-entered into the food supply.
