The Middle Tennessee Beef Producers Association meeting has been postponed indefinitely due to meeting restrictions in place due to COVID-19. The new date will be determined and members and others will be informed by the Board of Directors and this office when available.

**Red Books

I have a supply of the pocket-sized Red Books record books printed by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association that many of our beef farmers have used daily in their recordkeeping system. These Red Books are a comprehensive system developed in 1985 as a product of the University of Idaho. This is now a part of the Integrated Resource Management system used by so many cattlemen across the nation. These books were sponsored by Farm Credit of Mid-America, and they are available for free as long as they last.

I also have a supply of the Tennessee Beef IRM Calendar for 2021 as long as they last. Both the Red Book and the Calendar are available for pick-up at he office at 2105 Midland Road.

**New programs

I'm announcing four new master programs online coming up this month. These are really good sessions and you can watch them at home in the comfort of your favorite chair.

The 2021 Spring Session of the Master Beef Producer Program is now available for registration. The cost for Bedford County producers is $80, payable to UT Extension and delivered or mailed to office at 2105 Midland Road, Shelbyville, TN 37160. Or call me at 931-684-5971 or by email at jteague1@utk.edu for the link to register.

The speaker line-up and topics are exciting. Lawton Stewart, Georgia, will cover weaning and backgrounding. Lew Strickland, UT veterinarian, will talk on vaccines and disease management. Steve Higgins of Kentucky will show designs for cattle farming systems. Katie Mason, UT nutritionist, will discuss developing and staying on a grazing management plan.

Josh Maples, Mississippi State, and James Mitchell, Arkansas, will deliver a presentation on price risk management. Troy Rowan, UT, will cover sire selection. David Lalman, Oklahoma State, will discuss productivity and cows that fit your environment. Neil Rhodes, UT, will go over pasture weed control. Justin Rhinehart, UT will discuss long term reproductive management.

This will be a good series on Monday nights beginning January 25 through March 22 at 5:30 pm CST. This will qualify participants for Ag Enhancement master level cost-share in beef projects.

**Master Farm Manager Series

Announcing our Spring 2021 Tennessee Master Farm Manager series. Contact me at the above address, phone or email for details and the link to register online. Topics include several aspects of management. One is understanding and creating financial statements and another is determining business structures best for you. The cost of borrowing and the equipment purchase decisions process are two more important areas.

Two other important topics are recordkeeping for management and what you need to know about tax planning. Another pair of topics is lease agreements and protection, and farm and management transition planning. And an unbiased discussion on trade issues takes a look at world markets and government influences on the farm economy. These sessions will be on Thursday night, January 21 through March 11, at 6:00 pm CST. Contact me for more details.

**Master Horse Owner Program

The 2021 Spring Tennessee Master Horse Owner Program is now available for registration. Again, contact me for more details and online registration information. Topics include responsible horse ownership, pasture and grazing management, nutrition, waste management, disease management and vaccines, parasites, hoof care and management, equine economics and training programs.

These sessions will be on Thursday nights from January 14 through March 25 at 6:00-7:30 pm CST.

**Master Small Ruminant Producer Program

Announcing our Spring 2021 Master Small Ruminant (Sheep and Goat) Producer Program! Please join us in the new year with our MSRP program via Zoom! The program starts January 26th and will continue every Tuesday night until March 30th from 5:30-7:00 pm CST for 10 total classes. Program topics include nutrition, health, reproduction, marketing, facilities, grazing management, selection, and other topics developed for this series. Again, contact me at 931-684-5971 or jteague1@utk.edu for registration details and the link to register online.

**The kids

They're all good. Piper turned four years old on New Year's Day. For a little one, it's a big deal. She made a point to tell us often after Christmas when her birthday was, and she would be 4! Whew, she's a mess!

Ford and Hank had a good Christmas, although their visit here was cut very short. It's a long story and they were and are all healthy, but we had a little scare and they had to play it safe. It's all good now and they were safe, but the tears of parting were real, theirs and ours. We talked on the phone and Facetime and kept their spirits up and it's all good now.