Agriculture Programs

The Tennessee Master Row Crop Producer Program is a new educational program designed to further improve the profitability and sustainability of today’s row crop farming operations. From fundamental to cutting edge research-based information, training module topics include agronomics, integrated pest management, weed and disease management, precision agriculture, irrigation, grain drying and storage, marketing, and more.

In County trainings include West TN Grain and Soybean Producers Conference held the 1st Thursday of February each year. Dyer Co does not currently offer a production meeting due to hosting Grain Conference. You may attend a neighboring county’s meeting. Please inquire with the local Extension agent in that county about Master Row Crop credits being offered.

Several training opportunities are available each year at West TN Research and Extension Center. These include Cotton Scouting School, Soybean Scouting School, Milan No-Till, and Cotton Tour. We encourage you to visit the UT Crops blog for more information about these events.

The Tennessee Master Beef Producer Program is designed to provide targeted educational presentations and hands-on demonstrations for a broad scope of topic areas in beef cattle production. Our objective is to provide Tennessee cattle producers with information and experience that can improve profitability while simultaneously making more efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.

Dyer Co will host an in-person Master Beef for 2026-2027. Sessions will be held from 1:00-4:00 on the 3rd Thursday on November, December, and January. All meetings will take place at Magee Auditorium located adjacent to the Dyer Co Extension office 151 Everett Ave, Dyersburg.

November 19, 2026- The program will focus on End Product, Marketing Freezer Beef, and Cattle Handling Facilities

December 17, 2026- The program will focus on a Market Update Report, Succession Planning, and Creating Budgets for your Operation

January 21, 2027- The program will focus on Herd Health (Vaccination Schedules), Nutrition, and Reproduction

Cattlemen may also chose to earn credits via the Virtual Library. Participants must watch 8 videos focused on different topics (such as those listed above). The participant will then report to the Extension agent which videos they watched.

Both in-person and Virtual training costs $125. The fee can be paid online or at the Dyer Co Office. Payments can be made in person with cash, check, or card.

The Tennessee Master Farm Manager focuses on solid business principles to help you better manage your operation. We will focus on helping you utilize resources on your farm efficiently. This program is offered in the Winter and Summer each year via Zoom. Periodically, this program is offered in Northwest Tennessee in-person via a multi-county effort. Participants should pay the $125 fee at the County office either online or in person to begin the registration process.

This certification will suffice the educational requirement for ANY TAEP Cost Share program.

The State of Tennessee requires a license for the purchase and application of all Restricted Use Pesticides. UT provides the education required to obtain a Private or Commercial Pesticide License. To complete the Initial Pesticide License, please call the Dyer Co Extension office and create an appointment. This training takes 3 hours to complete. The fee for the training is $75 and must be paid at the office by cash, check, or card. An additional $25 must be sent to TN Department of Ag. If you wish for the Extension office to mail this payment with your triplicate form, it must be paid by check. All Pesticide license in Tennessee are on a 3 year cycle. Therefore, ALL licenses will expire June 30, 2029. To earn Recertification Points, license holders MUST complete 3 hours of education between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2029. The cost of Recertification credits from the University of Tennessee is $25/hour.

Programs educate farmers and homeowners and other agricultural and horticultural producers on the latest management practices needed to solve problems and improve production and marketing.

Programs also help Tennesseans protect the environment and improve the management, marketing, and use of natural resources. For more detailed information about these programs provided in your area please contact the County Extension Office.