Researchers Seek to Improve Economic Sustainability of U.S. Beef Producers

Researchers from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture have received a USDA NIFA grant to analyze and develop price risk management tools, in an effort to improve the economic sustainability of U.S. beef producers. Photo by T. Johnson, courtesy UTIA.

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture receives grant to analyze and develop price risk management tools

Researchers Seek to Improve Economic Sustainability of U.S. Beef Producers

By Tina M. Johnson, Agricultural and Resource Economics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Beef cattle producers are all too familiar with economic losses stemming from uncontrollable events such as drought and disease; however, losses due to rapid price declines have historically been the primary source of economic losses for U.S. cattle producers. While studies have shown price risk management tools can be effective in reducing price-decline losses, these tools are seldom used, especially by producers with small- and medium-sized operations. In an effort to improve the economic sustainability of these producers, a University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture research team has been awarded a $650,000 grant to explore innovative price risk management tools and ultimately help producers make informed and effective risk management decisions.

The researchers will conduct a national survey of beef cattle producers to identify barriers to adopting price risk management tools, assess perceptions of tool effectiveness, and learn how these tools could be changed to be more usable — the first known study to ascertain this vital information. Beef producers will also be asked how hypothetical changes to risk management tools would affect subsequent adoption.

Survey results will inform the data-driven development of a free mobile application containing information needed for making informed and effective risk management decisions. The longterm goal of this project is to improve U.S. beef cattle producers’ economic sustainability through research on and education of price risk management, especially for producers with small- and medium-sized operations.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to ask U.S. beef cattle producers about ways to help them reduce losses from sudden price declines,” said Chris Boyer, associate professor and lead researcher in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. “This survey is simply about gathering information to better serve U.S. beef producers through education, policy design, and making information easily available through a mobile application.”

In addition to Boyer, team members include Karen DeLong, Andrew Griffith and Charley Martinez, all from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

The three-year grant is funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences. Hongwei Xin, dean of UT AgResearch, praised the researchers for focusing their efforts on tools that will help small- and medium-sized operations. “These ranchers are the backbone of the U.S. beef economy,” he said. “Anything we can do to help their profitability helps all U.S. producers and consumers.”

Dianthus adds strong color to fall gardens

By Dr. Gary R. Bachman, MSU Extension Service

Even though August was very warm, now is the time to start thinking about fall color. It can be a garden challenge trying to maintain a variety of color in the coming cool-season landscape.

In my opinion, dianthus is one good choice to help keep your garden interesting, and it is an easy choice for that extra splash of cool-season color.

Dianthus has flower colors ranging across a variety of pinks, whites, reds and purple, so there is a selection to fit into almost any landscape and garden. There are also picotee bicolors, which have one basic color with a margin of another color.

I love their small, round flowers with each petal having an irregular, serrated margin. You can use these plants in a variety of ways in your landscape. A couple of times on mornings when the air was still, I have enjoyed the delicate, floral fragrance of the flowers.

Here are a few of the dianthus series that I’ve grown with great success in past years.

A good frost-resistant selection is the Ideal Select dianthus series. Bright-green leaves contrast well with clusters of brightly colored, lacy-edged flowers. The Ideal Select mix features many colors and patterns, and I particularly like the Ideal Select Red with its bright and bold flowers.

The Super Parfait dianthus is indeed super, and it is cold-tolerant. This group is known for its compact size and large blossoms that reach 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter.

Super Parfait Raspberry has gorgeous, pinkish-white flowers with crimson-streaked petals and a dark eye. The large Super Parfait Red Peppermint flowers are bright white with a red center eye.

An old standby for my south Mississippi landscape and garden that I look for every year is the Telstar series. This variety tolerates cooler weather well.

Telstar dianthus reaches 8 to 10 inches tall and should be spaced about 8 inches apart. You must have proper spacing in order to have beautiful and fully massed landscape beds. The bushy plants have a stout structure with linear-toothed foliage. I have to recommend Telstar Purple Picotee.

Dianthus is an easy-care, cool-season bedding plant that should be planted in the full sun in well-drained, amended soil or in containers for optimum landscape performance.

Dianthus is a vigorous grower, so fertilize at transplanting with a good, slow-release fertilizer, and then supplement monthly with water-soluble fertilizer through the winter to keep the flowers coming.

When the temperatures get too low, the flowers will take a hit and foliage will show a little bronze or purple, but the plants recover with moderating temperatures. A layer of mulch provides protection for the plant.

In south Mississippi, which is U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 8 and 9a, plant dianthus in the fall and winter months -- November through March. In north Mississippi, which is USDA zone 7, plant in the spring or late summer -- April and May or August and September, respectively.

Independent garden centers are getting ready for your fall gardening needs and will great choices for cool-season color.

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