UT Extension: Agriculture

What UT Extension: Agriculture does

UT Extension: Agriculture and Natural Resources is the cooperative extension arm of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, delivering research-based educational programming and information about agriculture, natural resources, and the food system to Tennessee residents. It operates through a network of offices in all 95 Tennessee counties and serves farmers, livestock producers, landowners, homeowners, agribusiness entrepreneurs, and youth across the state through eight focus areas: Agri-Business Economics & Entrepreneurship, Commercial Horticulture, Crop Production Systems, Environmental Stewardship, Leadership Development, Livestock & Forage Systems, Natural Resources, and Residential/Consumer Horticulture.

The program portfolio spans diagnostic services (Soil, Plant, and Pest Center), crop variety trial databases, market economics resources, certification programs (Tennessee Master Nursery Producer, GAP Connections, Pesticide Safety and Education), and value-added enterprise support (Center for Profitable Agriculture, Tennessee Beginning Farmer Program). Core technology consists of a Cooperative Extension educational platform with online publications portals, specialized topic websites (e.g., utcrops.com, utbeef.com, uthort.com, crop/livestock economics sites), and event/calendar infrastructure; no proprietary software products, apps, APIs, or commercial integrations are disclosed. A trained volunteer network (Tennessee Extension Master Gardeners) extends delivery into communities.

UT Extension is a government-state entity under the University of Tennessee System and operates on a publicly funded model: programs are provided free of charge to Tennessee residents, supported by federal, state, and county appropriations, grants, and cooperative extension funding. The widely cited "$313M+ economic impact" figure measures beneficiary outcomes (e.g., $136.7M additional farm income, $36.9M livestock economic impact, $16.8M forward-pricing returns on 3.4M+ acres) rather than organizational revenue. There is no commercial revenue stream, no pricing model, and no investor ownership; the entity is not a venture- or equity-investible target.

Name

UT Extension: Agriculture

Legal name

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Website

https://utextensionanr.tennessee.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

UT Extension: Agriculture and Natural Resources is the University of Tennessee's cooperative extension arm, delivering free, research-based agricultural and natural resources education across all 95 Tennessee counties to farmers, livestock producers, landowners, and homeowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Extension Education Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG / Carbon & Conservation Program Advisory (AFACAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nutrient Management Planning & Fertility Programs (AFACABAB), Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Local Education Authorities & Municipal Education Offices (EDADABAD)

Keywords

• Agricultural extension services
• Cooperative extension education
• Agronomy research programs
• Livestock management education
• Natural resources outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public/Government Funding: UT Extension is part of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, funded through state and federal appropriations, providing free educational programs and resources to Tennessee residents.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UT Extension: Agriculture and Natural Resources delivers free, research-based agricultural and natural resources educational programs to Tennessee residents through 95 county extension offices. Its core offerings include educational programming, publications, diagnostic services, and field demonstrations across crop production, livestock and forage systems, horticulture, agribusiness, environmental stewardship, and forestry. The portfolio is delivered as a public service funded through federal, state, and county appropriations.

Product overview

UT Extension: Agriculture and Natural Resources is an educational outreach organization providing research-based information and programs across Tennessee's agricultural industry. The portfolio includes eight primary focus areas: Agri-Business Economics & Entrepreneurship (covering value-added agriculture, farm business development, crop and livestock economics, tax seminars, and food science programs), Commercial Horticulture (vegetable production, nursery management, and ornamental crops), Crop Production Systems (row crops including soybean, corn, cotton, wheat, and tobacco with variety trials and soil testing services), Environmental Stewardship (crop nutrient stewardship, pesticide safety, and youth STEM), Leadership Development (entrepreneur and community leadership training), Livestock & Forage Systems (beef, dairy, equine, small ruminants, and poultry with the UT Beef & Forage Center as a central resource), Natural Resources (fisheries, forestry, wildlife, native grasslands, and outdoor recreation), and Residential/Consumer Horticulture (home gardening and the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener volunteer program). Services include county-level offices in all 95 Tennessee counties, online and in-person educational programming, publications, soil/plant/pest diagnostic services, and economic impact resources. The organization reports a total economic impact exceeding $313 million annually to Tennessee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UT Extension: Parent extension program encompassing Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Community Economic Development, and Family and Consumer Sciences.

Products and services

• Center for Profitable Agriculture
• Tennessee Beginning Farmer Program
• MANAGE Program
• UT Income Tax Seminars
• Food Science Workshops & Short Courses
• Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program
• UT Vegetable Production
• UT Organic and Sustainable Crop Production
• Nursery LEAP Project
• Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program
• UT Crops
• Soil, Plant, and Pest Center
• Variety Trials
• Burley Tobacco Extension
• Dark Tobacco Extension
• UT Beef & Forage Center
• UT Dairy
• UT Horse
• UT Small Ruminants
• Pesticide Safety and Education Program
• Fisheries Extension
• Forestry Extension
• Wildlife Extension
• Native Grasslands Extension
• UT Hort
• Tennessee Extension Master Gardener
• Extension Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $313M in total economic impact in Tennessee through Agriculture and Natural Resources programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Tennessee Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on agricultural programs, farmer recognition, and the Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program which provides cost-share assistance to farmers for best management practices.
• Tennessee State University Nursery Research CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative research and extension partnership with Tennessee State University for nursery production research and education in Tennessee's commercial horticulture sector.
• UT Institute of Agriculture UnitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AgResearch, Herbert College of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, State Botanical Garden, and Smith International Center to deliver integrated research and extension programs.
• Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Growers AssociationsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry partnership providing resources and promotional support for Tennessee fruit and vegetable producers.
• Pick Tennessee ProductssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partnership to promote Tennessee agricultural products and connect producers with consumers through the Pick TN Products brand.
• Tennessee Division of ForestrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Tennessee Division of Forestry for landowner assistance, area forester services, and consulting foresters directory for timber sales and forest management.
• Tennessee Forestry AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership for forestry resources, landowner assistance, and timber management education.
• University of Kentucky - Burley Tobacco ExtensionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative extension partnership for burley tobacco variety trials, production research, and educational programming shared between Tennessee and Kentucky.
• GAP ConnectionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Good Agricultural Practices certification programs supporting tobacco producers with sustainability and market access requirements.
• National Cooperative Extension SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the national cooperative extension system connected to land-grant universities across the United States, sharing research-based information and educational best practices.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Texas's land-grant cooperative extension service delivering agricultural, family, and community education through a statewide county-agent network. Directly comparable as a peer state extension program in scope, delivery model, and funding structure.
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Georgia's land-grant extension service with statewide county offices delivering agricultural, natural resources, and family programming. Directly comparable in scope, county-agent distribution, and Southeastern U.S. crop focus.
• Mississippi State University Extension Service: Mississippi's land-grant extension service providing agriculture, natural resources, and 4-H programming through county offices. Closely comparable in operating model, row-crop and livestock focus, and Southern state context.
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Florida's land-grant extension providing agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources education through a statewide county office network. Directly comparable scope and delivery, with a stronger commercial horticulture tilt.
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Iowa's land-grant extension delivering agronomy, livestock, and natural resources programming to farmers across the state. Directly comparable in operating model, county-based delivery, and crop/livestock focus.
• NC State Extension: North Carolina's land-grant extension service providing research-based agricultural and natural resources education through county centers. Same statutory mission, county-agent model, and ag-and-natural-resources focus as UT Extension ANR.
• University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension: Kentucky's land-grant extension service, a particularly close peer given the explicit cross-state Burley Tobacco Extension partnership with UT Extension. Same delivery model, similar crop mix, and adjacent geography.
• Purdue Extension: Indiana's land-grant extension service delivering agricultural and natural resources programming through county offices. Closely comparable in operating model, agronomic focus (corn, soybean), and farmer economic-impact orientation.
• Penn State Extension: Pennsylvania's land-grant extension service delivering agricultural research-based education through a statewide network. Comparable in operating model and extension focus, with greater commercial horticulture and turfgrass orientation.

Emerging players

• Growmark / FS System: Farmer-owned cooperative system providing agronomic advice, crop inputs, and farm services to Mid-South and Southeastern growers. Adjacent comparator showing how commercial ag-advisory cooperatives compete for the same farmer customer as UT Extension ANR, with a paid-services rather than free-public model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ut-extension-agriculture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UT Extension: Agriculture