NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Gov. Bill Lee is recognizing the vital role of the cattle industry by proclaiming July as Beef Month in Tennessee.

According to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, beef is the second-highest grossing farm commodity and generates approximately $5.2 billion in agricultural cash receipts annually.

In fact, the Volunteer State is reportedly home to an estimated 1.6 million cattle and calves, ranking ninth in the nation for the total number of cattle farms and sixteenth in cattle production.

"Our cattle producers are the backbone of Tennessee agriculture," said Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in a release about the proclamation. "The beef industry supplies high-quality, nutrient-rich food, supports jobs, promotes soil conservation, and helps fuel our state’s economy. We’re proud to celebrate Beef Month and recognize the hard work and dedication of the men and women who make it possible."

The proclamation comes as Mexico and the United States announced they plan to gradually reopen the border for cattle imports this month. Agriculture officials in the U.S. suspended imports in May over fears of the spread of the New World Screwworm — a parasitic fly that feeds on the live tissue of warm-blooded animals. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the pest was detected in remote farms as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, which is approximately 700 miles for the U.S. border.

The move also comes after lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year regulating "alternative protein" in the state, banning the words "meat" or "meat food products" from being printed on the labels of lab-grown meats in the state.

Officials are encouraging Tennesseans to show their support for local farmers this month by choosing beef as a centerpiece of their summer meals.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/july-is-now-beef-month-in-tn-heres-why/