Center for Profitable Agriculture

The Center for Profitable Agriculture provides educational programming and technical assistance to Tennessee farmers interested in a value-added enterprise to improve farm income. Evaluating the costs of starting a new enterprise, navigating regulatory issues and identifying a potential market are some of the many challenges farmers may face when considering a value-added enterprise.
Helping Farmers Develop Value-Added Enterprises logo

Specialists at the Center may be able to help in the evaluation and development process through:

Individual enterprise analysis

Workshops and conferences

Publications and planning tools

Center for Profitable Agriculture Celebrates Twenty-fifth Year

Center for Profitable Agriculture - Celebrating 25 years of helping farmers develop value-added enterprises. cpa.tennessee.edu

We are celebrating and reflecting on the growth, accomplishments, and successes both at the Center and by those we serve. The first twenty-five years of helping farmers develop value-added enterprises has been an amazing story.

A Look Back at 25 years
UPCOMING EVENTS
EXPLORE ALL EVENTS

TESTIMONIALS

The CPA has been our first contact when we start thinking of a new way to diversify our farm for more than 20 years. It’s good to have a team that looks at everything from all kinds of angles (laws, location, time, resources and more). They help you to make the best decision, even if that decision is to go a different direction. Listening and following the direction of the folks at CPA can save you a lot of stress and money.
Andrew Dixon
Co-Owner and Farm Manager of Grandaddy’s Farm
For 25 years, the Center for Profitable Agriculture has been solely focused on helping farmers add value to their products and diversify their income sources. When farmers expand their product lines, consumers have more purchasing options. That mutual benefit helps agriculture remain the top industry in Tennessee. We’re pleased to partner with the specialists at CPA every chance we get.
Charlie Hatcher
Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture
The CPA is a valuable partner to the Tennessee Craft Brewers Guild. Through their network, we’ve connected with key stakeholders in the agriculture industry. When we need help shaping an idea into reality, we turn to their expertise and guidance. Their insight and encouragement helped form many of our objectives. The Center’s vision for our industry, combined with their knowledge of resources and ability to bring people together, has given us a tremendous boost within Tennessee’s agriculture network.
Sharon Creek
Executive Director of Tennessee Craft Brewer’s Guild
We can’t imagine having a successful farm enterprise without some level of value-added marketing. We called on the folks at the Center for Profitable Agriculture early in the planning of our direct marketing venture and we have maintained a close relationship with them and their programs over the years.  We appreciate the educational workshops, tours and the effective consultation they provide.
Phil and Kathy Baggett
Owners of Tennessee Grass Fed
We appreciate the partnership between the Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) and the Tennessee Farm Bureau. CPA makes a positive difference by assisting and adding value to entrepreneurial farm operations. We are grateful for CPA’s impact and are optimistic their work will continue to enhance farm income and rural opportunities for Tennesseans.
Eric Mayberry
President of Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
The biggest challenge I hear from farmers; whether lifelong or new, large or small, and regardless of type of operation; is profitability. For 25 years the Center for Profitable Agriculture has provided information, resources, training, and dedicated staff who work diligently to help address these concerns. Producer ingenuity and Center expertise have created multiple successes and transformed many operations while helping maintain agriculture as our state’s top industry.
Jeff Aiken
Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture
It would be hard for me to overstate how much our business has benefited from the help of the folks at the Center for Profitable Agriculture.  They have been a tremendous resource to us; we would not have had the success we’ve had if not for their help.
Ken Oakes
Co-Owner of Oakes Daylilies and Oakes Farm
Over the years, the folks at the Center for Profitable Agriculture have continually made me and many other farmers realize that farming is a business, and our direct marketing and value-added activities help improve revenue and the overall business success from our farms.  The efforts of the Center have been focused on helping farmers add value in ways that improve farm income and that help keep farms sustainable.
Reggie Marshall
Owner of Reggie’s Veggies
My great relationship with Center for Profitable Agriculture began when I attended my first session in 2014 where I was educated on value-added techniques for my farm operation. CPA has been so helpful with my endeavors to be the best agriculture professional and flower farmer I can be. I also appreciate their support of my endeavors to bring more Tennessee veterans into agriculture, and I hope to utilize them more as I make my way through this new journey of being a horticulture therapist.
Charley Jordan
Owner of Jordan Farms
When I had no idea how to make my dreams reality the people at the CPA gave me exactly what I needed: a life raft, a plan, education, and a much better future. The first thing a farm ever grows is hope, and the CPA grows it for small farmers.
Moriah Williams
Overseer at Serenity Cove Farm

Center for Profitable Agriculture celebrates a quarter century of partnership with Tennessee’s farm families.
Read Our feature story

The Center is a partnership between UT Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau and works cooperatively with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

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Tennessee Farm Bureau logo
Tennessee Department of Agriculture logo

Latest Progress Report

October 2023