Current Stories
The news releases featured below are a product of Marketing and Communications Services for
the UT Institute of Agriculture. For more information or to be added to our electronic distribution
list, please contact Patricia McDaniels (615-835-4570).
For past stories, please visit the News Archive.
February 2010
- Eight Communities Selected for Economic Development
Pilot Program
The University of Tennessee Extension, the UT Institute for Public Service and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development have announced the names of eight test communities for a statewide pilot program – Creating a Rural Entrepreneurial System in Tennessee (CREST). - UT Institute of Agriculture Officials Meet with Marshall County Leadership
about Plans for Dairy AgResearch Center
Institute of Agriculture officials met with Marshall County leaders today to reiterate that the Jersey herd at the UT Institute of Agriculture Research and Education Center in Lewisburg will not be moved as had been previously considered. How the center’s focus will change as a result of the herd staying was also discussed. - March Workshops and Tours Scheduled for
Producers Interested in Direct Farm Marketing
The University of Tennessee, in cooperation with the Tennessee Farm Fresh program, is offering workshops and tours in multiple locations across the state in March for farmers interested in direct marketing. - Plant of the Month from the UT Gardens: Windmill Palm
The Windmill Palm, or Trachycarpus fortune, is an excellent choice for those who want a tropical feel in their landscape, but who don’t have the luxury of a year-round tropical climate. This selection is very cold-hardy and can reach 20-40 feet in the landscape.
January 2010
- First Facility to Efficiently Convert Corncobs and Bioenergy Crops to Cellulosic Ethanol Opens
Leaders from DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE), University of Tennessee and Genera Energy cut the ribbon on one of the world’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facilities, located in Vonore, Tenn.
- University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Announces Jersey Herd Will Remain in Lewisburg
UT Vice President of Agriculture Dr. Joseph DiPietro announced to the House Agriculture Committee today that the Jersey herd at the UT Institute of Agriculture Research and Education Center in Lewisburg will not be moved as previously considered. - UT Gardens Conifer Symposium to Help Gardeners and Landscapers Select and
Use Low-Maintenance Evergreens
Gardeners, commercial landscapers and growers are invited to learn how to grow and use conifers in the Midsouth at a one-day symposium hosted by the UT Gardens Saturday, Feb. 27. - UT Extension - 4-H Host Tennessee Market Hog Show
More than 200 of Tennessee’s most promising young agricultural entrepreneurs will show their prized pigs at the Tennessee Market Hog Show Wednesday, January 20, 2010. - New Food Safety Regulations Expected for Fruit and Vegetable Growers; Training Scheduled
New food safety regulations will usher in the most sweeping changes in this industry in 70 years. To make growers aware of the expected requirements and to help with compliance, UT Extension will hold three detailed trainings for producers in February and March. - UT AgResearch Expands Field Day Schedule
Outreach programs continue to be a major emphasis of UT AgResearch efforts, with 13 field days and three special events planned for 2010. The schedule is as diverse as the producers of this state, with events that offer growers and consumers alike a chance to learn about the latest information in agriculture and gardening. - Plant of the Month from the UT Gardens: American Arborvitae
The American Arborvitae is an easy and adaptable evergreen that can thrive in almost any landscape situation. Hundreds of cultivars have been introduced which allow this native, northeastern U.S. plant to fill almost any landscape niche. - DDCE and UT/Genera Energy Demonstration Plant Grand Opening
On Friday, Jan. 29, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) and University of Tennessee/Genera Energy LLC will hold a grand opening celebration for one of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol demo plants, and the only one dedicated to converting both agricultural residue and bioenergy crops to fuel ethanol.
- Multiple Agencies Take Action to Thwart Invasive Plants
UT Extension is among a consortium of state and federal agencies, along with several private organizations in Tennessee, who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to safeguard the state’s resources from the potential impact of the most threatening non-native invasive plants.
- Domestic Kitchen Certification Course to be Offered by UTIA
TDA-Approved Examiners
Individuals who use a domestic kitchen to prepare, manufacture and sell food to the public can ensure their facilities meet Tennessee Department of Agriculture regulations by attending a one-day course, Domestic Kitchen - Tennessee Food Safety Certification, on February 3 at the Johnson County Health Department.
- UT Extension and 4-H Launch Yearlong
Centennial Celebration
Calendar year 2010 marks a century of Extension and 4-H in Tennessee. That’s 100 years of educational outreach and service to the state’s farmers, families and youth to enhance their quality of life.
December 2009
- Tennessee 4-H Skillathon Team Excels at Nationals
Tennessee's 4-H livestock skillathon team won the 4th place award at the National 4-H Livestock Skillathon Contest held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. - UT Institute of Agriculture Professor Named ASA Fellow
University of Tennessee Adjunct Professor and USDA Soybean Breeder Dr. Prakash Arelli has been named a 2009 American Society of Agronomy Fellow. - UT Veterinary College Partners with Leading
National Company to Keep Pets Safe
A new faculty position has been created at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) to teach future veterinarians companion animal behavior. The college has partnered with Knoxville-based Radio Systems Corporation, makers of the PetSafe and Invisible Fence brands, to create the PetSafe Chair in Clinical Animal Behavior. - UT Senior Bull Test Sale Scheduled for January
More than 60 performance tested bulls will be sold at the UT Bull Test Station located at the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center. The Senior Bull Test Sale is scheduled for January 21, 2010, at 12:00 p.m. CST. - Thompson Named New Director of Middle Tennessee & Dairy Research
and Education Centers
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has named Kevin Thompson as the new director of the Middle Tennessee and Dairy Research and Education Centers. He will assume his new role in January 2010. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for December: Hardy Orange
Hardy orange is an old pass-along plant that is sometimes found growing at old farmsteads long after the house has rotted away. This unique plant adds year-round interest to the landscape.
November 2009
- Bazillion Blooms Dogwood Trees Now On Sale
UT Gardens, the Dogwood Arts Festival, select area garden centers, and local tree enthusiasts are teaming up
to inspire the public to “dig in for a Bazillion Blooms,” the Festival’s first-ever, county-wide dogwood tree
planting program. - New UT Scholarship Established by W&O Construction to Benefit Plateau Area Students
The Oakley Upper-Cumberland Community Improvement Scholarship will support students from Overton, Putnam, Cumberland and surrounding counties with an interest in a career in construction, off-road vehicle technology, agricultural systems or land surveying. - Workshops Planned for Small Farm Enterprises
The “Developing Successful Small Farm Enterprises” workshop series will begin January 28, 2010, and continue on consecutive Thursday nights through February 25. The workshop locations will rotate between Columbia, Pulaski and Lawrenceburg. - New DOE Grant Expands East Tennessee Switchgrass Research
to Almost 7000 Acres
The UT Biofuels Initiative continues to be recognized as among the nation’s leaders in the development of biofuels. On November 12, USDA and DOE announced a new round of $24 million in research grants, and the UTBI is slated to receive some $2.35 million in funding to research and demonstrate various aspects of switchgrass production, harvesting and transportation logistics and ethanol yield for some 2000 acres of locally produced switchgrass. - UT Extension Beef Experts/County Agents Study at USDA Facility in Nebraska
Twenty-three UT Extension representatives recently traveled to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Roman L. Hruska Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. - Agritourism Conference Joins Horticulture Expo in January
The fifth Tennessee Agritourism Cultivating Farm Revenue Conference will be held in Nashville on January 28-30, 2010. This year marks the first time the conference will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Horticultural Expo.
- Noted Gardening Author and Botanical Illustrator Peter Loewer to Speak at Friends of the Gardens Annual Membership Meeting
Author and artist Peter Loewer will speak at the annual Friends of the Gardens meeting, Sunday, November 8. - Holiday Express at the UT Gardens November 25 through January 3
Holiday Express at the UT Gardens, an event for the entire family, opens Thanksgiving weekend from 12-8 p.m. November 25-28, and 12-6 p.m. November 29. Thereafter, Holiday Express will be open 12-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 12-6 p.m. on Sundays December 4 through January 3, 2010. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for November: Coral Bark Maple
Coral bark maple is a Japanese maple tree that offers “four season” appeal. As we transition from fall to winter, coral bark really begins to shine as a choice plant.
October 2009
- Generosity of Oak Ridge Corporate Partners to be Honored by
UT Institute of Agriculture Arboretum
UTIA and the UT Arboretum Society will announce at a reception on November 2, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. that $950,000 has been raised in a fundraising campaign for an auditorium, which represents a major milestone in the overall Arboretum Endowment. - UT Institute of Agriculture
Economics Researchers Honored with National Award
for World Vision for Agriculture
Dr. Daniel De La Torre Ugarte and Dr. Chad Hellwinckel of the Department of Agricultural Economics recently were awarded first place in the Global Energy Security category by the Farm Foundation in its 30-Year Challenge Policy competition for their paper titled “Peak Oil and the Necessity of Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture.” - University of Tennessee Study Predicts Substantial Biomass Markets
for Midwestern and Southeastern Farmers
A new economic study conducted by the UT Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group has determined that there are significant market opportunities for agriculture if Congress enacts a national renewable energy standard. policy. - UT Extension Specialist Honored with National Evaluation Training Award
Joseph Donaldson is being recognized by his peers nationally for his work with UT Extension in training and evaluation efforts. He is receiving the Excellence in Evaluation Training award from the American Evaluation Association for 2009. - UT Report Connects Energy Efficiency to Economic Growth
Tennessee residents are seeing green when it comes to energy policy and growing the economy, according to a new report from the University of Tennessee. - UT Plateau Center to Hold November Cattle Sale
The University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center will host a fall sale of cattle from its herd on Friday, November 20, starting at 10:00 a.m. CST. - Howl-A-Ween Dog Jog Oct. 24:
Free Fun Fitness Day for You and Your Pet
On Saturday, October 24th, students at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine have planned an Obesity Awareness event, “Howl-A-Ween Dog Jog,” for families and their pets. The event is designed to draw attention to health risks of obesity in both people and pets. - UT Arboretum Society to Hold Annual Owl Prowl October 24
On Saturday, October 24th, the UT Arboretum Society will present an Owl Prowl at the University of Tennessee Arboretum, 901 S. Illinois Ave. (Hwy 62) in Oak Ridge, at 6:30 p.m. The evening event will begin with a program presented by the Clinch River Raptor Center featuring owls found in East Tennessee. - UT Gardens to Hold Second Fall Plant Sale
Don’t miss this second opportunity to purchase plants from the UT Gardens’ spectacular fall selection Saturday, October 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A preview sale will be held Friday, October 23, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for all UT employees, garden volunteers and Friends of the Gardens members. - UT Institute of Agriculture Programs Receive Federal Appropriations
Three research projects housed within the UT Institute of Agriculture have been awarded a total of $2.5 million in federal appropriations for FY 2010. - New Book Details the Importance of Grass
and Research to Society
UT professor emeritus co-edits a new seminal work on tall fescue. Tall Fescue for the Twenty-First Century, is the story of the rise in popularity of tall fescue as a turf and forage grass and of the scientific efforts to pinpoint the reasons that cattle consuming the popular grass fail to thrive and mares give birth to dead foals. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for October: Hardy Fall-blooming Camellias
Considering a fall-blooming camellia? These evergreens supply color as well as lustrous green foliage and a pleasingly manageable shape.
September 2009
- Tennessee Foresters Helping to Return
Chestnuts to American Forests
UT alumna Stacy Clark, lead researcher with the U.S. Forest Service chestnut restoration project, and Dr. Scott Schlarbaum, director of UT’s Tree Improvement Program, are among the team members working to restore the giant trees to the landscape. - Usher in Autumn at UT Pumpkin Display
Designers are expected to use more than 5,000 pumpkins to constuct the UT Pumpkin Harvest Display on the grounds of the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson. The display is free and open to the public beginning October 9. - UT Plateau Center to Host Festival for Gardeners
The Cumberland County Master Gardeners is planning a Fall Gardeners Festival for Tuesday, September 29, at the UT Plateau Research and Education Center.
- Agricultural Economics Department Celebrates 90th Anniversary with Alumni Dinner
The Department of Agricultural Economics is one of the first and oldest Ag Econ departments among our nation’s universities. To mark the occasion a Celebration Dinner is scheduled for Friday evening, September 25, 6:30 p.m. - Veterinary College Offers Stress Lowering Class for Humans
The eight-week class begins Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, and will be held one night a week. A free orientation for potential participants will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. - UT Gardens - Jackson Hosts 1st Annual Fall Plant Sale
The University of Tennessee Gardens along with the Madison County Master Gardeners will be hosting the 1st Annual Fall Plant Sale on Thursday, October 1, at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center on Airways Boulevard. - Educational Tour Planned for Farmers
Interested in Agritourism
Tennessee farmers and others interested in learning more about agritourism opportunities to implement on their farm are invited to attend a classroom on wheels on Nov. 4. - School Offers Certification for Low Acid and
Acidified Food Canning Facilities Operators
Scheduled for Oct. 27, through Oct. 30, the course fulfills requirements of and is approved by the FDA and USDA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to certify supervisors of acidification and container closure evaluation operations during the canning of acidified foods. - Farmland Legacy and Estate Planning Workshops Scheduled
A series of public workshops is planned to ease the burden of farmland estate planning. The dates for the events are Oct. 27 in Jackson; Oct. 29 in Knoxville; and Nov. 7 in Murfreesboro. - A Plant Sale Not to Be Missed!
The UT Gardens fall plant sale will be Saturday, September 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the general public. A preview sale will be held Friday, September 18, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for all UT employees, garden volunteers and Friends of the Gardens members. - Genetic Code of Infamous Potato Pathogen Deciphered
A team of UT plant pathologists contributed to a large international effort that decoded the genome of the notorious organism that triggered the Irish potato famine in the mid-19th century. That same organism, Phytophthora infestans, now threatens this season’s tomato and potato crops across much of the U.S. - Asian Soybean Rust Confirmed in West Tennessee
The significant agricultural disease Asian soybean rust was confirmed on September 4 in West Tennessee on soybean leaf samples collected by UT Extension soybean sentinel plot scouts from Shelby County. - Experts Urge Producers to be Aware of
Soybean Cyst Nematodes
In Tennessee, many soybean fields are looking good this year, but experts say more cases of Sudden Death Syndrome are showing up which means there could be trouble below in the form of soybean cyst nematodes. - UT Veterinary College Offers Pet Memorial Day
In an effort to help pet owners celebrate the lives of their pets, both living and dead, Veterinary Social Work (VSW) at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine is offering Pet Memorial Day, Sunday, September 13, 2009. - UT Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Named International Chapter of the Year
The University of Tennessee Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society (UT TWS) has been named the 2009 Student Chapter of the Year, an international honor. - East Tennessee Biomass Project Selected by
DOE for $4.9 M Grant
Genera Energy LLC of Knoxville, Tenn., in collaboration with the University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative, is among the five recipients of the DOE’s latest round of biomass grants. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for September: Himalayan Honeysuckle
Also known as Leycesteria formosa, Himalayan honeysuckle can grow to 6 feet tall and just as wide in a single season. It also has multiple other “wow” factors going for it.
August 2009
- UT Gardens to Unveil Beall Family Rose Garden
Thanks to the generosity of Sam and Mary Anne Beall and family, a new rose garden will officially open with a public dedication ceremony Sunday, September 13, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the UT Gardens. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for September: Himalayan Honeysuckle
Also known as Leycesteria formosa, Himalayan honeysuckle can grow to 6 feet tall and just as wide in a single season. It also has multiple other “wow” factors going for it. - UT's Northeast Tennessee Beef Expo Scheduled for October 8
Cattle producers interested in protecting their investment during this difficult economy will want to attend the 2009 Northeast Tennessee Beef Expo. Scheduled for Oct. 8, the event will be held at the University of Tennessee Research and Education Center at Greeneville. - Celebrate Tradition at 11th Annual Fall Folklore Jamboree
The Annual Fall Folklore Jamboree at the West Tennessee Agricultural Museum and UT Research and Education Center in Milan features bluegrass music, live demonstrations and more than 130 folk artists sharing remarkable skills and crafts. This year's event is Saturday, Oct. 17. - UT and Ames Plantation Host 12th Annual
Heritage Festival and Antique Auction
The Heritage Festival at Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tenn., gives visitors a glimpse of 19th century life with the help of more than 125 folk artists, demonstrators, re-enactors and musicians. This year's event is Saturday, Oct. 10. - UT Helps Tennessee Growers Pump Up Production at Pumpkin Field Day
On October 9, the UT Institute of Agriculture will show you how to grow the best varieties of these fall fruits at Pumpkin Field Day held at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson. UT vegetable experts will introduce you to more than 80 pumpkin varieties they have been evaluating throughout the year. - Small, Rural Business Training Begins Later this Month
University of Tennessee Extension is offering a six-session training program to business leaders in seven Middle and West Tennessee counties. The training is focused on helping businesses broaden their market potential through e-commerce. - Animal-assisted Therapy Program to Hold
Meeting for Potential Volunteers
A free informational meeting for those interested in becoming volunteers with Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT), an animal-assisted therapy program, will be held at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine Tuesday, August 25, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. - Analysis of Climate Change Policies Underway
The 25x'25 Alliance and the University of Tennessee Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group (BEAG) are jointly conducting an in-depth analysis that will measure the impacts of cap and trade and other climate change policy scenarios on the US agriculture and forestry sectors. - UT Extension to Conduct Food Safety Workshop
and Field and Packinghouse Mock Audit
To provide growers all the information they need to meet new food safety requirements, University of Tennessee Extension will present a food safety workshop and field and packing house mock audit on August 20, 2009, in Grainger County from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for August: Hesperaloe
Flowering Texas Red False Yucca is a great U.S. native that can tolerate the most inhospitable, heat-soaked area of your landscape.
July 2009
- University of Tennessee Partners with AstroTurf®
on $1.5 Million Research Center
After more than a year of intense planning, UTIA has partnered with AstroTurf®to create the Center for Safer Athletic Fields, which will compare natural grass playing surfaces to synthetic surfaces. With the goal of improving athletic performance and reducing injuries, this initiative will provide the most comprehensive, on-going comparison of synthetic surfaces to natural grass. - Animal-assisted Therapy Program to Hold
Meeting for Potential Volunteers
A free informational meeting for those interested in becoming volunteers with Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT), an animal-assisted therapy program, will be held at the Newport Community Center, Saturday, August 8, 2009, from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. - Save the Date! Ag Day 2009 – UT vs. Ohio – Sept. 26
Join UT’s Institute of Agriculture for a fun and festive Ag Day Street Fair. With the theme
“UTIA – Leading the Way,” events start four hours before the Vols’ football game, Saturday, Sept. 26. - Educational Tour Planned for Farmers Interested
in Community Supported Agriculture
Tennessee farmers and agri-entrepreneurs interested in learning more about community supported agriculture (CSA) ventures are invited to attend a classroom on wheels
September 8, 2009. Registration is now open. - Area’s First Biodiesel Production Unit Officially Opened
East Tennessee has officially welcomed a new alternative fuel production facility to the region, and enthusiasts from state and local government to local restaurateurs are poised to help biodiesel succeed. - Another Summer Celebration Success
“The 20th Summer Celebration was an all-around success,” says West Tennessee Research and Education Center Director Bob Hayes. “We had more than 2,300 guests who were excited about our tours and presentations and eager to learn. We can’t wait to have them back next year!”
- Operation Military Kids Gives Children of Troops
the 4-H Camp Experience
“Operation Military Kids 4-H Fun Day” is a one-day visit to a Tennessee 4-H camp. The event is free to youth in grades 4 - 12 who are children of an adult in any branch of the military service who is currently deployed, will be deployed in the future, or who has been deployed in the past. - Veterinary Student Club Hosts Free
Parasite Lecture for the Public
PAWSitive Impact, a community service-based student club at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, is hosting a discussion series about pet health. The next session is Thursday, July 16, “Let’s Talk About Parasites: What’s in Your Pet’s Poop?” - Stockmanship Featured at
Steak and Potatoes Field Day
Renowned stockmanship instructor Curt Pate will be the featured speaker at the University
of Tennessee Steak and Potatoes Field Day. The free event starts at 8 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at UT's Plateau Research and Education Center in Crossville. - Tennessee Schedules Burley Tobacco and Forage Field Day for July 16
The UT Research and Education Center at Greeneville will hold its annual Tobacco and Forage Field Day on Thursday, July 16, beginning at 8 a.m. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for July: Crocosmia X
When June transitions into July and the coolness of spring is a distant memory, crocosmia enters as a bright spot in the garden.
June 2009
- UT Gardens Weekly Books and Blooms’ Continues Through July 30
Throughout the month of July, the area’s finest storytellers, surrounded by the beauty of the UT Gardens, will tell stories and perform book readings that are sure to entertain and educate audiences of all ages. - Farmers Awarded UT Switchgrass Contracts for Second Season
Thirty-eight area farmers received acceptance letters into the University of Tennessee’s second season of a switchgrass farmer incentive program. The farmers will be growing switchgrass for conversion to cellulosic ethanol. A total of 1,901 acres located in nine East Tennessee counties were enrolled in the 2009 program. - UT Gardens’ Blooms Days Festival and Marketplace
Offers Something for Everyone
Blooms Days has become a summer tradition, drawing families, students, and Knoxville natives to experience the splendor of the gardens. The event will run Saturday, June 27, 2009, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. - University of Tennessee and State Government Officials Announce
One-Year Delay in Moving Lewisburg Jersey Herd
The UT Institute of Agriculture, state Senator Bill Ketron and state Representative Eddie Bass have announced a one-year delay in moving the Jersey dairy herd from the Dairy Research and Education Center in Lewisburg, Tennessee, to the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center in Spring Hill. - Food Science and Technology Doctoral Student Receives
McClure
Scholarship for Study of Malaria
Ms. Adrienne Roach, a doctoral student in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, was awarded a W.K. McClure Scholarship.
- 20th Annual UT Summer Celebration Lawn and Garden Show
is Sure to Sizzle
The 20th Annual Summer Celebration takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center. Dozens of plant and garden experts will be on hand, presenting information on topics that range from “Layer Cake Gardening” to “Roses that Rock Your World.” - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for June: Mexican Feather Grass
Mexican Feather Grass is one of the most beautiful of all the ornamental grasses. Throughout the summer, the plant will grow in vase-like clumps that bear a profusion of feathery panicles spilling outward like a soft fountain.
May 2009
- It's Official: Tennessee Opens New Organic Crops Unit
May 15 marked a momentous day for the University of Tennessee AgResearch program. AgResearch's East Tennessee Research and Education Center officially changed the name of its Small Grains Unit to the Organic Crops Unit, and the new unit hosted its first organic crops field tour. - UT Gardens’ Tree Climb Offers Safe, Fun Activity for the Whole Family
Everyone is invited to the UT Gardens on Saturday, June 6, to learn the benefits of tree climbing while ensuring the utmost care of the trees and safety of the climber. Sam Adams from Cortese Tree Specialists, will conduct a special tree climbing class from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The class is appropriate for ages 10 years old and up. - UT Institute of Agriculture Hosts Tobacco, Beef and More Field Day
Scheduled for June 25 at the UT Highland Rim AgResearch and Education Center, the event will highlight new research, management and production strategies for the region’s tobacco and beef cattle producers. - Veterinary College Helps First Graders Avoid Dog Bites
As part of National Dog Bite Prevention Week May 17-23, 2009, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and the Knox County School system announced today that every first grader in Knox County has received a free dog bite prevention DVD. - Veterinary Student Club Hosts “Let’s talk about…..” Lecture Series
PAWSitive Impact, a new student club at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM), has started a new lecture series; “Let’s Talk About….” where animal experts discuss various topics of concern for pet owners in the community. Tuesday, May 26, 2009, Dr. Joe Bartges will discuss cat and dog nutrition. - Center for Profitable Agriculture Recognized for 10 Years of Service
During a May 12 session of the committee, the State House Agriculture Committee has formally recognized
the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture for a decade of outstanding service to the
citizens of Tennessee. - Kids Can Explore the Creeping, Crawling, Colorful World of Insects in Bugtussle, USA at the UT Gardens
Join Lady Bugtussle, bug scientist from the UT Institute of Agriculture Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, on Saturday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 2 p.m. at the UT Gardens for an exploration of insects, their habitat, and how they contribute to the wider environment. - UT Scientist a Leader in the National Biomass Conversion Effort
Dr. Joseph J. Bozell, an associate professor in biomass chemistry in the UT Institute of Agriculture Forest Products Center, is among some 700 senior investigators nationwide who will participate in a collection of 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) recently established by the Department of Energy Office of Science. - UT Gardens’ Weekly Books and Blooms Offers Kids Storytelling, Readings,
Crafts and Sprinkler Time
Looking for a fun summer-time event for children of all ages from babies to pre-teens? Check out Books and Blooms at the UT Gardens. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for May: Fringetree
Fringetree, or Old Man's Beard, is a beautiful native tree with attractive white flowers that bloom in the spring.
April 2009
- UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for May: Fringetree
Fringetree, or Old Man's Beard, is a beautiful native tree with attractive white flowers that bloom in the spring. - UT Gardens Spring Plant Sale Sure to Delight Gardeners
Spring is in full bloom and so are the plants at the UT Gardens Spring Plant Sale. The sale will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the entrance to the UT Gardens. - Helping Gardens Grow: UT Offers Educational Opportunity for Homeowners and Novice Gardeners
At the UT Institute of Agriculture’s Fruits of the Backyard Field Day, visitors can learn useful tips for both the lawn and the garden. This free educational event takes place on Tuesday, June 16, at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Spring Hill. - UT Agriculture Professor Named to Scholarship Foundation Leadership
Dr. Mark Windham, a Distinguished Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, was recently named the Executive Vice-President of the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund. - Tennessee Youth Development Specialist Named
to National 4-H Task Force on Citizenship
UT Extension 4-H Specialist Justin Crowe has been named by the National 4-H Headquarters to be part
of a Citizenship Mission Mandate Task Force.
- Experience Garden Life with Third Tuesday
Tours of the UT Gardens
The UT Gardens is one of the community’s finest treasures and its free Third Tuesday Garden Tours offer Knoxville natives and tourists alike the chance to tour the gardens and learn about some 4,000 annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, trees, shrubs, vegetables and ornamental grasses. - UT Recognized for Exceptional Communications Efforts
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the UT System Office of Communications won six awards from the Volunteer Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, including three first-place honors.
- UT Beef and Forage Field Day Scheduled for June 11
Cattle management and hay production seminars will be of interest to cattle producers attending the 2009 UT Beef and Forage Field Day. The event is being held on June 11 at the Blount Unit of the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center near Knoxville. - Open House Scheduled at UT College of Veterinary Medicine
The UT College of Veterinary Medicine will hold its thirtieth annual open house Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The free event will take place on the UT agricultural campus, located on Neyland Drive. - Montgomery County Selected to Pilot Homeowner Landscape Program
Local Extension agents and storm water professionals are teaming up to provide homeowners with the guidance they need to ensure that their yards become beautiful, environmentally friendly and cost effective. - UT Gardens to Host Easter Egg Hunt
The UT Gardens will host an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Children 12 and under can join the hunt or other contests for a chance to win prizes and candy! - New Educational Program Offered for Horse Owners
The first UT Extension Master Horse Owner Program for the western region of the state will be offered beginning Thursday, July 9. - UT Program Receives Grant for Animal Therapy Program
A local animal therapy program, HALT, has received a $2,000 grant from the Banfield Charitable Trust to assist troubled teens and unwanted dogs. - UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for April: Virginia bluebell
Virginia bluebell, also called Virginia cowslip or Mertensia virginica, is a North American native perennial that can easily be added to your home landscape. - UT Schedules First Organic Crops Field Tour
The East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Knoxville will present the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s first Organic Crops Field Tour on May 15, beginning at 8 a.m.
March 2009
- 2009 UT Institute of Agriculture Field Days Offer
Variety of Educational Opportunities
Raising healthy hardwoods. Producing quality beef. Growing fresh fruits and vegetables in your own backyard. These are just a few of the topics Tennesseans can learn about at the 2009 University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Field Days. - Agritourism Workshop to Encourage Economic Development
Agritourism entrepreneurs and farmers considering agritourism enterprises are encouraged to attend a special multi-county workshop May 4 in Hohenwald, Tennessee. - Tennessee Enhances Beekeeping Services
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has made two very important changes to help beekeepers. They can now register their colonies online and sign-up to participate in the UT Beemaster Program. Both changes will help sustain Tennessee’s honeybee population. - UT Gardens in Jackson Named Conifer Reference Garden
The UT Gardens at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center was recently selected as a Conifer Reference Garden by the American Conifer Society. - UTCrops.com Gets Fresh Look
The website devoted to Tennessee’s major field crops has a new design and some added features that researchers say will help the state’s producers better manage their 2009 crops. - First National Conference for Small Food Manufacturers
The first national conference for small food manufacturers throughout the country has been scheduled for April 23-24, 2009, in Lincoln, Nebraska. - UT Plateau Center Announces Spring Heifer and Bull Sale
The University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center will hold its annual spring heifer and bull sale on Friday, March 27, starting at 10:00 a.m. CDT.
- Direct Farm Marketing Featured at March Workshops
To help farmers overcome challenges associated with directly marketing their products, a series of educational workshops is being offered by the Center for Profitable Agriculture. Workshops begin in March. - Junior Bulls Now Ready for the Farm
More than 60 purebred Angus bulls will be sold at the University of Tennessee Junior Bull Test Sale held on Thursday March 12 at noon at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center.
- UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for March: Japanese Cornel Dogwood
When you hear of dogwood, most of us think of our native flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida). But there are about 30-50 species of dogwood. One of the author's favorites is the Japanese Cornel Dogwood.
February 2009
- UT AgResearch Planning to Restructure Dairy
and Middle Tennessee Research and Education Centers
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture officials appeared before the Marshall County Commission February 23, 2009, to affirm continued support for agricultural research programs at the Dairy AgResearch and Education Center in Lewisburg while at the same time informing the Commission of the intent to restructure the facility’s current operations. - “Partners of the Cherokee National Forests” Donate to UT Institute of
Agriculture To Save Hemlock Trees
UTIA announced that the non-profit group “Partners of the Cherokee National Forest” is donating $5,075 to the Lindsay Young Beneficial Insects Laboratory at the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Knoxville. This is part of an overall commitment of $20,000 made by the “Partners” in 2006. - UT Institute of Agriculture Announces Intent to Close Milan 4-H Center
Milan AgResearch Administrative Building Put on Hold
Budget constraints have caused the UT Institute of Agriculture to develope plans to close the Buford Ellington 4-H Center in Milan by June 30, 2009, and plans for a new administrative facility for the Milan UT AgResearch and Education Center have been put on hold. - UT Bull Test Sale Offers Lessons in Beef Management: Next Sale is March 12
One of the top earners at the annual UT Senior Bull Test Sale garnered $4000, an example of success from one of the state’s long-running beef cattle improvement programs. - Tennessee’s Tree Improvement Program Turns 50
The University of Tennessee Tree Improvement Program took root in 1959 and has flourished into a wide-ranging research and education effort that operates in cooperation with the Tennessee Division of Forestry.
- University of Tennessee Research Foundation Recognizes Patent Recipients
The University of Tennessee honored 20 men and women who were recently issued patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for their discoveries that have transferred technology into the lives and lifeways of the people of Tennessee, the region and nation. The scientists honored included seven researchers from UT’s Institute of Agriculture, along with 13 UT Knoxville scientists.
January 2009
- UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for February: Yucca!
Although thoughts of spring are creeping into all of our minds, let’s not get ahead of ourselves seasonally. A plant with superb winter interest may sound like a killjoy, but yucca looks great year round. - New Program for Horse Owners: First Class is February 12
The Master Horse Owner Program, a comprehensive educational course on all aspects of equine health and management, is now available throughout the state.
- UT Launches Organic and Sustainable Crop Production Initiative and Web Site
A new organic crops production initiative of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture may have broad appeal for commercial producers, home gardeners and consumers alike. - Augé Appointed Head of Tennessee’s
Plant Sciences Department
Dr. Robert (Oz) Augé has been appointed as head of the Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
- Center for Profitable Agriculture Welcomes “GROW-10" PROGRAM Coordinator
Amy Ladd has been welcomed as the newest member of the Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) staff at their Spring Hill headquarters.
- Want to Connect with Friends from Your Youth?
Try the Tennessee 4-H Alumni Web Site
If you grew up a 4-H’er in Tennessee, you’ve probably got great memories and made some lifetime friends. Now you can reconnect with your 4-H past online. A 4-H Alumni Web site is available where past and present members can meet to promote the organization and encourage alumni involvement.
- New Conference Targets Women in Small Businesses and Agriculture
Problems faced by small, women-owned businesses, particularly agriculturally based enterprises, will be the focus of a new conference being conducted by University of Tennessee Extension experts. “Homefront to Heartland: Financial Education for Women in Small Business and Agriculture,” will be presented on the UT Institute of Agriculture campus in Knoxville on Saturday, March 21, 2009, beginning at 9 a.m.
- Learn to Make Your Business a Destination at Agritourism Conference
Business owners will have the opportunity to hear nationally known business consultant Jon Schallert during the 2009 Agritourism Conference – Cultivating Farm Revenue. The conference is scheduled for January 26 and 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month for January: Red Twig Dogwood
Winter landscapes are often bleak, but that is easily remedied. Of the many plants that can brighten up cold gray days, among my favorites is a much underused group of plants referred to as red twig dogwoods.