News Releases

The menu of topics covered at the annual Steak and Potatoes Field Day includes more than just beef cattle management and fruit and vegetable production. This year the event, which is hosted by the University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center in Crossville, will also feature presentations geared toward forestry management for hardwood production and wildlife habitat.

The field day is scheduled for Tuesday August 7, 2007 . Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. CDT , and the program will begin at 8:30 . The program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. and includes a sponsored lunch.

Experts from the University of Tennessee will present short seminars on topics of interest to cattle producers; fruit and vegetable growers; and landowners interested in managing their forests. In particular, beef cattle producers should be interested in discussions of the economics of making hay, preconditioning calves and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s process verified program.

Fruit and vegetable production topics to be covered include various issues related to blueberry production, and a sweet corn and tomato variety tour. A talk about biodegradable plastics is also expected to be popular.

Production of switchgrass, a native warm-season perennial grass expected to weigh heavily in the success of new bioenergy initiatives throughout the state, will also be a featured topic.

The UT Plateau Research and Education Center is located west of Crossville on U.S. Highway 70 North. A map is available online at http://plateau.tennessee.edu.

The Center is one of ten research and educational facilities operated by the UT Agricultural Experiment Station statewide.

For more information about the Center or the Steak and Potatoes Field Day contact your county's UT Extension agent or visit us on the Web.

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Contacts:

J. Walt Hitch, 931-484-0034
Patricia McDaniels, 865-974-7141