UT AgResearch

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	Middle TN AgResearch Center - ARP Funding UT AgResearch recently received funds from the American Rescue Plan. Here's how some funds are being used in Spring Hill.
	West TN AgResearch Center - ARP Funding UT AgResearch recently received funds from the American Rescue Plan. Here's how some funds are being used in Jackson.
	UT AgResearch Broiler Facility UT AgResearch will soon open a new broiler/poultry production facility at its Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center in Spring Hill. Here is a preview of the work that will be done there.
	UTIA School of Natural Resources - Elk Research UTIA's School of Natural Resources conducts studies about elk reproductive health.
	UTIA Forest Resource AgResearch ARP Funds UT AgResearch recently received funds from the American Rescue Plan. Here are examples of the equipment purchased with these funds at the UT Arboretum and UT Cumberland Forest.
	Northeast Tennessee UT AgResearch Center - ARP Fun UT AgResearch's Northeast Tennessee Center shows how some of the American Rescue Plan funds will be used in cattle and crop research.
	UT AgResearch - Milan Center ARP Funds UT AgResearch recently received federal money from the American Rescue Plan. Here's how its Milan Center is using some of those resources for a new cotton harvester.
	UT AgResearch Record Year Grants UT AgResearch had a record year for securing grant funding in fiscal year 2023 - up more than 200% over the previous fiscal year.
	Growing peanuts at AgResearch West TN REC Could peanuts be a potential crop for Tennessee farmers? UTIA crop specialists are growing an experimental crop at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, and with good results.
	Farmer of the Year 2023 Kyle Owen is Tennessee's Farmer of the Year for 2023 - nominated by UT Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.
	Soybean Flower Abortion Researchers with UTIA work to save soybeans from a phenomenon known as flower abortion, which can hurt yields and a producer's bottom line.
	Blackberry Extended Season We grow delicious blackberries in Tennessee. See an experimental blackberry crop grown on UT AgResearch land here.
	Hopyard Research UT AgResearch is growing hops in its new experimental hopyard - work to help Tennessee's growing craft brewing industry. A toast to agriculture here.
	Bottom Hardwood Forest UT AgResearch has a bottomland hardwood forest in Jackson where the trees - and data - have been growing for decades.
	Jack Daniel's Tree Improvement A toast to a 25-year partnership - UTIA and the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg. UTIA works to grow trees for whiskey production and to improve forests statewide.
	Precision Livestock Conference Some of the world's top experts in Precision Livestock Farming were in Knoxville recently for a conference to learn more on this global topic. The event was coordinated by UTIA.
	Robotic Milking Ribbon Cut UTIA now has two robotic milking systems at its Little River Dairy Unit in Blount County. Here -- not your ordinary ribbon cutting.
	Smart Ag Lab UTIA Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science professors and students research crops and animals in the 'Smart Agriculture Laboratory' on campus.
	PLF MTREC Virtual Tour UT AgResearch works in Precision Ag techniques regarding its beef cattle herd at the Middle TN Center in Spring Hill.
	Keith Carver - New UTIA Sr. Vice Chancellor Keith Carver shares his thoughts about his new role, and how he plans to be an advocate for agriculture and the Institute all across Tennessee.
	World Cup Turf UTIA is teaming with Michigan State University and FIFA to grow turf for stadiums in North America hosting the 2026 World Cup.
	School of Natural Resources UTIA announces a change in name - and status - for one of its academic departments with the new School of Natural Resources, formerly Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries.
	Organic Crops Conservation Tillage Ravi Neelipally shares his research and advice for producers considering conservation tillage methods.
	Tellico Algae UT Microbiology and the Institute of Agriculture work with environmental groups to keep algae from getting worse in Tellico Lake.
	Climate Smart Ag UTIA works with farmers - many dealing with extremes in weather conditions - to develop production methods to grow crops and still protect the environment.
	ThryvOn Cotton UT's Institute of Agriculture works with cotton producers in using a new technology called 'ThryvOn' to protect their crop from a harmful pest.
	Dairy Gauge UT Extension and UTIA Animal Science and Agricultural Resource Economics work with producers in 'Dairy Gauge'
	Chocolate Cacao Research A UTIA researcher has concerns about the crop that gives us chocolate. Watch here to learn how cacao is grown, and what the future looks like for one of our most favorite treats.
	Lifting Trees UTIA researchers 'lift' trees out of the ground in an oak orchard -- part of an effort to study and preserve forestland.
	Aramark Beef UTIA AgResearch is now providing beef products to campus cafeterias -- from cattle raised on UT farms.
	Precision Ag Beef UT AgResearch, Extension and Animal Science are using precision agriculture technology to gather information for Tennessee beef producers.
	Armyworms Invade Experts with UT’s Institute of Agriculture say armyworms can do damage to your grass, as well as row crops.
	Cotton Tour The harvest season is just about complete for Tennessee’s cotton crop – more than 300-thousand acres.
	Forest Regeneration It’s a tree harvest, something experts at UT AgResearch centers do across Tennessee from time to time. But these researchers have another term for this practice – a “regeneration cut.”
	Grass Tennis Courts Turfgrass experts with UT’s Institute of Agriculture are growing grass tennis courts on AgResearch land.
	Discovery Park Ag Exhibit A Tennessee museum now features an exhibit about agriculture – including the diversity of people and careers in the industry.
	Summer Celebration Bicentennial UT’s AgResearch centers are holding their usual number of field days this year – some in-person and others still virtual.
	Tennessee Riverline Launch
	Swallows and Climate Change A changing climate and warmer temperatures impact the animal world, sometimes affecting their behavior and survival.
	FEWSUS Students In a few years, three out of every four people in the world will live in cities. Rapid urbanization means increased demands for food, energy and water.
	Protect Yourself from COVID-19 Information from the World Health Organization and UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences with steps to help protect yourself from COVID-19 virus.
	Saving Salamanders Many small creatures vital to our ecosystems are threatened by a pathogen that could decimate their population. Researchers at UTIA are working to save salamanders.
	Weather Stations Researchers at UTIA are measuring weather data, and how rising temperatures impact farming and the number of insects.
	Working Woodlands New, higher standards for cultivating forestland, with the intent of benefitting the environment. That's part of an agreement between UTIA and The Nature Conservancy.
	Spreading Biochar A source of waste once destined for the landfill could soon enhance Tennessee farmland and row crops.
	UTIA TNC Partnership UTIA and The Nature Conservancy have signed a historic agreement to manage the university's forested research properties under the highest standards of forest management.
	Butterfly Festival It's been said that butterflies are nature's way of showing off, the delicate creatures displaying so many stunning colors.
	Ag Research Profiles: Neal Stewart Neal Stewart talks about his involvement with the DARPA Project.
	AgResearch Profiles: Scott Lenaghan Scott Lenaghan talks about the Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology at UTIA.
	Fence Line Feeder UT Extension and AgResearch have been experimenting with fence line feeders, a system that seem to work better for animals and their human caretakers.
	UTIA Ireland Partnership UTIA is forming new partnerships with universities in Ireland. Recently a group of leaders from UTIA traveled to the Emerald Isle to establish future programs.
	Smith International Center UTIA's Smith International Center offers faculty and students the opportunity to have an impact abroad, and come up with innovative ways to feed the world.
	Ames Calving Research A historic site is contributing to the future of Tennessee's top agricultural commodity--beef cattle farming.
	Water Usage in Herbs UTIA is working on several projects where we grow crops with the least amount of water possible, which has an environmental and economic impact.
	Cover Crops -NoTill UT AgResearch and UT Extension work to boost yields for farmers by combining no-till with cover crops.
	Crop Irrigation Research For farmers, a single row crop field can vary greatly in its slope, soil type and the amount of water needed in different areas.
	Sensor Drones Many Tennessee farmers use drones to fly over and view crops. UTIA is now working on sensors attached to drones to provide valuable information.
	World Cup Turf Researchers at UTIA played a significant role in the world's biggest sporting event recently. Turfgrass experts consulted on the playing fields for the World Cup soccer matches in Russia.
	Real Life Solutions: Taking on the Fall Army Worm Bt crops produce an insecticidal protein that kills harmful pest. However, the fall army worm has developed a resistance to this protein, causing widespread crop loss.
	Crapemyrtle Bark Scale Southerners have come to rely on the Crapemyrtle as a dependable plant...
	Microgreens Microgreens are tiny plants that add zest to salads and main dishes, and are popular with chefs and customers at high-end restaurants.
	Water Quality Floods, droughts and very hot or cold temperatures - all weather patterns that we experience often in Tennessee. What impact do these weather situations have?
	Renewable Carbon Tree Harvest Trees that we harvest can become our fuel, energy, and industrial products. Finding the best materials for this purpose is part of the mission for UT's Center for Renewable Carbon.
	Ag Economy Tennessee farmers are making plans for their 2016 crops after a disappointing 2015. When farmers have a down year, an entire community can be impacted.
	Sesame There's a new crop Tennessee farmers might consider. Researchers are experimenting with sesame, produced for its oil, and commonly used in bread products.
	UT CASNR Hands-on Learning You don't need to be inside four walls to learn. That's the training students at UT's Institute of Agriculture often receive - in barns, fields and outdoor laboratories.
	West Tennessee Ag Museum It's a place where agriculture's history is told. The West Tennessee Agricultural Museum in Milan offers an opportunity to learn and travel through time.
	All-Vol Cheese UT fans can buy or give the gift of school spirit in the form of a tasty food. The university's Institute of Agriculture and a corporate partner are making and selling All-Vol Cheese.
	Nozzle Selection Nozzle selection has been simplified over the years, but different types of nozzles are needed for different situations.
	Heifer Development Tennessee's beef producers are looking to turn dropping cattle numbers around with a new focus on cattle reproduction.
	Tennessee Magic Moments Teaming with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau Federation, and producer groups across the state to raise awareness of the importance of agriculture to our state and in our lives.
	Home Tomato Production UT Extension shares tips that can enhance the quality of the tomatoes you grow in your garden.
	Forest Research UT's Institute of Agriculture has research projects statewide to help landowners better manage their timber.
	Governor's Garden Some Tennessee teachers have a new lesson plan this fall, and their curriculum came straight from the grounds of the Governor's home.
	Hay Auction As fall approaches, Tennessee farmers must stock up on hay to feed their cattle through the winter. But sometimes a year of iffy rainfall may force animal owners to look beyond their farms for forage.
	Bee Research Researchers at the UT Institute of Agriculture are exploring reasons behind the decline of the honeybee population, including how agricutural pesticides might affect these beneficial insects.
	Kinder Garden An outdoor classroom with some very young students - getting their hands dirty, but also learning at the UT Gardens in Crossville, TN.
	Hosta Garden The UT Gardens in Knoxville now features a new section devoted to Hostas where you can see hundreds of varieties. Take a tour of the hosta garden and meet the lady who made it possible.
	Record Corn Yields In the future, getting the most out of our land will be critical for Tennessee agriculture and the world's food supply. That will involve increasing row crop yields through science and smart farming.
	Native Grasslands Native grasses make up an important contribution to overall forage production and UTIA is working to help this critical part of our state's cattle industry and Ag economy.
	Our Stories: Dr. Arnold Saxon UTIA statistician Dr. Arnold Saxton
	Intro to Biosystems Engineering Can we get more food, water, energy? Can we solve the problem of environmental degradation, drought, famine? Is it even possible? YES! Through Agricultural and Biological Engineers.
	Bottle Art at UT Gardens Jackson More than 6,000 bottles were used to create this stunning garden display!
	Tennessee Athletic Field Tester (TAFT) Adam Thoms, Research Leader of the Center for Athletic Field Safety at the University of Tennessee, explains the Tennessee Athletic Field Tester (TAFT).
	Weed Progress Weeds are a nuisance to gardeners, but downright devastating to those who farm for a living. But now experts and farmers say the worst may be behind us.
	High Tunnels Some Tennessee nursery farmers use what are called “high tunnel” greenhouses – an inexpensive way to protect crops from temperatures that are either too hot or cold.
	Stocker Cattle Beef cattle farming is Tennessee’s top agricultural commodity. Some producers provide a valuable service by running “stocker” or “backgrounding” operations.
	Vet Equine Center Tennessee has more than 40,000 horse farms. Keeping these beautiful animals healthy is a goal for veterinarians and horse owners. UT’s college of Veterinary Medicine has a new facility to help.
	Chestnuts Partially restoring the chestnut tree may happen in our lifetime.
	Urban Forestry Urban forestry is a concept embraced by many Tennessee cities, and now UT students are working to bring shade and beauty to some areas.
	4-H Youth Create 'Eco Bots' Members of Knoxville's 4-H Youth Development club met to build a small robot called an 'Eco-bot' to clean up a simulated oil spill.
	Our Stories: Dr. Neal Eash This episode features Dr. Neal Eash, associate professor in Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science.
	Cotton Sub-Irrigation Watering plants to make them grow works in a small garden or lawn, but is not so easy when you're talking about large acres. However, UT AgResearchers have made gains in recent years.
	Drought It's been a challenging year for Tennessee agriculture, with hot, dry weather coming at a time when crops needed better growing conditions.
	Stinkbugs Insects are among the greatest threats to agriculture. Tennessee farmers have seen some pests disappear, but in the process, new ones emerged, and they are attacking fields.
	Gourmet Food Safety We all want good-tasting foods, but what we eat also has to be safe. UT’s Institute of Agriculture works with producers statewide in food safety programs.
	No-Till Hills There was a time when sloped land was just about useless because of frequent soil erosion. But now, hilly terrain can be productive. 'No-till” farming makes it possible.
	Dogwood Patent Dr. Mark Windham of University of Tennessee AgResearch discusses research into protecting dogwood trees.
	River Cleanup Agriculture students worked to clean up the Tennessee River and some of its tributaries of plant growth and trash.
	Mastitis Research Dairy farmers face many challenges – including a disease that threatens their cattle and the quality of their milk. AgResearch and Extension team up with producers to fight this problem.
	Soil Testing If you’re looking for a healthy garden or green grass, it’s good to know the content of your soil. UT Extension offers inexpensive soil tests, and it’s all done in a special lab in Nashville.
	Ag Year Preview Spring is almost here, and it’s just about time for Tennessee farmers to plant their 2012 crops. All indications are - things are looking good for producers, following what was a good year in 2011.
	LED Plant Lights It’s been known for years we can use indoor lighting to grow plants. Now UT Ag Researchers are looking at LED lights as an efficient way to bring plants to life.
	Parasites It’s a common site on Tennessee farmland – a grazing herd of goats or sheep. But for small animal farmers, their herds can sometimes face health risks.
	TEDxKnoxville: Local Food Systems Chad Hellwinckel's work focuses on agricultural land use policies, climate change mitigation, biofuels analysis and defining appropriate long-term agricultural policy in a post peak-oil world.
	Obed Watershed For every flowing river in Tennessee, there are many streams that feed it. A group of volunteers on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau work to preserve water quality in these tributaries.
	Billy Minser Talks Fire Ecology Class Billy Minser talks about his fire ecology and management class while supervising his students at a controlled burn of an oak savannah in the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area
	Little River Facility It’s long been an issue in farming – how can we be productive in agriculture and still protect the environment? UT Ag-Research has a new facility dedicated to that cause.
	Tennessee AgrAbility Living with a disability can be challenging, but imagine the difficulty if you’re a farmer. Now there’s a program to help disabled producers with their equipment, farm management, and overall outlook.
	Cotton Outlook 2011 Like much of Dixie, Tennessee is -- once again -- the land of cotton. Our state will produce nearly twice as many acres of the crop as it did just a couple of years ago.
	Forestry Audit Tennessee's forests grow some of the best timber in the country. UT Extension researchers say when landowners properly manage their forests, there's a real environmental and economic benefit.
	Livestock Research It's a problem for Tennessee farmers who produce our top commodity -- beef cattle. Insects such as flies cause serious health problems for their animals, and reduce product quality for consumers.
	Weed Olympics We've had an Olympic competition here in Tennessee involving ... plants. More specifically, plants we don't like or want. It's called the 'Weed Olympics' on the UT agriculture campus.
	Food vs. Fuel UT Ag Researchers are studying what could be a compromise between food and fuel.
	Pond Management UT Extension helps landowners build and maintain ponds as a source of water, and as habitat for fish, water fowl, and other animals.
	Forage Research UT researchers are looking for the best forage for cattle to produce high quality beef. The goal is to grow hay for cattle in the hot, dry months of summer – when fields are usually barren.
	Nursery Industry Tennessee is a top producer of ornamental plants. The nursery industry here is concentrated in a very specific part of our state, known for a mild climate and growing beautiful trees and shrubs.
	The Story of Cotton A look at the history, production and uses of cotton.
	Crab Lab Though crabs are disappearing along America’s coasts, research in land-locked Tennessee could help. Students in Biosystems Engineering have designed a project to replenish crab populations.
	Weed Research A climate that's good for a variety of crops means many types of weeds also thrive. UT AgResearch works to help farmers battle this yearly problem that can greatly affect their yields.
	Center for Renewable Carbon AgResearchers at UT are developing ways of converting renewable carbon sources from plants into fuels and other products
	Bed Bugs Good night. Sleep tight. And don't let the bed bugs bite. Once a harmless nursery rhyme, now it's anything but a laughing matter. Like much of the US, Tennessee has bed bugs.
	Cotton Gin We know it as the fabric of our lives. Cotton is everywhere - found in clothing, upholstery and even food and money. But we need a way to get cotton from the field to the manufacturing plant.
	Astro Turf UT researchers team with AstroTurf for safer athletic fields.
	Turtle Research University of Tennessee Turtle research in West Tennessee
	Farmer Research There's agricultural research going on all over Tennessee, but much of it can't happen without the input of farmers. UT AgResearch works with producers to test crops and growing conditions.
	Blueberries It's rare to find a food that's both good-tasting and good for you. But with blueberries, you get both.
	No-Till Farming's Effect on May Flood May flooding caused extensive damage to agricultural production in Tennessee, but experts say it could have been much worse if not for the widespread use of no-till crop production.
	Preventing Nitrate Toxicity in Cattle UT experts talk about the danger of nitrate toxicity and how you can prevent it on your farm.
	Ranavirus Amphibians A killer virus is attacking amphibians native to the Smoky Mountains. Our researcher's are studying the impact of the virus, and looking to help the species most vulnerable.
	Student Solar Project Could bright sunlight provide much-needed power and energy? Some UT students are working to harness solar radiation as a way to heat and cool our homes and fuel our lifestyles.
	Cotton's Comeback? Cotton remains a staple in southern agriculture, but in recent years the number of acres in Tennessee has dropped by a significant amount. But is 2010 the year of cotton's comeback?
	Weather Station There's a saying in Tennessee - if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes, it's about to change! Experts with UT AgResearch centers collect weather data and study climate patterns.
	Christmas Greenery Before you rush out to purchase Christmas decorations, UTIA experts say you may want to first check out your own backyard.
	Ames Dig Students and archeologists are digging away at Ames Plantation this summer, searching for artifacts that document its past.
	Sweet corn UT AgResearchers applied herbicides to experimental sweet corn to keep weeds away. But something unexpected happened -- they boosted the nutritional value of the corn.
	Barley Its one of our most lasting symbols of America - wind gently sweeping through a grain field. And soon it could be a common sight in Tennessee.
	Shackelford Orchard Majestic oaks stand proudly next to towering pines. Stunning beauty in a peaceful setting - but what’s going on in this still forest is a decades-long research project.
	Saving the Hemlock Scientists and staff at Great Smoky Mountains National Park race to save the hemlock tree from extinction in their park.
	Bees Honeybees are dying nationwide due to a disease that is wiping out colonies. UTIA researchers are working to save the bee population in our state.
	Cattle Facility Beef cattle farming is Tennessee's top agricultural commodity - generating nearly 600 million dollars each year.
	Greenhouse Protected Agriculture More and more of the fruits and vegetables we eat are grown indoors.
	Hatcher Family Dairy Tennessee has lost roughly half its dairy farms in the past decade. But one family wants to keep its centuries-old operation going, and is adapting new production plans to sell their dairy products.
	Wall Gardening You obviously need dirt to grow something, but you can also use .... a wall.
	Biofuel Refinery Groundbreaking Many believe America must find new ways to create energy and fuel. UT recently started construction on a biorefinery to research the manufacture of biofuels from agricultural products.
	Cotton Module Picker More and more producers are using cotton module pickers to get their crops from the field to the gin.
	Ground Penetrating Radar Engineers at UTs Institute of Agriculture use ground penetrating radar to locate unmarked graves.
	Switchgrass Forage Experts with UT's Institute of Agriculture believe switchgrass is nutritious for farm animals, and environmentally friendly.
	Organic Vegetables The earth provides the foods we eat -- including healthy vegetables. UT researchers are studying how best to grow these crops, and part of that work involves organic farming.
	Solar Winery A brand new Tennessee winery plans to use solar power as part of its operation.
	High Input Costs Food prices have been going up, but so are the production costs for farmers who grow what we eat. Farm expenses are at record highs for Tennessee row-crop producers.
	Mine Reclamation We get half our electricity from coal, but getting to coal underground sometimes means we have to cut down trees. UTIA researchers are working to bring new vegetation to former mining sites.
	Beetle Tents Hemlock trees in the Smoky Mountains are threatened by a tiny, deadly pest. Researchers with UT AgResearch are using a predatory beetle to feast on these harmful insects.
	Changing Animal Population In Tennessee, we're seeing changes in our animal population. Some species are moving in, but others are disappearing from our lands.
	Wood for Biomass Tennessee's vast forests might someday be used for biomass.
	Biofuel Students Someday you could go to college and earn a degree in biofuel production. It's an academic major being developed at the UT Institute of Agriculture.
	Cattle Sell-Off Some livestock barns are selling three and four times the usual number of cattle, but that’s not necessarily positive. Many producers have been forced to sell because of drought.
	Shorebirds Many bird species migrate to Tennessee from Canada, and take up residence on our wetlands. We are researching the importance of mudflats and how that habitat impacts shorebirds.
	Cotton Irrigation Cotton is hurting because of this summer’s drought. UTIA researchers are studying how cotton reacts to a lack of moisture – and just how much water is enough for a plant to grow.
	Gnats (Black Flies) In Tennessee’s warm months, gnats are a nuisance to people and animals. UT researchers are working to reduce the population by eliminating them before they’ve hatched from rivers and streams.
	Teachers and Forestry For many teachers, summer was hardly a vacation from their own brand of learning.
	Drought Tennessee is having one of its driest years ever. The National Drought Mitigation Center reports the entire state is experiencing moderate to severe drought.
	Quonset Barn Most barns are square or rectangular, painted red, and with a loft to store hay. But now some Tennessee farmers are looking at a more-modern day barn built to last a long time.
	Beef Cattle Beef cattle farming is Tennessee’s number one farm commodity - and herd reproductive health is critical. UT’s Institute of Agriculture is working on research to boost cattle pregnancy rates.
	Biofuel A recent report says the U.S. could produce a billion tons of biofuel materials each year, without impacting food supplies. We are working on ways to produce biomass and alternative fuels.

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