Current Stories
For more information about the news releases featured below, please contact Patricia McDaniels (865) 974-7141.
For past stories, please visit the News Archive.
May 2008
- UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for May: Kousa Dogwood
Kousa dogwood, also known commonly as Chinese or Japanese dogwood is an exceptional small landscape tree with four-season interest. Botanically named Cornus kousa, this dogwood produces a multitude of showy, long-lasting, white flowers in late spring, after our common flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) has finished blooming.
April 2008
- Tennessee Veterinary College Celebrates Expansion
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has celebrated the completion of its small animal teaching hospital expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Construction on the $10 million, expansion began winter 2007.
- Mascoma and UT Join in $26 Million DOE Grant
The development of a sustainable biofuels industry in Tennessee has taken another leap forward. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that Mascoma Corporation, with the University of Tennessee, is among the recipients of a $26 million grant for the development of biomass conversion technology - Three Field Days Headline UT’s June Calendar
June is the month for the official start of summer, and three University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture events are scheduled to herald the occasion. - Milan No-Till Field Day Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The latest developments in no-till crop management will be showcased during the No-Till Crop Production Field Day on July 24 at the UT Research and Education Center at Milan. The event marks the 25th No-Till Crop Production Field Day at Milan. - UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for April: Trillium
An eye-catching woodland plant, trillium is a great addition to the spring garden. It is among the first plants to bloom in the spring. - Watch for Blue Mold in Tobacco Float Beds
Tobacco growers should be on the alert for symptoms of blue mold in their plant beds. A plant pathologist with University of Tennessee Extension, Steve Bost, says says if blue mold is found at this stage of the season, it could be disastrous for growers.
March 2008
- College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Appoints New Recruitment Coordinator
The UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) has appointed Anna Filipek as Program Coordinator for Recruitment. - UT Dairy in Knoxville Closing for Relocation
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture today informed employees about the official plans to close the present dairy research facility located on Alcoa Highway. The dairy is being vacated in advance of providing the property, known as Cherokee Farm, to the UT System administration for the proposed state-of-the-art, technology-oriented research site of the same name. - Farmers Awarded Switchgrass Contracts for Tennessee Biofuels
Seventeen area farmers received acceptance letters into the University of Tennessee switchgrass farmer incentive program in February. In total, 725 acres located in seven different East Tennessee counties were enrolled in the program, which is set to produce feedstock for the state’s first demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. - UT Institute of Agriculture Appoints New Dean of Research
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has named Dr. William F. Brown Dean for Research and Director of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. - UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for March: Japanese Flowering Apricot
One of the earliest spring-flowering ornamental trees is the Japanese Flowering Apricot. This beautiful tree remains surprisingly underused in America.
News you can use on your farm, in your home, and in your forest.
FEBRUARY 2008
- UT Plateau Center to Hold Spring Cattle Sale
The Plateau Research and Education Center will sell cattle from its herd on Friday, March 28,
starting at 10:00 a.m. CDT. The sale will feature high-quality replacement heifers and yearling bulls. Registration documentation and performance data are available for review. - Solutions for Dairy Producers To Be Featured at March Field Day
Practical solutions for problems facing dairy operations will be discussed during a field day on Wednesday, March 26, at the UT Dairy Research and Education Center in Lewisburg. - UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for February: Hybrid Witch-hazel
Hybrid Witch-hazelis a winter-flowering shrub that will brighten any landscape.
January 2008
- Switchgrass Production Meetings Draw Many Area Farmers
More than 180 potential switchgrass growers attended production interest meetings that were held January 14-18 in Blount, Loudon, McMinn and Monroe counties, far exceeding expectations for turnout. - Forums to Examine Youth Development
Business and government leaders, educators, students and community citizens will meet February 19 in Clarksville to discuss ways for Tennessee to develop its greatest resource: youth. - UT Research Foundation Distributes Funds to Drive Further Development of Technologies
The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) has selected 10 UT researchers or research teams to receive technology development grants for 2008, including several from UTIA. Grant funds will allow researchers to further develop or "mature" their technologies so that they are better positioned for licensing and commercialization. - UT, TSU to Cooperate with Agricultural Educators in Small African Nation
A recent memorandum of agreement signed between UT, its cooperating agricultural Extension partner Tennessee State University, and the National University of Lesotho will allow UT and TSU researchers and Extension professionals to help the students and farmers in Lesotho. - Weather, Profitability Headline Topics at Middle Tennessee Grain Conference
Drew Lerner of World Weather, Inc., will once again be the keynote speaker for the Middle Tennessee Grain Conference in Manchester. This year's conference is scheduled for January 31. - University of Tennessee Announces Improvements in Personnel Policies for Ag Workers
To improve compensation packages and standardize work schedules across the state, the
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has informed personnel at its 10 research facilities
that the University will no longer classify them as “agricultural workers” under the Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA). - UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for January - 'Feelin Blue' Deodar Cedar
Winter is when evergreen trees and shrubsthey can be particularly colorful and showy. ‘Feelin Blue’ Deodar Cedar will fit into any landscape because of its prostrate and compact growth habit.