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News Archives - 2006

 

 

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December 2006

Veterinary Faculty Member Receives International Award
A professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM), recognized internationally for his expertise in canine physical rehabilitation, has received the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)-Iams Paatsama Award.

UT Bull Evaluation Center Completes Fall 2006 Test
The University of Tennessee Central Bull Evaluation Center tested 112 fall-born bulls, 79 of which passed the rigorous requirements to qualify for the sale to be held at the Center on January 18, 2007. The tests were conducted at the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center in Spring Hill.

Veterinary College Increases Availability of Emergency Service
“Large animal emergency student, please come to the front desk.” This phrase is being heard increasingly more often over the loudspeaker system in the wards of the large animal hospital at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine after normal business hours.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Japanese Camellia
Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica) is an evergreen shrub prized for its showy flowers in the South's winter landscape. Blooms can be as large as 5 inches across with yellow centers or full in the center with rounded overlapping petals, much like a rose.

 

November 2006

First Tennessee Pledges $1 Million to Support Two UT Initiatives
First Tennessee has pledged $1 million to support two University of Tennessee community initiatives through the UT Extension Office and the College of Business Administration. The gift is to be made through the First Tennessee Foundation.

Agriculture and Forestry Could Produce 25 Percent of the Nation’s Energy by 2025
A new economic analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Tennessee outlines how tapping America’s vast natural resources could produce 25 percent of the nation’s energy supply from renewable sources and potentially result in more than $700 billion in economic activity per year by 2025.

"Smart Growth for Healthy Kids in Cocke County" Kicks Off With Celebration
One of Tennessee's most rural counties may be poised for unsightly sprawl. University of Tennessee Extension and the UT College of Social Work will team with local leaders to encourage careful planning so the Cocke County region's future growth is controlled and benefits the children of the community.

Price Risk Management Workshops Scheduled in November for Beef Producers
Controlling the bottom line – that's what is on the agenda for an upcoming beef cattle price risk management workshop conducted by University of Tennessee and University of Georgia Extension specialists. Producers are invited to attend any one of four events this month across the state.

Anonymous Donors Pledge $50 Million, Largest Personal Gift in UT History
The University of Tennessee announced at its Board of Trustees meeting Friday, that an anonymous pledge of $50 million has been received for the institution's capital campaign, representing the largest personal gift in the history of the state's flagship school.

UT Arboretum Endowment Receives Founding Gift
UT President John Petersen, Joe DiPietro, UT Vice President for Agriculture, and other officials with the UT Institute of Agriculture announced that the Rogers Group has pledged the first major gift toward a $3 million endowment for the cherished regional landmark.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for November: Chinese Fringe Flower
Chinese fringe flower, or Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, is a wonderful ornamental shrub that will liven up your fall landscape with its dark burgundy foliage and bright pink blooms. Evergreen in warm climates, blossoms start appearing as early as March.

Agritourism Conference Set for January
Agritourism entrepreneurs and farmers considering agritourism enterprises are encouraged to attend a special conference January 22 and 23 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It will include educational sessions, a trade show and opportunities to network with other entrepreneurs and service providers.

2006 Breeders On-Farm PT Bull Sale Scheduled
The 2006 Breeders On-Farm Performance Tested Bull Sale will be December 6 at 11 a.m. at the Tennessee Livestock Center in Murfreesboro. The sale features 48 bulls consigned by 15 different consignors from 13 counties in Tennessee.

 

October 2006

UT Plateau Center to Hold December Cattle Sale
The University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center will host the 7th annual fall sale of cattle from its herd on Friday, December 1, starting at 10:00 a.m. CST. The sale will feature open and bred cows, all of which are registered Angus, Gelbvieh or Balancer cows.

Asian Soybean Rust Confirmed in Tennessee
Experts with University of Tennessee Extension today confirmed the presence of a significant agricultural disease in the state. Asian soybean rust was found in West Tennessee on soybean leaf samples taken from several fields in Gibson, Obion and Weakley counties on Thursday, October 12.

Tennessean Named Southeastern Farmer of the Year at Sunbelt Expo
Bob Willis of Hillsboro, Tenn., has been named the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year for 2006.His award was announced October 17 at the Willie B. Withers Expo Luncheon during the opening day of the 29th annual Sunbelt Expo.

UT College of Veterinary Medicine Mounts a National Response to Threats of Terrorism to Agriculture and the Food Supply
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has created The Center for Agriculture and Food Security and Preparedness (CAFSP). U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp announced the Center during a news conference at the veterinary college Monday.

Appalachian Area Horse Field Day Scheduled
Horse enthusiasts – don't miss the Appalachian Area Horse Field Day on Saturday, November 4. Experts will be on hand to share important tips and how-to's about selecting and caring for your horse. Participants will also have an opportunity to visit with horse supply vendors during the day.

Plant Scientist Wins One of University's Top Research Honors
Plant scientist Vincent Pantalone, who develops new soybean varieties, has been named one of two recipients of the University of Tennessee's 2006 Wheeley Award. The award recognizes and encourages technology transfer from the university to private industry.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for October: Scarlet Firethorn
Scarlet Firethorn, known botanically as Pyracantha coccinea, is a great shrub this time of year due to its evergreen nature and showy berries that last through winter. Despite its fierce thorns, Pyracantha is beautiful and versatile in Tennessee landscapes.

 

September 2006

Fall Festivals to Focus on Traditional Skills
This October the University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station will once again celebrate the vitality of West Tennessee's agrarian culture by hosting two major events.

A Guide to Autumn's Changing Colors
Yellow feathers, rusty stars, red and maroon hearts – what makes a canopy of colorful shapes drift onto autumn lawns? The University of Tennessee Forest Resources Research and Education Center offers virtual visitors a guide through fall's magic.

Ag Day Homecoming Is for Everyone
Agriculture affects everyone, so everyone is invited to join alumni at Ag Day, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture's homecoming celebration. This event is scheduled for Saturday, September 23, just prior to the UT - Marshall home football game.

UT Beef Expo Focuses on Management Techniques for Improved Operations
Increasing profits for beef producers will be the focus of the 2006 Northeast Tennessee Beef Expo. Scheduled for October 5, the day-long event will be held at the University of Tennessee Research and Education Center at Greeneville.

UT Contributes to Advances for Combating Sudden Oak Death and Soybean Root Rot
Researchers are closing in on solutions to thwart two major plant pathogens. Alon Savidor, a Ph.D. candidate with the UT-ORNL Genome Science and Technology Program, is listed among the co-authors of a paper in the September 1st issue of Science.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: The Perfect Rose
Looking for the perfect landscape rose? Try the new Knock Out® Rose bred by Chicago Botanic Garden Rosarian William Radler. This rose has great clusters of 3.5-inch blooms that are fire-engine red. (In hot climates their color is more of a light cherry-scarlet.)

 

August 2006

Biosystems Engineering Team Wins Big at Fountain Wars
Undergraduate Biosystems Engineering students wowed the crowd at the annual international conference of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) in Portland, Oregon in July. They won first place in the student "Fountain Wars" competition.

Animal-assisted Therapy Program to Hold Meeting for Potential Volunteers
A meeting for those interested in becoming volunteers with Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT), an animal-assisted therapy program, will be held Saturday, September 12, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on the agricultural campus of the University of Tennessee.

Public Forum to Address Concerns about the Number of Rural Veterinarians
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, at the request of the Tennessee General Assembly House Agriculture Committee, is launching a study of Tennessee's situation with regard to rural veterinarians and to determine why their numbers are apparently declining.

Rural Veterinarian Numbers Decline
UT Holds Forums To Study Issue that Impacts Food Safety, Cost

The thought of working longer hours than their urban counterparts and serving large-animal patients under more difficult conditions than veterinarians who work in small-animal practices seems to be causing many prospective rural practitioners to seek other career opportunities.

Tennessee! The Stage Will Be Set at Sunbelt
Tennessee is the featured state at this year’s Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie, Georgia, and the state’s exhibit promises to spotlight all the best that the state has to offer visitors and investors alike. The exhibit’s designers borrowed from the state’s tourism theme to emphasize key attractions.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Walking Onion
Walking onion, or Allium cepa var. proliferum, is a distinct onion that is hard to miss in a garden because of its unique appearance once it blooms. It is also known as tree onion, topsetting onion, Egyptian onion or Catawissa onion.

 

July 2006

Budgeting Basics for Back-to-School Clothes
Most families will spend $400 or more on clothes per child, and many will spend the bulk of that amount in the next few weeks during the 'back to school' frenzy.

Go Back to School Without Breaking the Bank
Summer break is drawing to a close for most of the state's students, and their parents are beginning to shop for back-to-school supplies and other expenses associated with school. How do parents send their young scholars back to school without breaking the family's piggy bank?

Milan No-Till Field Day: Overview Tour of Milan Research Center Expected to be Popular
An opportunity awaits the curious on July 27. During its popular No-Till Field Day the University of Tennessee Research and Education Center at Milan will feature overview tours of the agricultural research facility.

Milan No-Till Field Day: The Latest on Soybean Disease Control
Soybean producers will be particularly interested in Tour H at the Milan No-Till Field Day - Soybean Disease Control. The tour will include a discussion on Asian soybean rust. One of the speakers will be UT Extension's well-known plant pathologist Melvin Newman.

Milan No-Till Field Day: Using Alternative Sources of Fertilizers: Manures, Litters, and Biosolids
Because the cost of commercial fertilizers is rising, farmers are looking for alternative sources of nutrients for their crops. At the Milan No-Till Field Day University of Tennessee soil scientists Forbes Walker and Neal Eash will explore this topic in depth.

Milan No-Till Field Day: No-Till Time in Tennessee and Elsewhere
The fourth Thursday in July - July 27 - marks the return of no-till time to Tennessee. That is the date of the Milan No Till Field Day, which is hosted at the UT Agricultural Experiment Station's research and education center in Milan.

Plateau Center Plans Field Day for Aug. 1
The University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center in Crossville will host its annual Steak and Potatoes Field Day on Tuesday August 1, 2006. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m., and the program will begin at 8:30. The program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. and includes a sponsored lunch.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Golden Marguerite
Golden Marguerite, or Anthemis tinctoria 'Kelwayi', is a hardy perennial native to the Mediterranean. A member of the aster family, Golden Marguerite sports flowers similar to those of a daisy or chamomile. Its vivid yellow blooms, paired with its feathery silver foliage, make it a showstopper in the garden.

 

June 2006

UT Plant Scientist Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Bob V. Conger, a University of Tennessee Austin Distinguished Professor, emeritus, of the Department of Plant Sciences, received the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Plant Sciences Section of the Society for In Vitro Biology at their annual meeting in Minneapolis, June 4, 2006.

Forest Resources Center Honored with Governor’s Award
The UT Agricultural Experiment Station Forest Resources Research and Education Center has been selected as the winner of the 2006 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award in the Agriculture/Forestry Category.

Milan No-Till Field Day Will Showcase Production Technologies
Crop variety trials and equipment demonstrations will be among the highlights of the 24th Milan No-Till Crop Production Field Day, scheduled for July 27 at the University of Tennessee Research and Education Center at Milan.

Summer Celebration Promises to Sizzle
Bountiful basil, resilient roses and vibrant vegetables are just a few of the attractions in store for this year's 17th annual Summer Celebration sponsored by the University of Tennessee West Tennessee Research and Education Center.

Facing Challenges to Rural Communities
Tennessee rural development roundtable discussions will be held in Jackson on June 20, Cookeville on June 22, and Morristown on June 27. These forums will discuss issues currently facing rural communities and viable solutions to strengthen and maintain these communities.

Greeneville Field Day to Highlight New Disease-Resistant Tobacco
The anticipated release of a new burley variety with higher levels of black shank- and blue mold-resistance will be one of the discussions featured at the University of Tennessee Tobacco and Forage Production Field Day at the UT Research and Education Center at Greeneville on July 20.

The Blooms are Coming! The Blooms are Coming!
Big, bold, and beautiful blooms are in store June 24 and 25, when the Friends of the UT Gardens presents the fourth annual Blooms Days Garden Festival and Marketplace in the University of Tennessee Gardens on the Knoxville agriculture campus on Neyland Drive.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Large Blue Alkanet
Large Blue Alkanet, or Anchusa azurea (syn. Anchusa italica), is a hardy perennial native to the Mediterranean. Its attention-grabbing blooms are a vivid blue, a rare color in the garden. As a member of the Borage family, it is closely related to such plants as Heliotrope, Pulmonaria, and Forget-Me-Not.

 

May 2006

Basic Beekeeping Course Offered
Looking for a new hobby? Curious about beekeeping? Here's a honey of a deal. University of Tennessee Extension and the UT Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will offer beginners' classes on beekeeping at the UT Institute of Agriculture campus starting June 19.

Animal-assisted Therapy Program to Hold Meeting for Potential Volunteers
A meeting for those interested in becoming volunteers for an animal-assisted therapy program will be held in Oak Ridge June 19. The program, Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (H.A.B.I.T.), is a non-profit community-based organization in which animals and volunteers make therapeutic visits to facilities.

Soybean Rust Hotline Established
A toll free hotline has been established for producers and others to call for up-to-date information about the possible spread of Asian soybean rust to Tennessee. The number is 877-875-BEAN (877-875-2326).

UT CASNR Recognizes Top Graduate
Tera Bunch of Rogersville, Tenn., was honored as the top graduate at today’s commencement proceedings for the University of Tennessee College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR).

Burley Tobacco Producers To Be Surveyed
The tobacco industry's unprecedented adjustments and changes, particularly as a result of the recent producers buyout, are well documented. What is not known, however, is how these changes are affecting production, producers, and the future of the industry.

Horse Field Day Scheduled for Tri-State Area
The Tri-State Horse Field Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, in Dade County, Georgia. The event begins at 9 a.m. EDT, with registration followed by five morning presentations. After lunch, demonstrations will be conducted.

Veterinary College Offers Dog Bite Prevention Class for Kids
Does your child get nervous around dogs? Is your child afraid of dogs? Does your child know how to use "good manners" around dogs? In recognition of National Dog Bite Prevention Week in May, The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine is offering a "Dog Bite Prevention Class."

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Devil's Claw
Devil's Claw, or Martynia (Proboscidea) louisianica, is known for its okra-like young pods and oddly shaped mature seedpods. This plant is named for John Martyn, a botany professor at Cambridge during the early 18th century. It may also be listed as Martinas or Martinoes in some old cookbooks.

 

April 2006

Author of Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse to speak at Veterinary College
Mim Eichler Rivas, author of Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse will be at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine Tuesday, May 2 to discuss the book. The lecture and book signing will be held in the Sequoyah Room from Noon-1:00 pm.

Remembering a UT Vice President and Legend in Veterinary Education
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is mourning the death of one of its most esteemed leaders. Retired UT Vice President for Agriculture Dr. Willis William “Bill” Armistead, who was also the founding dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, died on April 18 at Knoxville’s UT Hospital.

UT Vice President to Address Agricultural Museum Membership
Dr. Joseph A. DiPietro will present the keynote address for the 24th annual West Tennessee Agricultural Museum Association Membership Banquet. The event is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2006, in the museum auditorium, located at Milan’s eastern city limits on U.S. 70/79 (Atwood Highway).

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Heirloom Butterbeans
Butterbean (Phaseolus lunatus), a favorite staple of Southern cuisine, is a flat-seeded bean often referred to as a lima bean. There are a range of attractive heirloom varieties, with the oldest dating back to the early 1800s.

 

green TN buttonMarch 2006

Tennessee Researchers Develop Diagnostic Test for Johne's Disease in Cattle
A team of scientists with the University of Tennessee has developed an accurate and fast diagnostic test for Johne's disease, a contagious, chronic and fatal intestinal disease of ruminants.

UT Beef Day Scheduled for May 2
An educational event focused on improving beef production practices has been scheduled for May 2 at the University of Tennessee Highland Rim Research and Education Center.

Open Houses Scheduled for Two UT Colleges
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) will hold their annual open houses Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Horse Ownership Course Set for the Knox-metro Area
A Knox-Metro Horse Ownership Course will be held beginning March 30. While designed for all horse owners, the five-week course should be of particular interest to new horse owners, those wanting up-to-date information, and future horse owners.

Horse Ownership Course Set for the Plateau Area
A Horse Ownership Course will be held beginning March 14. While designed for all horse owners, the five-week course should be of particular interest to new horse owners, those wanting up-to-date information, and future horse owners.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Morgan's Chinese Arborvitae
A "woody" chameleon, Thuja orientalis 'Morgan' is known for its exceptional ability to change foliage color. As winter approaches, this conifer changes from an emerald/lime green color to a beautiful deep purple.

 

February 2006

UT Plateau Center To Hold Spring Cattle Sale
The University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center will sell cattle from its herd on Friday, March 24, starting at 10:00 a.m. CST.

TDA, UT Partner to Expand Animal Diagnostic Services
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine today announced a partnership to expand free post-mortem animal diagnostic services to cattle farmers in East Tennessee.

Animal-assisted Therapy Program to Hold Meeting for Potential Volunteers
A meeting for those interested in becoming volunteers with Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT), an animal-assisted therapy program, will be held Saturday, February 25, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on the agricultural campus of the University of Tennessee.

University of Tennessee Establishes Grassland Management Center
During a gathering at a local wildlife management area, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture announced a new research and education initiative that should benefit wildlife and communities throughout the state, region and nation.

Media Advisory (February 10): UT Grassland Management Initiative Award Announcement
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and Alcoa Foundation will announce an award to UT's new native grassland management initiative. Participants will tour a Knox County site where part of the environmental stewardship effort will be conducted.

Media Advisory (February 7): Agri-Terrorism Tabletop Exercise Being Held in Knoxville
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security are holding an Agricultural Terrorism (Agri-Terrorism) Tabletop Exercise, today, February 7 at the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park. The topic of the exercise is avian influenza.

Tennessee Beef Herd Expands Faster than U.S. Herd
Statistics for the state's beef industry in 2005 are in, and experts say they paint a rosy picture for the state's beef cattle industry. In 2005 the inventory of cattle and calves in Tennessee grew to 2,240,000
head, a 3 percent increase, while the nation's cattle herd increased only by 1.7 percent.

Annual Horse Management Course Scheduled
The 23rd annual Knox-Metro Horse Management Course is scheduled to begin February 27. Topics for this year's course are buying and owning a horse, seasonal hoof care and common lameness, making your site and facilities appropriate for horses, future directions of deworming and nutritional principles.

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Needle Palm
At least one palm species has never read a book on where palms should grow. Rhapidophyllum hystrix, also known as Needle Palm, is the hardiest of all palm species.

UT Poised To Help Nation Meet Energy Goals
As one of five regional centers for the federally funded Sun Grant Initiative, the University of Tennessee is poised to help the nation meet President George W. Bush's ambitious energy goals.

 

January 2006

UT Gardens' Plant of the Month: Cocks-Comb Cedar
The Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) has been a popular landscape tree for many years. Its billowy pyramidal form and graceful branching habit make it a true specimen tree. The cultivar 'Cristata' is a true conifer conversation piece, and its commercial availability is increasing.

Software Course Offered for Farmers and Businesses
A double-entry computer record-keeping program that can assist with tax preparation as well as making production decisions is QuickBooks® Pro, and several University of Tennessee Extension offices in East Tennessee will be offering training sessions for interested producers and business owners.

Horse Management College Set for the Sweetwater Valley
The annual Sweetwater Valley Horse College, sponsored by the Eastern Region of University of Tennessee Extension, UT Department of Animal Science, Monroe County Extension and cooperating counties in the area will be held January 19, 26, February 9, 16 and 23.

DiPietro Named UT Agriculture Vice President
The University of Tennessee has named Dr. Joseph A. DiPietro as its new vice president for agriculture. He is currently the dean of the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. "Dr. Joseph DiPietro brings a world of experience to the University of Tennessee," said UT President John Petersen.

Horse Round Table to be Held in Tri-State Area
The University of Tennessee has scheduled a Horse Round Table for February 2, 2006, at the East Ridge Community Center. Registration will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the auditorium. The program is free of charge.

Horse Round Table to be Held in Appalachian Area
The University of Tennessee has scheduled a Horse Round Table for January 31, 2006, at the Northeast State Technical Community College campus. Registration will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the auditorium. The program is free of charge.

Horse Round Table to be Held in Knox-Metro Area
The University of Tennessee has scheduled a Horse Round Table for January 30, 2006, on the UT Institute of Agriculture campus. Registration will begin at 6:15 p.m. in Room 212, Brehm Animal Science Building. The program is free of charge.

 

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