UT AgResearch

Corrected Report Link: agresearch.tennessee.edu/wp-content/upl…

Congratulations to Dr. Avat Shekoofa, Irrigation Researcher of the Year, and Dr. Sebe Brown, Cotton Researcher of the Year! They were recognized at the national Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference for their contributions to conservation systems & agricultural research.

Mark your calendars for the 34th Milan No-Till Field Day! Join us July 23, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the UT AgResearch and Education Center in Milan, TN, for expert-led tours on no-till farming and more.

Corrected Report Link: agresearch.tennessee.edu/wp-content/upl…

We are pleased to present to you the 2025 UT AgResearch Annual Report highlighting our efforts and accomplishments over the past year and the continued upward trajectory of our program growth and impact. Read about about some of the great work accomplished last year in the Report: agresearch.tennessee.edu/2025AnnualRepo…

Our annual joint Center Director and Department Head meeting held in Greeneville was a success! We appreciate their exceptional leadership, invaluable research contributions, and service to advance agriculture and natural resources in Tennessee and beyond.

UTIA researchers hit a home run at the UTRF's 2025 Innovation Awards ceremony! Leading the awards is the "Innovator of the Year", John Sorochan (wife Lisa accepted the award) & Kyley Dickson, with other faculty award recipients in Startups, Licenses, and Patents. Congratulations!

We were honored to host Senators Shane Reeves and Bobby Harshbarger this week. Their visit to the Little River Dairy at the East TN AgResearch & Education Center showcased our robotic milkers, emphasizing advancements in precision ag & workforce training.

Troy Rowan and Yang Zhao were bestowed, respectively, the Pate Endowed Fellow for Animal Genomics and the Guthrie Endowed Chair for Precision Livestock Farming. Congratulations Troy and Yang!!

The Center Directors & Dean’s Office came together to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Barry Sims, honoring his remarkable career. Barry dedicated 27 years to UT AgResearch & total of 39 years of service to agriculture. Congratulations, Barry, & best wishes for your next chapter!

Growing UT AgResearch, Together! We are dedicated to growing the economic prosperity of Tennessee and training our future leaders and workforce. When you support the work of UT AgResearch today, you are investing directly in the future of Tennessee. BigOrangeGive.utk.edu/agresearch

The AgResearch Retreat was a success, with meaningful collaboration, engaging team-building activities, a Crucial Conversations session by the UT Ombuds Office, ending with a fun cornhole tournament. Congrats to champions Trey Torres and Alden Johnson!

UT officials gathered with local & state partners to commemorate new improvements to the West Tennessee AgResearch & Education Center. UT President Randy Boyd cut the ribbon on the new duplex along with Assistant Commissioner for Policy & Legislation for TDA Carol Coley McDonald.

We were honored to host TDA Commissioner Andy Holt & Chairman Rusty Grills, and his family, last week. Their visits to the Little River Dairy at the East TN AgResearch & Education Center showcased our robotic milkers, emphasizing advancements in precision ag & workforce training.

Congratulations to Dr. Hongwei Xin, @UTAgResearch Dean, recipient of the agInnovation Excellence in Leadership Award for the southern region: aginnovation.info/2025-award-rec… @UTIAg @UT_Herbert @UTKnoxville

Drs Xin, Hoyt, & Wang visited Teagasc in Ireland to explore agricultural research collaborations, with stops at Ballyhaise Ag College, Crop Research Center, and Animal & Grassland Research Center. UTIA & Teagasc share goals in addressing agriculture & natural resource challenges.

Exciting news! UTIA Professor Niki Labbé and her team, in collaboration with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and Auburn University, have advanced to the final round of the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Regional Innovation Engines competition.

The UT AgResearch Beef and Forage Systems Field Day in Spring Hill, TN, last week was a huge success despite the rain. Hundreds of producers, researchers and students gathered to see technology demonstrations and applied research techniques for livestock.

We were honored to welcome Dr. Jaye Hamby, director of USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture to campus last week! Dr. Hamby toured the East Tennessee Research and Education Center dairy to see our robotic milkers, met with UTIA leadership and joined us for Ag Day.

Congratulations to LesLee Smelser on receiving the inaugural Keith & Hollianne Carver UTIA Customer Service Award! UTIA & AgResearch are fortunate to have exceptional members like LesLee, whose dedication continues to advance our Land-Grant mission. Thank you for all that you do!

Our annual Toast to Success and Fall Welcome Back Celebration was a tremendous success! Thank you to everyone whose contributions make AgResearch a driving force in delivering Real. Life. Solutions. for UTIA and the state of Tennessee.