Field Day to Detail How Eastern Tennessee Farms Are Bouncing Back from Hurricane Helene
LIMESTONE, Tenn. – The floodwaters may have receded, but the challenges left behind are far from over. After Hurricane Helene tore through East Tennessee in September 2024, local farmers found their fields covered in thick layers of sand and silt. Crops were wiped out, pastures left unusable, and once-healthy soil damaged beyond recognition. But now, thanks to a dedicated team of experts from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, hope is returning for these fields—along with new, innovative solutions to restore them.
UTIA researchers, specialists, Extension agents and students have been rolling up their sleeves alongside farmers to tackle the enormous task of rebuilding. This hands-on, science-driven approach is set to bring farmland back to life while strengthening it against future floods. Hongwei Xin, dean of UT AgResearch, states, “Hurricane Helene’s devastation in East Tennessee underscores the urgent need for research to restore farms and enhance future disaster preparedness.”
The UTIA experts’ mission is fourfold: helping farmers to revegetate flood-damaged fields with targeted forage crops, improve soil health with specialized amendments, stabilize eroded riverbanks and provide crop/vegetable producers with additional resources. “We’re using everything from woodchip and biochar soil amendments to drone seeding of forages,” says Bruno Pedreira, UT Extension forage specialist. Andrea Ludwig, storm water management specialist adds that she is “excited about riparian buffer restoration to help stabilize these fields and keep them productive for years to come.”
The effort goes beyond research, UTIA is making sure local farmers are actively involved every step of the way. Field trials, workshops and one-on-one consultations are already helping growers find the best path forward. And in August, UTIA will host a field day where farmers and producers can see firsthand which strategies work best for their fields and operations.
By combining scientific research with real-world experience, this initiative is setting a blueprint for flood recovery in agricultural regions across the country. “Our goal is to make sure farmers don’t just recover but come back stronger than before,” says Justin Rhinehart, dean of UT Extension. “East Tennessee’s farmers are proving that resilience isn’t just about weathering the storm, that it’s about coming together, finding solutions and growing stronger through the challenges.”
The in-person field day is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2025, in Washington County, at the Runion Farm, 269 Bent Road, in Limestone, Tennessee. On-site registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT with the program starting at 9 a.m. The event will end at 3 p.m. A sponsored lunch will be provided. This event is open to the public and is free to attend, bringing together folks from across the affected counties of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington. Pre-registration is encouraged for planning purposes, but not required. To register go online to tiny.utk.edu/Flood.
Join us for an insightful field day featuring demonstrations, discussions, and a community trade show. Presentations will focus on farmland recovery, recovery project tours for forages and riparian zone, large-scale field demonstrations with drone seeding, biochar manufacturing and other planting techniques, and updates from partnering agencies. Networking opportunities will include visiting with local producers and a tradeshow featuring sponsors, recovery groups and local vendors.
For more details on UTIA’s flood recovery efforts, please reach out to your local UT/TSU Extension office. To sponsor or attend event as a vendor, please contact David McIntosh at utbeef@tennessee.edu.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.