UT AgResearch and Education Centers host more than 20 events
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The new year brings a full slate of University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture field days for 2026. The calendar includes the 34th Milan No-Till in July, two days in September dedicated to precision livestock farming and many favorite events that cover advanced research, traditional livestock and crop methods. Several events feature horticulture topics for homeowners.
Most field days will be hosted at UT AgResearch and Education Centers throughout the state, and UTIA researchers and UT Extension specialists will speak about their areas of expertise.
Field days begin in February with horse management events in East, Middle and West Tennessee, and the Woods and Wildlife event on April 30. Hort, Hops, and Crops, which was new last year, returns to the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Knoxville on August 13.
The UT AgResearch system, a unit within the UT Institute of Agriculture, supports the land-grant mission and includes 10 UT AgResearch and Education Centers that manage more than 34,000 acres across Tennessee. Faculty and students conduct more than 1,000 field trials each year, and thousands of farmers, ranchers, researchers and members of the public attend the events to learn more about agricultural production and landscape and natural resource management. Topics range from livestock management to precision farming research and techniques, commercial horticulture, home gardening and more.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend! The 2026 schedule and locations include (all times local):
- Horse Management – February 5, 5 p.m. EST, Brehm Animal Science Arena, UTIA Campus at Knoxville
- Horse Management – February 9, 5 p.m. CST, UT-TSU Extension Rutherford County, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Horse Management – February 10, 5 p.m. CST, First Farmer’s Co-Op, Lexington, Tennessee
- Tennessee Turf Tuesdays – April 7, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT. Event is online on Tuesdays during lunch with seven topics scheduled over several months. Visit tiny.utk.edu/TurfTuesday for more information.
- Woods and Wildlife – April 30, 8 a.m. CDT, Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center – UT Highland Rim Forest in Tullahoma
- Beef Heifer Development School – May 21, 8:30 a.m. CDT, Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Lewisburg
- Fruits of the Backyard – June 9, 8 a.m. CDT, Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Spring Hill
- Green Industry Day – June 11, 8 a.m. EDT, UT Gardens and Brehm Animal Science Arena at Knoxville
- Weed Tour – June 17, 8:30 a.m. CDT, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Jackson
- Tobacco, Beef, and More – June 25, 8 a.m. CDT, Highland Rim AgResearch and Education Center at Springfield
- Milan No-Till – July 23, 8 a.m. CDT, AgResearch and Education Center at Milan
- Hort, Hops, and Crops Field Day – August 13, 8 a.m. EDT, East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center – Plant Sciences/Organic Crops Units at Knoxville
- Steak and Potatoes – August 20, 8 a.m. CDT, Plateau AgResearch and Education Center at Crossville
- Fall Gardeners’ Festival – August 25, 8 a.m. CDT, Plateau AgResearch and Education Center at Crossville
- UT Arboretum Butterfly Festival – August 29, 9 a.m., Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center – UT Arboretum Auditorium at Oak Ridge
- Soybean Insect and Disease – September 8, 8:30 a.m., AgResearch and Education Center at Milan
- Cotton Tour – September 9, 8:30 a.m. CDT, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Jackson
- Precision Livestock Technologies: Beef and Forage Systems – September 22 and 23, 8 a.m. CDT, Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Spring Hill
- Fall in the Gardens (Plant Sale and Garden Talks) – October 1 and 2, 9 a.m. CDT, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Jackson
- Northeast Tennessee Youth Career Day – October 14, time TBA, Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Greeneville
- Northeast Tennessee Beef Expo – October 15, time TBA, Clyde Austin 4-H Camp in Greeneville
- Woods and Wildlife – October 22, 8 a.m. EDT, Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center – UT Arboretum Auditorium at Oak Ridge
- Fall in the Foothills – October 25, 2 p.m. EDT, East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center – Little River Dairy, Walland
For more information, visit agresearch.tennessee.edu/field-days.
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.