Research Tours – 2020

TOUR A: No-Till Basics

As the title says, this tour is for those wanting to learn the basic principles of no-till crop production. Though intended for those who are not currently practicing no-till production, experienced no-tillers may still pick up a pointer or two. The information provided will attempt to explain the basics of no-till planter components, settings, and adjustments. Information on weed and insect control also will be available. Participants will be able to view plots that show what happens when a field is worked too wet or planted too wet and see what effect crop residue has on planting conditions. Our goal is to answer your questions related to beginning no-till production.

No-Till Basics
Richard Buntin, Retired
UT Extension Crockett County

Greg Allen
UT Extension Lake County

Jake Mallard
UT Extension Madison County

Setting Up the Planter
William Hart
Associate Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Darol Copley, Retired
Senior Farm Crew Leader
AgResearch and Education Center at Milan

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour B: No-Till Corn Production

Effective Use of Poultry Litter in Corn
Shawn Hawkins
Associate Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Benefits of Bt Technology to Corn Producers  
Scott Stewart
Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Identifying Corn Ear Rots and Managing Mycotoxins  
Heather Kelly
Associate Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Best Management Practices When Storing Grain for Longer Periods
Sam McNeill
Extension Professor
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
University of Kentucky

To receive pesticide recertification or CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour C: No-Till Soybean Production

Soybean Management by Maturity Group
Angela McClure
Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Keeping Fungicide Resistance in Check   
Elias Zuchelli
MS Candidate
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Ty Smith
PhD Candidate
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Heather Kelly
Associate Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

New Weed Control Programs in Soybeans
Larry Steckel
Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Heligen Technology for Soybean Insect Management
Scott Graham
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Auburn University

What’s This Bug in My Beans?
Sandy Steckel
Extension Assistant
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

To receive pesticide recertification or CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour D: Soybean Breeding

Improving Soybeans for Tennessee and the Mid-South Region  
Vince Pantalone
Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Chris Wyman
Research Associate
Department of Plant Sciences

Developing Soybeans in West Tennessee for Improved Resistance to Cyst Nematode
Lisa Fritz
Biological Science Technician USDA-ARS

Prakash Arelli
Supervisory Research Geneticist USDA-ARS
Adjunct Professor, Department of Plant Sciences

Charcoal Rot Resistant Lines Identified from Germplasms with Known Resistance to Cyst Nematode
Jason Deffenbaugh
Biological Science Technician USDA-ARS

Alemu Mengistu
Research Plant Pathologist
USDA-ARS, Jackson, Tennessee

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour E: No-Till Cotton Production in Tennessee

Harvest Aid Considerations
Seth Byrd
Cotton Specialist
Oklahoma State University

Grass Weed Management in Cotton
Larry Steckel
Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Current and Imminent GMO Technologies for Insect Management in Cotton
Scott Stewart
Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Seedling and Foliar Diseases of Cotton
Shelly Pate
PhD Student
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Ty Smith
PhD Student
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Heather Kelly
Associate Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Terminating and Managing Cover Crops for Cotton Production
Tyson Raper
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

To receive pesticide recertification or CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour F: Soil Fertility

Minimizing the Risks of Nitrogen Loss from Surface Applied Urea-based Fertilizers and Improving Corn Yield Using Nitrogen Stabilizers
Nutifafa Adotey
Assistant Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Debasish Saha
Assistant Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Corn Silage Nitrogen Agronomics and Mineral Nutrient Removal Rates
Shawn Hawkins
Associate Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Soil Sampling Strategies and Nutrient Management
Robert Florence
Lab Director
UT Soil, Plant and Pest Center

Grain Health Related to Heavy Metals after Long-term Chicken Litter Application
Frank Yin
Associate Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Sangeeta Bansal
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Plant Sciences

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour G: Cover Crops with No-Till

2020 Cover Crop Variety Trial Results
Virginia Sykes
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Alex Wilson
Research Associate
Department of Plant Sciences

Impacts of Cover Crops on Cotton Yield Stability in West Tennessee
Jaehoon Lee
Associate Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Amin Nouri
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Can Cover Crops Cause Allelopathic Effects on Soybean Germination?
Avat Shekoofa
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Kendall Sheldon
Research Associate/MS Student
Department of Plant Sciences

Impact of Cover Crops on Soil Infiltration Rates
Forbes Walker
Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Adam Zimmerman
MS Student
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour H: Soil Health

Understanding Soil: The Basics
Forbes Walker
Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Neal S. Eash
Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Life Beneath Your Feet: Soil Biology and Soil Health
Jennifer DeBruyn
Associate Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Soil Health Tests: Challenges and Opportunities for Tennessee
Sindhu Jagadamma
Assistant Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Surendra Singh
PhD Student
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Soil Management Practices to Improve Soil Health
Forbes Walker
Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Neal S. Eash
Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour I: Water Management

Drought Adaptation in Soybean to Protect Yield
Avat Shekoofa
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Sam Purdom
MS Student
Department of Plant Sciences

Irrigation Resources and Sensor Systems Available in Tennessee
Brian G. Leib
Associate Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Avat Shekoofa
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Josh German
Extension Agent
UT Extension Hardeman County

Runoff and Nutrient Transport When Transitioning to Conservation Management in Furrow-Irrigated Corn
Drew Gholson
Assistant Professor and Irrigation Specialist
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Mississippi State University

Dave Spencer
PhD Student and Research Associate
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Mississippi State University

Benefits of Drainage: Alleviating Waterlogging and Drought
Jeff Lannom
UT Extension Weakley County

Brian G. Leib
Associate Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Neal S. Eash
Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Bonus Material: Results of Water Sensor Study

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour J: Pollinators in Agriculture

Understanding the Importance of Pollinators in Agriculture and Beyond
Jennifer Tsuruda
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Opportunities for Establishing Pollinator Habitat
Michael McCord
Wildlife Habitat Biologist
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Resources and Strategies to Reduce the Negative Effects of Pesticides on Pollinators
Scott Stewart
Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

To receive pesticide recertification or CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour K: Precision Agriculture

On-Farm GPS Basics
Lori Duncan
Ag Sustainability Specialist
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Soil Sampling for Precision Nutrient Management
Josh McGrath
Associate Professor and Soil Management Specialist
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
University of Kentucky

The Importance of the Planter Depth and Downforce Relationship
Wes Porter
Associate Professor and Precision Ag Specialist
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
University of Georgia

Farming for the Future: Autonomous Tractors and Agricultural Robots
Hao Gan
Assistant Professor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour L: Beef — Back to the Basics

Annual Cow Evaluation
Lew Strickland
Associate Professor
Department of Animal Science & UTCVM Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Justin Rhinehart
Associate Professor
Department of Animal Science

Low-Stress Cattle handling
Kevin Thompson
Director
Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center

Manage Stubble Height to Increase Persistence
Gary Bates
Professor and Director
UT Beef and Forage Center

Pasture Weed Management Update
Neil Rhodes
Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

John Wilson
UT Extension Blount County

Tour M: Trade, Farm Policy, and Production Economics

Trade Outlook: Impacts of COVID-19 and the Phase I Trade Agreement
Andrew Muhammad
Blasingame Chair of Excellence
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Economics of Using Poultry Litter in Crop Production for West Tennessee Producers  
Charley Martinez
Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Farm Management Considerations for Row Crop Producers
Chris Boyer
Associate Professor
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Farm Policy: Federal Program Payments to Tennessee Crop Producers
Aaron Smith
Associate Professor
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour N: Natural Resources

An Update of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) of Deer in Tennessee
Dan Grove
UT Extension Wildlife Health Specialist and Wildlife Veterinarian
Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries

Managing for High Quality White Oaks
David Mercker
Extension Forestry Specialist
Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries

Forestry and Wildlife Opportunities in the USDA Programs
Mike Hansbrough
Tennessee Area Resource Biologist
Natural Resource Conservation Service

Identifying and Managing Those Pesky Pond Weeds 
Justin Hargrove
Western Region Fisheries Responder
UT Extension

To receive CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour O: Hemp IPM and Production Considerations

Hemp Pests and Diseases
Zachariah Hansen
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Heather Kelly
Associate Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Madison Cartwright
MS Student
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

2019 Hemp Variety Trial Update
Zachariah Hansen
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Virginia Sykes
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Sciences

Hemp Economics and 2020 Outlook  
Iris Cui
Extension Area Specialist, Farm Management
UT Extension Montgomery County

Aaron Smith
Associate Professor
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

To receive pesticide recertification or CCA credit for this tour, you must watch all videos in the tour playlist, and complete the online quiz here. The password for accessing the quiz is included in the tour videos.

Tour P: TN AgrAbility: Improving Agriculture, Improving Lives

TN AgrAbility Project
Eileen Legault
Eastern Region Area Specialist for AgrAbility                   
UT Extension

Joetta T. White
Western Region Area Specialist for AgrAbility  
UT Extension

Troy Dugger                      
TN AgrAbility Project Director
Center for Profitable Agriculture Program Coordinator

Revive Your Green Thumbs!
Karla Kean                         
TSU Extension Agent III
Montgomery County Horticulture/Small Farms

Finis Stribling
TSU Area Extension Specialist
TSU AgrAbility Project Director

Reduced Work Cattle Working
Philip Shelby                     
Agriculture Agent
UT Extension Gibson County

Handy Dandy Hand Tools – Making Work Easier for You
Troy Dugger                      
TN AgrAbility Project Director
Center for Profitable Agriculture Program Coordinator

Joetta T. White
Western Region Area Specialist for AgrAbility 
UT Extension

Life, Death and Reality: Safety First and Enjoy Life!
Dale Dobson
Kentucky Department of Agriculture Safety Administrator
Division of Agricultural Education and Outreach

Brian Robinson
State Training Coordinator
TN Association of Rescue Squads

Tennessee’s Farmer Veterans:  The Next Mission
Ron Bridges     
Organizing Chair
Farmer Veteran Coalition of TN                    

James Artman
East TN Representative
Farmer Veteran Coalition of TN

Eileen Legault
Eastern Region Area Specialist for AgrAbility                   
UT Extension