University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences

08/27/2026

🌱 Attention Turf Students: It is time to register for BEACON26!

BEACON is a turfgrass career event where students can interact with employers and faculty over the course of two days. Taking place October 13th and 14th, this year’s event will feature new professional development and career readiness workshops, as well as a reverse career fair! Registration is required. To find out more information and to register, click here: https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/beacon-turfgrass-event-returns-this-october/

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Turfgrass
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

08/20/2026

🏅 Award Winners: Congratulations to Nathan Tucker and Joshua Hyde who recently placed in the American Society for Horticultural Science Undergraduate ORAL Competition!

Nathan Tucker placed 1st in the competition for his presentation titled “An Ocimum Crop: Establishing the Foundational Growth and Quality Response of Basil” and Joshua Hyde placed 2nd in the competition for his presentation titled "Plasma-Activated Water as a Nitrogen Source: Impacts on Growth and Nitrate Accumulation in Hydroponic Lettuce".

Congratulations Nathan and Joshua! Find out more about their work here: https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/two-herbert-students-place-in-ashs-undergraduate-oral-competition/

American Society for Horticultural Science
Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

08/19/2026

Find out more about the annual W**d Contest below!

Twelve universities compete in annual event

08/17/2026

🍊 Happy first day of school Vols! We hope you have a great semester!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

08/14/2026

08/04/2026

🌱 Don't miss the Hort, Hops and Crops Field Day next week!

07/30/2026

Find out more about growing pear trees in Tennessee below!

07/28/2026

🌟 Internship Spotlight: Yesterday Tennessee Extension’s summer interns presented exhibits and shared about their internship projects and experiences right here on the UTIA Campus!

This year Rachel Duncan, a current Plant Sciences student with a concentration in Sustainable Landscape Design, interned under Dr. Bruno Pedreira focusing on forages. During her internship she worked on social media, attended farm visits, helped plant variety trials, and much more!

Julianne Kos interned with the Department of Plant Sciences as well, under the supervision of Dr. Natalie Bumgarner. Julianne spent most of her summer working on cut flower fertility trials of zinnias and celosias.

Lastly, Department of Plant Sciences alum, Lamara Stuart interned with the Soil, Plant and Pest Center under Dr. Sylvia Gomes Moraes. During her internship Lamara assisted a guest lecture, received and uploaded plant sample information, created informational rack cards on common pests and diseases, and more!

Congratulations to our interns on their hard work all summer!

UT Extension
Tennessee Extension Interns
Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

07/15/2026

🍅 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Natalie Bumgarner

Meet Dr. Natalie Bumgarner! Natalie is a professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences that focuses on consumer horticulture and field and greenhouse vegetable production. Natalie leads the planning, ex*****on, and evaluation of a residential and consumer horticulture program across Tennessee and is the statewide coordinator for the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener program. Natalie highlights another example of careers in horticulture!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
East Tennessee Research and Education Center (ETREC)
Seed Your Future
University of Tennessee, Knoxville