Welcome to 2026 UTIA Field Days for Farmers and Homeowners Across Tennessee

Jan 07, 2026

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.

Source : tennessee.edu

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.