Walt Hitch, director of the University of Tennessee Plateau AgResearch and Education Center, invites everyone to attend the Center's Steak & Potatoes Field Day the morning of Aug. 2, 2016. The event is free to attend and presentations will focus on beef and forage production, vegetable and fruit production and land management issues for forest owners. Photo courtesy UTIA.

CROSSVILLE, TN — The annual Steak and Potatoes Field Day, sponsored by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, will once again showcase the research and outreach activities at UT’s Plateau AgResearch and Education Center.

The free event, which includes a sponsored lunch, begins with registration and a trade show at 8 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Center’s main unit just west of Crossville. Tours and seminars begin at 8:30 and conclude at 11:30. Lunch will be provided following the program.

Three sets of talks and demonstrations will be presented to represent the interests of three groups of producers and landowners: those interested in improved beef production, those interested in commercial and personal fruit and vegetable production and those interested in forest management issues.

The beef production presentations will address diverse topics including artificial insemination, pregnancy testing and forage analysis. The field day’s fruit and vegetable production discussions will feature presentations about fruit variety selection and planting tips, biodegradable mulches, the use of high tunnels and CSA operations for small-scale producers.

Landowners and forest managers should find the presentations about reforestation, forest pest management and using fire to manage wildlife of interest.

Pesticide recertification points will be awarded to participants in need of continuing education to maintain their certification. Contact the Center for more details by calling 931-484-0034. Also call the Center for more information about the event or to request an accommodation for accessibility.

The Plateau AgResearch Center is located off on Highway 70N at 320 Experiment Station Road in Crossville. A map to the facility and complete directions are available online at plateau.tennessee.edu.

The Plateau AgResearch and Education Center is one of 10 outdoor laboratories located throughout the state as part of the UT AgResearch system.

Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu.