Program Overview
The purpose of the University of Tennessee Organic and Sustainable Crop Production Program is to involve more Tennessee farmers in organic production in order to increase farm income and to provide an alternative to keep the family farm in the family. Organic production has the potential to increase profits by reducing the use of off-farm inputs and providing consumers with locally-grown, high-quality organic products in a rapidly growing market where the demand is greater than the supply.
Our mission is to lead, inspire, discover and advance organic and sustainable production locally and globally.
News & Announcements:
NEW! Check out these items recently added to the website:
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UT, NCSU research looks for organic-friendly wash solution. Click here for more information.
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Strip tillage, cover crops outperform conventional tillage. Click here for more information.
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UT Institute of Agriculture to research organic management of brown marmorated stink bugs. Click here for more information.
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The Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) has launched Organic Seed Finder, a free online tool for those looking to source certified organic seed. Click here for more information.
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Organic program steps up testing. Click here for more information.
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USDA Releases Results of 2011 Certified Organic Production Survey. Click here for more information.
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Responsibilities of Certified Operations Changing Certifying Agents. Click here for more information.
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2012 Organic Land Grant Assessment. Click here for more information.
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Become a fan of the Organic Crop Production Unit on Facebook, and get weekly updates on events and news!
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EQIP Organic Initiative Bulletin Published. Click here for more information.
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Searchable Database of Certified Organic Operations is Now Available. Click here to check it out.
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To view more News and Announcements, Click Here.
Upcoming Events:
May 13, 2013, Ten Simple Steps to Safer Produce Webinar. Click here for more information.
May 14, 2013, Guidelines for Composting at Urban Farms/Community Gardens, Raleigh, NC. Click here for more information.
May 22, 2013, Enhancing Habitat to Provide Multiple Ecosystem Services, Goldsboro, NC. Click here for more information.
UT Organic Farm Internship Program:
The internship program is 8-months long, January through August, with a 6-credit hour course requirement in the spring. Interns will register for PLSC 275: Organic & Sustainable Crop Production and PLSC 492: Plant Science Internship (inquire for details). In addition, interns get paid to work at the farm market garden at the Organic Crops Unit in the summer, and sell the produce at the weekly UT Harvest Market stand. Interns gain skills in business planning and management, vegetable and small fruit planning and production, and direct marketing. To learn more about the internship duties, click here. To download an application, click here. Email completed applications to mroger30@utk.edu.
Click here to follow the current interns' experiences on UT Organic Farm Internship Program's blog
Program Contacts
Annette Wszelaki
Commercial Vegetable Specialist Associate Professor
Dept. of Plant Sciences
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
252 Ellington Plant Sciences Bldg.
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-8332
Fax: (865) 974-1947
Email: annettew@utk.edu
David Butler
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Plant Sciences
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
252 Ellington Plant Sciences Bldg.
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-7165
Fax: (865) 974-1947
Email: dbutler@utk.edu
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Find Your Local Expert
For specific questions related to organics in your county, please contact your county extension office. Click here for a directory.
Resource Links:
- ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
- Center for Profitable Agriculture
- eOrganic
- Organic Crops Unit
- Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
- TN Dept of Ag Organics
- USDA National Organic Program