Tennessee State University College of Agriculture

06/02/2026

The new issue of the Land-Grant Ledger is here!

This month, we’re looking back on a full May across TSUAg, including the Topping Out Ceremony, Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center Field Day, Extension trainings, campus visits, student success and more.

Read the latest issue here: https://conta.cc/3RHVmu5

Email from Tennessee State University College of Agriculture A monthly newsletter from the TSU College of Agriculture   Sign Up for the LGL Here! Dear TSU College of Agriculture Stakeholder, G

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

Tennessee State University President Dwayne Tucker recently visited Easy Tree Nursery alongside TSUAg Dean Chandra Reddy for a firsthand look at the innovation, production and collaboration taking place across the 700-acre nursery operation.

The visit highlighted the strong partnership between the nursery industry and TSU’s research programs through the Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center.

“It was a blessing to receive the opportunity to show President Tucker what we’re growing here at Easy Tree Nursery,” said owner and grower James Hines.

05/31/2026

Last month, TSUAg’s Tiger Bay Wetlands became the demonstration site for new smart monitoring technology designed to help researchers better understand water movement and sedimentation in wetland systems.

Dr. Sherry Wang, emeritus Director of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Water Pollution, helped facilitate a partnership between Nexcom, a monitoring company based in Taiwan, and TSUAg’s Dr. Tom Byl. During the visit, Nexcom USA engineers joined Dr. Byl to install a demonstration Smart Staff Gauge in the Tiger Bay Wetlands, along with a solar panel and telemetry device that allows data to be monitored by phone.

The new instrument can measure water height, sediment deposition and water salinity, giving researchers a real-time look at how high water rises during storms and how much sediment is carried into the wetland.

TSU was selected for the study because of its strong wetland research program and ongoing work to connect environmental science, water quality and community impact.

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05/30/2026

Something new is lighting up Tiger Bay Wetland, and it is all in the name of science. 🐅 TSU College of Agriculture’s Dr. Tom Byl is collaborating with Vanderbilt University Earth and Environmental Sciences professor Dr. John Ayers and Ph.D. student Mahir Tajwar on a new research project studying how artificial lights from sources like streetlights and illuminated signs may affect the ecology of standing bodies of water.

The team will use a solar-powered floating light station in Tiger Bay Wetland as part of the experiment. The equipment will also support Dr. Byl’s harmful algal bloom research, adding another layer to TSUAg’s ongoing work in wetland science, water quality and environmental monitoring.

So, if you are near the farm at night and see a floating light in the wetland, don’t worry. It is research in action.

05/29/2026

We’re proud to share how TSUAg and other 1890s are preparing students to become career-ready leaders through hands-on learning, industry immersion, and innovative academic programs.

Land‑grant universities are helping students turn education into real-world careers. With demand for skilled professionals on the rise, especially in agricultural business, management, and STEM fields, these programs are more important than ever.

From dual-degree programs to industry immersion experiences, universities are preparing graduates to lead, innovate, and meet workforce needs.

See how UAPB - School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences, Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, and Tennessee State University College of Agriculture are building the pipeline of career-ready graduates: https://agisamerica.org/campus-to-career-growing-industry-ready-graduates/

05/29/2026

Big news for Tennessee agriculture 🐅🌱 Greenhouse Management has picked up the story on TSUAg’s growing research collaboration with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.

The TSUAg-UTIA joint seed funding program brings together researchers from Tennessee’s land-grant institutions to support innovative work in precision agriculture, biotechnology, food security, One Health, nursery and beef production, soil health, forest management and more.

Through a combined $300,000 investment, six interdisciplinary teams are moving forward with projects designed to support producers, communities and the future of agriculture in Tennessee.

We’re proud to see this collaboration gaining recognition beyond our campuses.

Read the Greenhouse Management story.

Through a combined investment of $300,000 from the two universities, six joint seed grants were selected for funding in the program’s first round, with studies including nursery production and increasing the nutritional and economic values of tomatoes.

05/28/2026

Take a virtual walk through TSU’s Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville.

The Center plays a vital role in supporting Tennessee’s billion-dollar nursery industry through applied research in entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, genetics and sustainable production practices. From pest and disease management to grower-focused innovation, the work happening here helps strengthen one of the state’s most important agricultural sectors.

Explore the tour: https://bit.ly/4nwGHxQ

Matterport 3D Showcase.

05/27/2026

In all the commotion of the past month we never got a chance to announce that TSUAg celebrated Earth Day with the launch of a new hands-on Controlled Environment Agriculture workshop series at the Agricultural Research and Education Center Pavilion.

The inaugural session brought together 27 participants for practical, science-based learning in sustainable food production. Dean Dr. Chandra Reddy and Associate Dean Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel helped launch the series, highlighting the role of innovative agriculture in food security and environmental stewardship. 🌱

Participants worked hands-on with blueberry plants, learning about pruning, plant health, transplanting and raised-bed production using specialized soilless media.

Led by Dr. Dharma Pitchay, the workshop series is designed to give students, research associates and community participants practical tools for sustainable horticulture and backyard edible landscapes. It will continue on all summer. 🌎