News from TNLA

Meet Dr. Hannah Wright-Smith

UT Plant Sciences’ New Extension Specialist for Forage and Horticultural Weed Management

Hello Tennessee, it’s great to be here! My name is Hannah Wright-Smith, and I recently joined the UT Plant Sciences Department as an Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist. My areas of focus are forage and horticultural crop weed management, and I look forward to utilizing my expertise to support Tennessee’s nurseries.

I am originally from the mountains northeast Georgia/western South Carolina and grew up on a farm (really a glorified garden) where we grew vegetables for restaurants in town. In 2016, I graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Agribusiness and went to the University of Arkansas to obtain an MS in weed science. My thesis project was evaluating a new herbicide for use in rice, though I gained experience in multiple other row crops throughout my studies as well. After completing my MS, I went to the University of Georgia for my PhD, also in weed science. While at UGA I worked with numerous row and vegetable crops, evaluating herbicide application timing and new herbicide uses in these crops. Once I completed my PhD in the fall of 2022, I returned to the University of Arkansas as an Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist for turfgrass, vegetation management, and specialty crops. There my efforts were focused on herbicide application timing efficiency and communicating best weed management practices to county agents, turfgrass managers, cattle and hay producers, and fruit and vegetable growers. I was also fortunate to work with the ornamental specialist on research trials exploring novel herbicides for use in ornamental container and field production. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Tyler, and our dog, Doug, or listening to a good audiobook while crocheting or knitting.

In October I had the opportunity to attend the TNLA trade show and connect with several nurserymen from across the state. I’m excited to continue making connections with stakeholders and learning more about Tennessee nursery crop production and the weed management needs of Tennessee nurseries. Additionally, I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues at UT and TSU to provide useful and timely training on weed control in nursery crops. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at hwrightsmith@utk.edu !