Feature
Congratulations to the 2021 Graduates of the
Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program and Advanced Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program By Amy Fulcher, Extension Specialist and Professor for Sustainable Ornamental Plant Production and Landscape Management
The
Tennessee Master Nursery Producer (TMNP) Program and Advanced TMNP are professional development programs for nursery crop producers that are led by the University of Tennessee with support from TSU and the USDA. It is the first program of its kind in the nation and was designed to provide Tennessee nursery producers with up-to-date, science-based information with the goal of enhancing nursery profitability and environmental, economic, and community sustainability. Growers from across the state accessed the latest information on container, field and pot-in-pot production, irrigation, fertilization, substrates, pruning, propagation, integrated pest management, economics, and marketing. Those in the Advanced TMNP program enjoyed the core and elective module structure which enabled them to complete the program by selecting modules with greater relevance to their business and focusing in on topics such as hydrangea production and succession planning.
Comments from recent graduates include: • “Program should be a must for everyone interested in Horticulture or being in a related field.” • “Tremendous program with a format that allows me to participate in a time and cost-effective manner. Very progressive for the Southeast region.” • “Thank you for having this online. I’m a working mother and the self-paced option is the only way I could have participated.” Growers who successfully complete the TMNP are rewarded! Across the last three years, graduates reported an estimated value of $12,772 per graduate from applying practices learned in the program that, in turn, reduced costs and/or increased crop quality. Additionally, graduates have been eligible for 50% cost share on Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program grants rather than the standard 35%. This enhanced level of cost share is estimated at $492,870 over the 3-year period.
For more information, please visit the TMNP website: www.tnmasternursery.com If you have questions about the Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program, please contact Dr. Amy Fulcher afulcher@utk.edu, 865-9747152. For questions about the TAEP, please contact Grant Pulse, producer.diversification@tn.gov, 615-837-5324.
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tennessee greentimes SPRING 2022
From myself and the TMNP committee, congratulations to the 2021 Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program graduates! 2021 Advanced TMNP Program Graduates Beth Blankenship, Blankenship Farms and Nursery John Cento, Green Industry Valuations Sofia Cruz, Garcia’s Nursery Tommy Culwell, Triple C Nursery Terry Gallagher, Heather Farms Nursery Eric Hildreth, Carpe Diem Farms Rickey Hildreth, Rickey A Hildreth Farms Rusty Mangrum, Rusty Mangrum Nursery Willie Newby, Newby Tree Farms Gerry Nokes, Gerry Nokes Nursery Danny Pirtle, Pirtle Nursery Randy Youngblood, Youngblood Farms
2021 Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program Michael Allison, Allison Family Nursery Daniel Aune, Vaughn Nursery LLC Jaqueline Denton Amy Dismukes, TSU Nursery Extension Cindy Perry, Perry Farms and Flowers Ashley Roach Phil Scott, Scott Family Farms
