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, 865-974- 7152. For questions about the TAEP, please contact Grant Pulse, producer.diversification@tn.gov, 615-837-5324.

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