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Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

TSU Leadership Visits NRC for Tours, Talks and Trees

By Zekeya Harrison

McMinnville, Tenn. --- On Wednesday, May 20, Tennessee State University (TSU) President Dwayne Tucker, College of Agriculture (TSUAg) Dean Chandra Reddy and other university leadership traveled to McMinnville to engage with faculty, staff and students at TSU’s Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center (NRC). The leadership group from campus engaged in meaningful conversations centered on research, ongoing projects and future opportunities.

President Tucker took time to meet with students, faculty and staff who work and conduct research at the facility. Throughout the day, he met with each group individually, allowing space for more in-depth discussions surrounding their experiences, challenges and contributions to the center’s work.

Each scholar, most of them master’s or Ph.D. students, introduced themselves and shared their areas of study, research focuses and academic backgrounds.

The visit also included a walkthrough of the newly renovated facility, where the TSU delegation toured laboratories and the greenhouses while viewing research projects and initiatives currently underway.

“TSU’s Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center plays a critical role in supporting the nursery production industry,” said Reddy. “Through research, education and outreach, the facility provides growers with solutions for insect, disease and weed management while also introducing new technologies and automation to help advance the future of nursery production.

“The work being done here not only strengthens the local economy but also helps landscape communities across the country.”

Leading the NRC’s work is facility director Karla Addesso who, along with TSUAg Associate Dean of Research Fulya Baysal-Gurel, led a caravan to the Easy Tree Nursery in Rock Island, Tennessee, for a tour and visit. Easy Tree is just one Tennessee producer in an industry of nearly 700 growers who bring in $285 million in annual cash receipts and nearly $1 billion in broader green-industry impact statewide.

Easy Tree Nursery spans more than 700 acres and grows a variety of products including B&B trees and shrubs, boxwoods, container trees, container shrubs, perennials, grasses and a wide selection of native plants and trees. Easy Tree Nursery owner and grower James Hines gave President Tucker and Dean Reddy a ride through the expansive property to view the work taking place across the farm.

“It was a blessing to receive the opportunity to show President Tucker what we’re growing here at Easy Tree Nursery,” said Hines. “The NRC is a strong and consistent partner in many areas here at the farm, and their research and extension teams are excellent to collaborate with when we have problems or questions.”

The visit served to remind TSU’s leadership of the important role TSUAg and the NRC play in supporting Tennessee’s critically important nursery industry through research, innovation and hands-on partnerships with growers across the region.