The UTIA Hurricane Helene Flood Recovery Team recently received the Success in Multidisciplinary Research Award from the Provost. This team is led by Dr. Bruno Pedreira, Director of the UT Beef and Forage Center, and includes Dr. Annette Wszelaki, a Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and the Commercial Vegetable Extension Specialist, as well as Drs. Emine Fidan, Forbes Walker, Shawn Hawkins, and Andrea Ludwig in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, Dr. Shelli Rampold in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, Dr. Aaron Smith in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Dr. Annette Engel in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, and Dr. Haochen Li in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In addition to those listed above who won the award, several staff members and graduate students also make up the team. The Success in Multidisciplinary Research Award recognizes a team of no less than three faculty members from more than one unit who have succeeded in gaining major external resources and external recognition for their multidisciplinary research, scholarship, and creative activity.
About The Project:
When Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, it brought unprecedented rainfall and widespread flooding to the Eastern Tennessee region. Once the water receded, thick layers of sediment covered thousands of acres of farmland, disrupting pastures, row crops, and vegetable fields. These deposits altered soil properties, introduced potential contaminants, and destroyed critical vegetation. Additionally, acres of farmland were lost due to erosion or wash-out exposing underlying river rock. In response, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) mobilized a multidisciplinary team of researchers and Extension specialists to assess the damage and develop a comprehensive recovery plan. This strategy combines field studies, greenhouse trials, sediment and water quality analyses, and community outreach to support both immediate recovery and increase long-term resilience. Funding was obtained initially through UTIA units, and then secured through the USDA Rapid Response program, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and the Tennessee Governor’s Flood Relief funds.
In August 2025 a regional field day was held at Runion Farm in Limestone, TN where preliminary results were shared. The extensive field research and demonstration, with more than 200 experimental plots, continues today. Additionally, UT Extension specialists launched high-touch client services, including rapid resource pages and on-farm consultations to help producers. Students are also involved in site assessments, research design and implementation, and outreach efforts.
Flood Resources:
If you or someone you know needs flood resources or assistance, please visit https://utia.tennessee.edu/flood-resources-and-support/
Are you a member of the Department of Plant Sciences and would like to be featured? If so, let us know by emailing Victoria Cavaliere at vcavalie@utk.edu.
By Victoria Cavaliere