Agriculture Programs

Agriculture & Natural Resource Programs

Extension programs in Cocke County are designed to educate farmers, homeowners, and other agricultural and horticultural producers on the latest management practices needed to solve problems and improve production and marketing. Extension programs also help Tennesseans protect the environment and improve the management, marketing, and use of natural resources in our area.

Production Agriculture

Cocke County has abundant agriculture ranging from commercial vegetable production, fruit production, and forestry to forage production, livestock production and management, and wildlife and fisheries. Livestock areas include beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, equine, and swine. Many agribusinesses also thrive in this county.

Residential Horticulture

Homeowners utilize extension as much as farmers. Extension is equipped to answer questions about lawns, landscape plants, flowers, and trees, and home gardens. We offer a multitude of advice on these topics and more!

Extension Services

• Plant & tree identification
• Insect identification
• Plant disease identification
• Distance Diagnostics
  • Hard to identify plants, weeds, or insects can be digitized and submitted to the University of Tennessee Diagnostics Lab.  Results are usually back within 1-2 days.

• Soil testing
  • Soil samples can be brought in to the office and prepped for shipment to the University of Tennessee Soil, Plant, and Pest Center to determine pH and fertilizer needs for yards, gardens, pasture fields, and hay fields. Collect samples from at least 10 locations in the area to be tested and place them in a clean container to transport them to our office. It takes 1/2 pint of soil to fill the box and costs $15.00 per sample for a basic test. Your results are returned anywhere from 10-14 days. For assistance with deciphering fertilizer recommendations, feel free to call or stop by the office.

• Hay temperature testing
• Fertilizer recommendations
• Weed control recommendations
• Turf grass and lawn recommendations
• And MANY more!