The University of Tennessee is once again hosting a Steak and Potatoes Field Day at the Plateau AgResearch and Education Center.

The free event, which includes a trade show and a sponsored lunch, begins with registration at 8 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the main unit of UT's Plateau AgResearch and Education Center on U.S. Hwy. 70N west of Crossville.

The topic-packed program includes presentations by experts in the production of beef cattle and the production and processing of fruits and vegetables for commercial or home use.

Additional feature presentations include pond construction and woodlot management.

Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Julius Johnson, who is also a beef cattle producer from Columbia, will be the luncheon speaker.

The beef portion of the program will include talks on the intricacies of beef cattle management, including calf care during the first seven days, identifying efficient cows, and the uses of forages in beef productions.

The discussions of whether your cows fit your particular farm and what happens when they leave your farm are expected to be popular.

Fruit and vegetable topics to be explored by UT experts include melon production, fruit tree training systems, soil management, and disease control. Commercial producers will be especially interested in the session discussing producer audits.

A map to the facility and complete directions are available online at http://plateau.tennessee.edu/location/. For more information, call the center at 931-484-0034.