Rapid land use changes across the Southeast United States are creating challenges for young and beginning farmers, family farm operations and the economies of rural communities.
To address this challenge, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation will host the inaugural Southeast Farm and Forest Land Summit on Monday, October 12, 2026, at the Tennessee Farm Bureau headquarters in Columbia, Tennessee.
The summit will bring together farmers, agricultural industry leaders, state agencies and university faculty in the Southeast to move beyond awareness and toward action on ways to address the rapid loss of farm and forest land.
Participants at the summit will hear from industry leaders from across the region as they discuss ways to improve farm profitability, land access for young and beginning farmers and policy options for preserving working farmland. Rapid land use changes are not unique to the Southeast, and organizers hope this summit will serve as a model for how universities, industry partners and government agencies can work together to develop actionable solutions.
“I’m excited about this opportunity to convene leaders from across the Southeast to address such a critical issue,” said Keith Carver, UTIA senior vice chancellor and senior vice president.
“Farm and forest land loss is top of mind for Tennessee’s agricultural producers and rural communities. This summit will serve as a forum to share science-based research, exchange perspectives and advance practical solutions,” Carver said.
Eric Mayberry, president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, said, “Farmers across the Southeast are dealing with profitability challenges and rapid land use change. We are proud to partner with UTIA to have conversations with agriculture and forestry leaders from the region to focus on these challenges.”
The day-long summit will include an economic outlook for the Southeast and farmland investment presentations along with panel discussions on the state of the agricultural economy, land use change trends, public policy options, and succession planning for farm and forest landowners.
Learn more about the summit by contacting Alison Davis at 865-974-7273 or by email to adavi257@utk.edu . The cost to attend is $20. Register at tiny.utk.edu/2026-land-summit .
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu