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	            | Dr. Thomas H. Yeager   Professor, Nursery Crops, University of Florida, IFAS Phone: 352.392.1831 x 363  Fax : 352.392.3870  Email: yeagert@ufl.edu  Ph.D. Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1981  M.S. Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1979  B.S. Horticulture, Auburn University 1975  |  |  Tom  Yeager is a native of Alabama where he managed a wholesale container  nursery before pursuing graduate studies in Virginia . After completing  his Ph.D., he assumed research and extension responsibilities at  University of Florida where a team approach and partnerships have  resulted in significant accomplishments. Recent accomplishments include  leading the development of a Best Management Practices (BMP) Guide for  container nursery crops. Several universities, governmental agencies,  and the nursery industry worked cooperatively to write the BMP Guide  that was printed by the Southern Nursery Association.  The  long-term objectives of the research and extension program are to  develop fertilization and irrigation regimes for the commercial nursery  industry that will minimize nutrient loss to the production  environment. This may be achieved by implementing management strategies  based on model systems in which plant growth and nutrient loss  (efficiency) can be predicted from environmental and physical inputs.  The immediate or short-term objectives are to establish uptake  parameters and nutrient utilization for plants grown with different  fertilization regimes. The scientifically-based information obtained  from the research program is disseminated to plant producers through  the network of county extension personnel conducting county or regional  educational programs in addition to industry association seminars,  print and electronic media.        |