Matthew Longmire grew up on his family farm in Clinton, TN, so it was no surprise that he became interested in research on agricultural systems. The fact that he can do this while incorporating another life-long fascination—bugs—is just the icing on the cake. Longmire is a graduate student in entomology and plant pathology at the UT Institute of Agriculture, and his research studies the impact of cover crops on agricultural pest management. The use of cover crops is an agricultural practice that can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and herbicides, which can lower costs and increase profits.
