Keagan Swilling, PhD

Keagan Swilling is based at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, where his work focuses on native grassland ecology, management, and horticulture. His background runs across organic horticulture and integrated pest management, with recent projects centered on establishing native warm-season perennial grasses as organic livestock forage — part of a USDA-funded effort to give Southeast cattle producers a summer-productive alternative to tall fescue. Native warm-season grasses are famously difficult to establish, and Keagan has the field experience to walk producers through the process honestly. On Soil Health Exchange, he is glad to help with any questions on native grass establishment — and on organic crop pest management more broadly.