Person

Bruno C. Pedreira

Associate Professor & Director | Plant Sciences

Specialization: Forage-Livestock Systems

Overview

Dr. Bruno C. Pedreira serves as the UT Extension Forage Specialist and Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is also Director of the UT Beef & Forage Center and Coordinator of the Tennessee Master Forage Program, a statewide educational initiative aimed at enhancing forage and livestock management practices across Tennessee.

Dr. Pedreira earned his B.S. in Agronomy from the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) in Brazil, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science and Pasture from the University of São Paulo (ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil.

Since 2011, he has led an impactful Extension program grounded in a traditional hands-on approach—working directly with farmers, Extension agents, and industry partners through farm visits, presentations, and technical training. To complement these efforts, Dr. Pedreira maintains a robust research program in Forage Systems, focusing on harvest and fertility management, weed control, and integrated crop-livestock systems, with the overarching goal of improving land-use efficiency and profitability.

Before joining the University of Tennessee, Dr. Pedreira was an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Kansas State University (2021–2023), where he also served as Director of Operations at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons, KS. From 2010 to 2021, he worked as a Researcher at Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril in Mato Grosso, Brazil, contributing significantly to research in sustainable livestock production systems.

Outreach Focus

Forage and crop-livestock systems

Teaching Focus

Sustainable Strategies for Forage-Livestock Systems

Research Focus

Optimizing Productivity and Sustainability in Forage-based Systems through Soil Fertility, Pasture Management, and Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems

Research Questions
  • Soil fertility program as a tool to increase productivity and reduce weeds (i.e., Broomsedge) in pasture systems with soil nutrient limitations.
  • Pasture management strategies can increase forage-based systems output for producers willing to exploit forage resources (i.e., alfalfa, native grasses, tall fescue, and smooth bromegrass).
  • Integrated crop-livestock systems can enhance the productivity, stability, and regularity of productivity over time in crops and pastures when compared with monoculture systems.
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
PLSC 593 - Problems in Plant Sciences
1 - 3 credit hours

Independent study. Current topic related to technology, science or design.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. Credit Restriction: For MS students, a maximum of 6 hours may be applied to the major. For PhD students in PSI, a maximum of 9 hours may be applied to the major.

Other Instructors: Klingeman III, William E | Richmond, Mitchell Dale | Ross, Michael

Picture of Bruno C. Pedreira
362 Brehm Animal Science Bldg
2506 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Animal Science and Pasture, University of Sao Paulo/ESALQ, 2009
  • Masters, Animal Science and Pasture , University of Sao Paulo/ESALQ, 2006
  • Bachelors, Agronomy, Federal University of Lavras, 2004
Responsible Area(s)
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources

Bruno C. Pedreira

Associate Professor & Director | Plant Sciences
Picture of Bruno C. Pedreira image
362 Brehm Animal Science Bldg
2506 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Animal Science and Pasture, University of Sao Paulo/ESALQ, 2009
  • Masters, Animal Science and Pasture , University of Sao Paulo/ESALQ, 2006
  • Bachelors, Agronomy, Federal University of Lavras, 2004
Responsible Area(s)
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
Overview

Dr. Bruno C. Pedreira serves as the UT Extension Forage Specialist and Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is also Director of the UT Beef & Forage Center and Coordinator of the Tennessee Master Forage Program, a statewide educational initiative aimed at enhancing forage and livestock management practices across Tennessee.

Dr. Pedreira earned his B.S. in Agronomy from the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) in Brazil, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science and Pasture from the University of São Paulo (ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil.

Since 2011, he has led an impactful Extension program grounded in a traditional hands-on approach—working directly with farmers, Extension agents, and industry partners through farm visits, presentations, and technical training. To complement these efforts, Dr. Pedreira maintains a robust research program in Forage Systems, focusing on harvest and fertility management, weed control, and integrated crop-livestock systems, with the overarching goal of improving land-use efficiency and profitability.

Before joining the University of Tennessee, Dr. Pedreira was an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at Kansas State University (2021–2023), where he also served as Director of Operations at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons, KS. From 2010 to 2021, he worked as a Researcher at Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril in Mato Grosso, Brazil, contributing significantly to research in sustainable livestock production systems.

Outreach Focus

Forage and crop-livestock systems

Teaching Focus

Sustainable Strategies for Forage-Livestock Systems

Research Focus

Optimizing Productivity and Sustainability in Forage-based Systems through Soil Fertility, Pasture Management, and Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems

Research Questions
  • Soil fertility program as a tool to increase productivity and reduce weeds (i.e., Broomsedge) in pasture systems with soil nutrient limitations.
  • Pasture management strategies can increase forage-based systems output for producers willing to exploit forage resources (i.e., alfalfa, native grasses, tall fescue, and smooth bromegrass).
  • Integrated crop-livestock systems can enhance the productivity, stability, and regularity of productivity over time in crops and pastures when compared with monoculture systems.
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
PLSC 593 - Problems in Plant Sciences
1 - 3 credit hours

Independent study. Current topic related to technology, science or design.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. Credit Restriction: For MS students, a maximum of 6 hours may be applied to the major. For PhD students in PSI, a maximum of 9 hours may be applied to the major.

Other Instructors: Klingeman III, William E | Richmond, Mitchell Dale | Ross, Michael