This story also appears in our University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Center Magazine. Stop by your local Research Center to pick up a copy!
There are a variety of ways to support the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Centers.
The systems of Research Centers expand Missouri, extending CAFNR’s research to more than 14,000 acres to meet the regional research and demonstration needs of agricultural producers and natural resource managers. These research and demonstration facilities host more than 35,000 people each year for field days, agriculture education days, extension activities, community events and more.
“CAFNR’s Research Centers are critical for MU to fulfill the mission of the land-grant system through research, education and outreach,” said Tim Reinbott, director of field operations for the Agricultural Research Centers. “They are oftentimes the only connection that Missouri citizens have with MU and the land-grant mission.”
Support for the Centers can come in numerous forms. Gifts of land, livestock and equipment are always welcome. Seed, fertilizer and monetary gifts are also accepted. Those gifts play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of the Research Centers.
“In the last two decades financial support for the Research Centers has shifted from being state supported to state assisted making it critically important that Research Centers have stakeholder support,” Reinbott said.
Several Centers have Mizzou Give Direct websites making it easy to go online and support the Center nearest you. Those include:
Bradford Research Center Excellence Fund: Your gift is directed to the Bradford Research Center Excellence Fund, which provides much-needed unrestricted support to help solve challenges that impact teaching, research and extension at the Bradford Research Center. The Center assists MU and USDA scientists and extension personnel in performing research in crop, soils, entomology, pathology, turf and other disciplines in more than 25,000 plots, while also providing an outdoor classroom and community support. The Bradford Research Center Excellence Fund provides critical operating funds that enable the Center to purchase equipment, improve facilities and invest in new technologies. Your gift will ensure the prominence of this research center in the community for today and into the future.
Delta Center Endowment: A distinguished group of neighbors, friends, faculty and staff have generously supported cutting-edge research being conducted at the Fisher Delta Research Center through gifts to the Club of 1000. As one of the University of Missouri’s comprehensive out-state research centers, the Fisher Delta Research Center provides real-time data to help sustain and improve agriculture in Missouri and beyond. You can make your contribution a recurring gift that is given every year. Our donors also support the Center through multi-generational gifts. Some families have four or more generations involved in the Club of 1000, and have found it to be a nice way to remember special family members posthumously or honor new family members. Please consider supporting this wonderful community asset.
Forage Systems Research Center Gifts Fund: The Forage Systems Research Center was established in 1965 when the University began leasing land from the Cornett family. The 1,200-acre farm was donated in 1981 upon the death of the last Cornett family member. The primary research objective is the development and evaluation of forage systems for all classes of beef cattle. Researchers conduct grazing studies with cow-calf pairs, weanlings and yearling steers and heifers. Identifying the interactions of cattle, plants and soil is key to understanding cause/effect relationships in forage/beef systems. Reproductive efficiency, milk production and live weight gains are indicators of animal performance, while forage establishment, productivity patterns and use and persistence are of agronomic interest. FSRC’s international reputation as one of the outstanding forage-livestock system research centers attracts visitors from around the globe each year. Pioneering research on forage-beef systems ecology has received significant recognition from the Missouri Department of Conservation, the USDA and the National Center for Appropriate Technology. Please consider a gift that will help ensure the prominence of this farm in the community.
Graves-Chapple Gift Fund: Graves Farm was established in 1988 as a collaborative effort between Atchison County Extension, Holt County Extension, University of Missouri Extension Commercial Agriculture Program, the University of Missouri’s Agricultural Experiment Station, local agribusinesses and local producers. The farm was renamed in August of 2003 to add the name of Robert Chapple whose hard work and diligence helped the farm become a center of excellence in the NW region. The goal of work on the collective 98-acre leased farms is to implement applied research, demonstrate management practices for crop production, and evaluate new and sustainable crop production practices. The farm strives to perfect practices that will maintain or increase the profitability for area crop producers. The Graves-Chapple Research Center is vital to the northwest region in sharing education and research not only with producers, but with the community and youth. Please consider a gift that will help ensure the prominence of this farm in the community.
Greenley Endowment for Agriculture Research: The Greenley Research Center was established when Hortense Greenley donated the 700-acre farm to the University of Missouri. It became a part of the University’s comprehensive out-state research program in 1969 and was dedicated on October 6, 1974. The Center also manages the 350-acre Ross Jones farm in Shelby County, and the 240-acre Grace Greenley farm in Knox County. The major objective of the Center is to evaluate efficient, profitable agriculture production in northern Missouri while emphasizing soil conservation, water quality and energy efficiency. Major agronomic research initiatives include sub-irrigation and drainage management, evaluation of technologies to improve fertilizer efficiency, and implementation of cover crop management. Continuous yield testing of corn, soybean, and winter wheat varieties are also conducted. The Center also maintains a beef herd focusing on synchronized breeding and heifer development. Your support for the Greenley Endowment for Agriculture Research provides educational and operational support for the Greenley Research Center.
Hundley-Whaley Gift Fund: This 375-acre research center is located in Gentry County just on the outskirts of Albany. It sits on second bottom river soils and provides an optimum location for agronomic studies including pesticide evaluations and comparisons and sustainable agriculture concepts. The center also addresses improved management practices for crops, timber and bottomland soils. Ongoing research projects focus on best management practices for corn and soybeans. Your support of the Hundley-Whaley Research Center will ensure that agriculture research and education continues to thrive in Missouri. Please consider a gift to the Hundley-Whaley Research Center and together we can make a difference for our industry and our community.
Jefferson Farm and Garden Endowed Fund: The Jefferson Farm and Garden Endowed Fund provides much-needed support for teaching and extension activities at the Jefferson Farm and Garden. Jefferson Farm and Garden is a 67-acre educational farm designed to engage the community in experiences about food and agriculture. Jefferson Farm and Garden is committed to sharing the story of agriculture and demonstrating a vast array of Midwest farming, gardening and conservation practices. As an outdoor classroom, Jefferson Farm and Garden aims to reach learners of all ages by connecting people to the land and enriching the community through workshops, field trips and special events. Please consider giving your support to this initiative.
Southwest Center Industrial Gifts Fund: Since 1959, the Southwest Center has conducted problem-solving research projects and outreach activities relevant to the agricultural needs in southwest Missouri and throughout the state. The Center, located in Mt. Vernon in Lawrence County, was established to provide agricultural research of interest to the citizens of southwest Missouri through the purchase of an 898-acre site that represents soil types found in the region. The Southwest Center has become an important part of the region’s agricultural community. The programs run the gamut from sustainable agriculture practices to forage research. Your support of the Southwest Center will ensure that agriculture research and education continues to thrive in Missouri. Together we can make a difference for our industry and our community.
Thompson Research Center Gift Fund: George Drury donated the land for the Thompson Farm in 1956. The 1,600-acre research center focuses on beef cattle production systems and crops management. Thompson centers on development, evaluation and dissemination of technical information for beef herd management using multi-disciplinary approaches for Missouri and regional audiences. To accomplish the mission, research is focused on reproductive performance, heifer development, supplementation strategies, and animal health factors. Technology transfer is accomplished by web, newsletters, tours, intensive courses, workshops and publications. Your support of the Thompson Research Center will ensure that agriculture research and education continues to thrive in Missouri. Together we can make a difference for our industry.
Wurdack Research Center Gifts Fund: The Hugo Wurdack Research Center conducts demonstrations and research in integrated livestock, forages, forestry and wildlife management practices that are economically viable, environmentally sound and sociologically acceptable for the Ozark Region of Missouri. Wurdack is operated using best management practices and provides educational information on a wide range of agricultural, natural resource and scientific topics to area beef and forage producers, soil and water district members, students from elementary and secondary schools, and other interested groups. Farm activities emphasize management practices that promote sustainable agricultural production while protecting the natural environment and the quality of life for citizens of Missouri’s Ozark region. Your support of the Wurdack Research Center will ensure that agriculture research and education continues to thrive in Missouri. Together we can make a difference for our industry.