The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources will be conducting a variety of research during the upcoming eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21. The School of Natural Resources earned a grant from NASA and will be doing a variety of work on the day of the eclipse. Alum Eric Aldrich will broadcast live Jefferson City for NASA TV, keeping individuals updated on the local weather during the eclipse. The Bradford and South Farm Research Centers will also open their doors for visitors during the event.

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Bradford and South Farm Research Centers will open their doors to the public for the upcoming eclipse, which will sweep across the United States on Monday, Aug. 21.

Both Centers, located near Columbia, Mo., will conduct various research and experiments. The main focus will be on seeing how plants and livestock respond to the eclipse conditions. The two Research Centers will open around 11 a.m. The public is welcome to watch the eclipse at either Center.

There will be another livestream focused on plants and crops at South Farm. Mimosa, purple clover, corn and soybeans will all be studied.

“We’re excited to open two of our Centers to the public for the eclipse,” said Tim Reinbott, assistant director of the Agricultural Research Centers. “This is a very unique opportunity and we’re happy to have some projects going on during the day.”

The total solar eclipse will enter the northwest corner of Missouri around 1:06 p.m. and exit the southeast corner around 1:21 p.m. There will be complete darkness at 1:12 p.m. in mid-Missouri, and it will last approximately two minutes and 36 seconds.

The South Farm Research Center, home to the MU Equine Teaching Facility, will have a livestream focused on its horses, monitoring their movements during the eclipse. There will be another stream focused on plants and crops. Mimosa, purple clover, corn and soybeans will all be studied.

South Farm is partnering with Bethany Stone, a teaching professor of biological sciences, on the plant research.

“We’re not sure how plants and animals will react,” Reinbott said. “Will they think that it’s nighttime and react as though it’s time to shut down for the day? Or will they go about things as if nothing is changing? It should be an interesting experience.”

The Equine Teaching Facility will be off limits for visitors – for the safety of the horses and to keep the horses comfortable with their normal surroundings.

The Bradford Research Center will show the livestreams from South Farm at the John Poehlmann Educational Center.

The Bradford Research Center will show the livestreams from South Farm at the John Poehlmann Educational Center.

Both Research Centers will also be paying attention to how fish react at the various ponds, as well as if the insects change their habits. There will also be several chickens monitored onsite at the South Farm Research Center to see how they react.

“Chickens go inside when it’s cloudy outside, so I’m sure they will react when the eclipse comes through,” said Bradford Superintendent Andrew Biggs.

The South Farm Research Center is located at 3600 East New Haven Road in Columbia. For more information about the South Farm Research Center, visit southfarm.cafnr.org or call 573-882-4450.

The Bradford Research Center is located at 4968 Rangeline Road in Columbia. For more information about the Bradford Research Center, visit bradford.cafnr.org or call 573-884-7945.

The University of Missouri will be hosting a variety of events for the upcoming eclipse as well. Click here to learn more.