Did you miss the first airing of the sixth installment of our new Insight series? LISTEN NOW to the program or to the extended version of the interview. The monarch butterfly population has seen a steady decline during the past two decades. There are many factors beyond our control, including climate, which negatively impact the monarch population. One way to help, though,…
Thompson Research Center ⋅ Page 4
Growing Agriculture
Agriculture Education Days provide students with vast amounts of information
September and October are plenty busy for the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Centers. Along with the everyday research that takes place at each Center, there were Field Days to be hosted and crops readied for harvest. Mixed in with that busyness are Agriculture Education Days. These days are designed to give high…
The (Academic) Road Less Traveled
Pair of students work on dual degrees through MS/DVM program
For Jill Abel and Brianne Bishop, these days represent the quiet in the middle of the storm. This fall the two are taking nine credit hours in addition to serving as teaching assistants and conducting field trials related to their master’s research as graduate students in the Division of Animal Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. That may seem…
Improving Beef Cattle Production
Thompson Research Center takes a look at beef cattle during annual Field Day
SPICKARD, MO. – Creating strategies to enhance beef cattle production was the core focus of the Thompson Research Center Field Day, held Tuesday, Sept. 15. More than 150 farmers, producers and students heard numerous topics on management strategies to improve beef cattle production. “We had a really great crowd and a lot of great presentations,” Superintendent Rodney Geisert said. “Guests…
Fielding Your Questions
Agricultural Research Center Field Days are opportunity to learn about a variety of CAFNR research
Throughout the year, University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources researchers are busy performing studies, collecting data, making recommendations and much more, all to help farmers across the state. Most of the studies occur far from the Columbia campus, in small towns at every corner of Missouri. This regionally relevant research will be on display for the public in…
The Science of a Soil Test
MU Soil Labs help find out what is happening in your soil to help produce profitable crops
One way to start planning for next year’s growing season is to get a soil test and MU’s Soil Fertility Labs are there to help. A soil test is like taking an inventory of nutrients available to plants — which area is too high, too low or just right. While plant growth and prior yields may offer clues to nutrient availability, a producer won’t precisely know until they test their soil.
Rebuilding the Herd
Heifer management helps to produce quality beef
Rebuilding the U.S. cow herd numbers takes more than keeping female offspring to breed. Managing beef heifers is as important as using improved genetics in developing replacements, says David Patterson, professor at College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. As farmers save heifers to breed for increasing their cow herds, careful attention must be paid…
For Better Bovine
Thompson Research Center Field Day to highlight management strategies to improve beef cattle production
The annual Field Day, which will be held Sept. 16, will feature informational talks and opportunities to connect with agricultural industry professionals, vendors and experts.
Who’ll Report the Rain?
Volunteer-driven CoCoRaHS includes daily precipitation reports
A valuable tool in monitoring precipitation is CoCoRaHS. The free online database includes daily reports of precipitation collected through a grassroots effort of volunteers that measure and submit to the website at www.cocorahs.org. The data is then mapped out to allow users quick and easy access to rainfall amounts in their area.
Managing the Most Precious Resource
Workshops help producers with soil health management practices
What actually is going on in the ground below your feet when management practices happen? Questions like this will be one of many answered in the Keys to Soil Health Advanced Workshops held throughout the state in July and August.