Crop Management & Production

April 5, 2021

Heike Buecking

Plants are metaorganisms that engage in intimate associations with a wide diversity of microorganisms. Many of these microorganisms are beneficial and help plants to overcome a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses. In our research, we focus particularly on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and nitrogen fixing rhizobia bacteria. AM fungi played a significant role during land plant evolution and form close interactions with the roots of 70% of land plants, including many agronomically important species, such as corn, soybean, or wheat. AM fungi increase the nutrient acquisition of for example phosphate, nitrogen, sulfur, and potassium from the soil, and improve…

Dec. 12, 2018

Kent Shannon

Educational background M.S., University of Missouri, 1993, Agricultural Engineering B.S., University of Missouri, 1990, Agricultural Engineering Courses taught AST 1040 – Physical Principles for Agricultural Applications AST 4320/7320 – Agricultural Equipment and Machinery AST PS SS 4360/7360 – Precision Agriculture Science and Technology AST 4365/7365 – Machinery Management Using Precision Agriculture Technology AST 4366/7366 – Data Management and Analysis Using Precision Agriculture Technology AST 4368/7368   – Profit Strategies Using Precision Agriculture Technology…

Sep. 9, 2018

Mariola Usovsky

Mariola is a passionate molecular soybean breeder and scientist with over 10 years of public soybean breeding experience. She is highly involved in the soybean breeding pipeline and release of many soybean cultivars. Her expertise includes introgression of traits that involve high oleic and low linolenic genes for improving soybean fatty acid composition, protein genes for increasing seed protein content, soybean cyst nematode resistance genes, and genes with tolerance to Liberty® and Enlist® herbicides. She works towards optimizing plant breeding schemes to help reduce costs and time. Moreover, Mariola develops strategic directions, goals, and plans for molecular research, and provides…

Sep. 9, 2018

Mandy Bish

Bish’s main research focus is the management of current and emerging pathogens to corn and soybean. Information generated from the research is applied to her extension programming efforts. She utilizes programs already in place, such as the Mizzou On-Farm Strip Trial Program to compliment small plot research that evaluates the efficacy of disease management practices either alone or in combination.   Bish also has an interest in exploring interactions among pathogens, disease management tactics, and the environment. This allows Bish to utilize her training in both basic and applied plant sciences. Improved understanding of these interactions and monitoring how interactions change over…

Feb. 27, 2018

Kerry Clark

Kerry Clark was a soybean breeder from 1993-2012 and continues to work on the Feed the Future Soybean Innovation Lab, which is trying to improve soybean yields and production across sub-Saharan Africa. She runs a mechanization development and fabrication training team that includes three equipment designers from Ghana. This team has trained over 200 manufacturers in 12 African countries and has helped build service provision businesses so that small-holder farmers can have access to modern farming methods. Clark is also part of a multi-state collaboration working to improve available cover crop varieties for U.S. farmers. She teaches soil pedology, genesis,…

Jan. 10, 2018

David Trinklein

David Trinklein is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Plant Sciences and State Floriculture Specialist in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. His appointment includes both teaching and extension responsibilities. Educational background Ph.D., Horticulture, University of Missouri M.S., Horticulture, University of Missouri B.S., Agriculture, Lincoln University Courses taught Greenhouse Management Herbaceous Ornamental Plants High Tunnel Vegetable Production Undergraduate Seminar…

Jan. 10, 2018

Andrew Thomas

Andrew Thomas enjoys conducting research on a wide variety of horticultural and agroforestry crops and crop production techniques. His main research interests include the development of overlooked native fruit and nut crops with commercial potential, but he also studies aspects of mainstream horticultural crop production. His research projects at the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center have included black walnuts, pecans, hickories, persimmons, pawpaws, elderberries, blackberries, grapes, apples, tomatoes, melons, asparagus, culinary and medicinal herbs, wildflowers, prairie restoration, wood biomass quantification and high tunnel and solar-heated greenhouse production. Before coming to the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center in 1996,…

Jan. 10, 2018

Kelly Nelson

Educational background Ph.D. Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University…

Jan. 9, 2018

John Lory

John Lory has an Extension appointment in environmental nutrient management. His objective is to promote the efficient use of nutrients from manure and other sources for crop production in a manner that protects water and other natural resources. His extension and applied research program is focused on four areas: Coordinate the “MU Certified” Strip Trial program. Use sensor systems like PaddockTrack to improve efficiency of forage systems. Promote sustainability of cropping systems through reducing nutrient loss and soil erosion. Fertilizer recommendations for row crops and forages. Educational background PhD, University of Minnesota MS, University of Minnesota BS, Cornell University…

Jan. 9, 2018

Felix Fritschi

Educational background Ph.D. Plant Biology, University of California, Davis…