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CAFNR Research Digest
CAFNR Office of Research Newsletter // Aug. 21, 2025 // 7(16)
Feature Story
Flu fighters: Mizzou researchers getting a closer look at immune response to influenza (click to read)
Flu fighters: Mizzou researchers getting a closer look at immune response to influenza »

Findings can help scientists develop better flu therapies, vaccines for pigs and humans.

Research Highlights
Biochar improves soil health for cotton production, study confirms (click to read)
Biochar improves soil health for cotton production, study confirms »

Researchers believe the method could be modified for other crops such as corn and beans.

University of Missouri hosts Beef Camp for Brazilian industry leaders (click to read)
University of Missouri hosts Beef Camp for Brazilian industry leaders »

Program combined academic instruction with real-world experience.

Division nominations now being accepted for Distinguished Dissertation and Thesis Awards

The CAFNR Office of Research is now taking nominations for the William R. Lamberson Distinguished Dissertation and Thesis Awards. These awards recognize two of our graduate students and their advisors for the best doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis in CAFNR each year. The graduate student recipients will receive an honorarium of $1,000 and a plaque; the advisor will also receive a plaque. Nomination information was sent via email on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and nominations are due Friday, Oct. 31.

CAFNR Research Symposium

The fifth annual CAFNR Research Symposium, Solving What’s Next: Innovation at the Intersection of Life, Food and Data, will be Oct. 1 at Memorial Union showcasing the vital work our students, post-docs, faculty and staff do every day to help create a healthier world.

Registration is now open. Please visit the registration link here if you plan to attend or present, including posters. Presenters must be affiliated with CAFNR. The registration deadline to present is Monday, Sept. 15, and the registration deadline to attend is Monday, Sept. 22.

Research Roars

Limberg awarded Millsap Distinguished Professorship

Three faculty members from across the University of Missouri were recently awarded the Millsap Distinguished Professorship, established by a Mizzou alumnus, teacher and philanthropist. The professorship is awarded for a five-year term to recognize outstanding contributions by faculty.

One of the recipients is Jacqueline Limberg, associate professor, Division of Food, Nutrition & Exercise Sciences. Limberg’s research looks at mechanisms that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and interventions that can reverse and/or prevent cardiovascular disease risk. She was also recently recognized with the 2025 Research Mentor of the Year Award from Mizzou’s Office of Undergraduate Research.

CAFNR faculty members have received the following recent grants (listed by Principal Investigator):

Jon Simonsen, Agricultural Education Professional Development (In-Service) 2025-2026, Mo Dept of Elementary & Secondary Education, 7/1/25-6/30/26, $102,000

Hannah Hemmelgarn, Working Lands Conservation Corps – Extension Supplement, The Corps Network, 10/1/24-9/30/25, $34,000

Kiho Lee, Developing In Vivo Conditional Gene Knockout System In Chickens, National Institute of Food and Ag, 9/1/25-8/31/29, $650,000

Chung Ho Lin, Enhancing forest productivity via phytostabilization with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Forest Service, 8/9/25-3/31/29, $146,133

In the News

Breaking Down Silos: Fostering Collaborative Excellence in Plant Discovery at the IPG
KBIA

Local nutrition expert shares why beef is a powerhouse in your child’s diet
KRCG

Drones and AI boost maize health monitoring
The Engineer

Fast Food Burgers Could Soon Get More Expensive
Newsweek

Squeezed by inflation, shoppers make room to support local farmers
Columbia Daily Tribune

Running dry on data: Missouri drought hard to measure
The Missouri Independent

University research team develops invasive tree-tracking system
Woodworking Network

Warming soils fuel new weed problem: Goosegrass
FarmProgress

New Soybean Pest Found in Missouri
Morning Ag Clips

Biochar Gives Soil a Boost for Better Cotton Growing
Farms.com

Humidity pushes crop disease development
Iowa Farmer Today

Tips to repair relationships after mistakes on the farm
News-Press NOW

Decreasing cattle supply causing issues for farmers
WGEM-TV

Report finds more Missourians going hungry
KMA-FM

New Soybean Pest Found in Missouri
Morning Ag Clips

Mizzou researchers engineer plants for optimal biofuel production
Biodiesel Magazine

Breakthrough in Poplar Tree Research Paves the Way for Advancements in Energy and Biomaterials
Bioengineer.org

Why the Most Popular Seafood in the U.S. Is Now Being Farmed in Hundreds of Indoor Pools Across the Country
EatingWell

Mizzou Entomologist: Missouri trees are buzzing with cicadas
Missourinet

Hot cattle markets, tax changes call for new planning
Farmtalk News

Three Tips for Fall and Winter Grazing Success
Drovers

Ag economist: U.S. corn crop still likely big
WCMY-AM

Missouri’s forests and wine face ‘devastating’ risks from spotted lanternfly, officials warn
KSDK

Review Biosecurity Basics to Keep Your Herd Safe
Feedlot Magazine

Let's Get Social!

Keep up with the latest in research news from CAFNR by following us on LinkedIn and the MoAES podcast!

LinkedIn: Mizzou College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and Shibu Jose, Associate Dean of Research

Podcast: Tim’s Take