Mizzou researchers explore low-cost ways to monitor invasive plants in urban areas, which can help protect ecosystems.

Invasive plants are meeting their match.

Driven by the desire to protect Missouri’s ecosystems, a University of Missouri research team created a low-cost method to track the spread of invasive Callery pear trees in mid-Missouri — shedding light on where they are now and where they might be headed.

These trees, known for their rapid growth, ecological harm and unpleasant odor, have overtaken large swaths of the Midwest and Eastern United States, crowding out native species and breaking easily during storms. In response, Missouri’s legislature recently joined other states in banning their sale.

Callery pear trees have recently begun encroaching on Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest — a development that sparked Justin Krohn’s interest.

Now, Krohn — a research project analyst and graduate student at Mizzou — is using satellite imagery available for free for research purposes, combined with machine learning, to locate these invasive trees more affordably than using expensive drones or aircraft imagery.

In a recent study, Krohn explored Columbia, Missouri, with a GPS device to log the exact locations of Callery pear trees. Then, he applied machine learning — a form of artificial intelligence — to satellite images, teaching a model to distinguish these trees from their surroundings based on light reflection.

The University of Missouri study reveals that soybeans use a natural targeted cooling mechanism to protect reproduction under tough weather conditions.

Translating innovation from Mizzou fields to Missouri farms, the Northern Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (NM-REEC) puts research to work where it matters most.

Spanning more than 4,000 acres across four farms, NM-REEC focuses on row crops, beef grazing, and land and water conservation — helping producers find practical solutions to real challenges.

They welcomed farmers, students and community members to their annual Field Day — a chance to see innovation in action — July 31. Check out photos from the event on CAFNR’s Flickr page.

NM-REEC is part of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (MOAES) — Mizzou’s powerhouse for ag research. Labs, farms and 14,000 acres statewide all work together to grow Missouri agriculture.

Translating innovation from Mizzou fields to Missouri farms, the Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center (FD-REEC) is helping Missouri producers stay ahead.

Part of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (MOAES), FD-REEC focuses on soybean genetics, cotton and rice research across more than 1,000 acres — providing regionally relevant answers to the challenges Delta farmers face.

FD-REEC hosted its annual Ag Research Expo, connecting farmers, students and industry leaders, Aug. 6. Attendees explored booths from industry partners and heard directly from resident faculty. Check out photos from the event on CAFNR’s Flickr page.

FD-REEC is just one piece of MOAES — Mizzou’s powerhouse for ag research, with labs, farms and 14,000 acres statewide all working together to grow Missouri agriculture.

Join the Division of Research for a virtual town hall discussing the current state of University of Missouri grant activities and federal agency priorities, as well as resources and strategies for faculty to navigate the shifting research environment. Submit questions for the panel.

When: 10 a.m. Aug. 19

Register for the Zoom link.

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.

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

Ruojie Zhang, Natural-inspired strategies to enhance microbial safety of dairy foods, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 7/15/25-7/14/27, $277,407

Amy Petry, Establishing a Functional Fiber Index for the Modern Sow, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 8/1/25-7/31/29,  $650,000

Jon Simonsen, Farm Business Management Analysis (FBMA) Program (2025-2026), Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, 7/1/25-6/30/2026, $77,000

Thomas Bonnot, Development of Achievable Desired Future Conditions for Priority Geographies, Missouri Department of Conservation, 7/1/25-6/30/2026, $72,000

Katherine Nelson, Planning: CRISES: Building Collective Action for Sustainable Habitats, Kansas State University (NSF), 9/15/24-8/31/26, $5,919

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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