Problem viewing this email? See it here »
CAFNR Research Digest
CAFNR Office of Research Newsletter // March 6, 2025 // 7(6)
A Message from Shibu Jose, Associate Dean of Research
 (click to read)

Investing in agricultural research today is essential to securing the future of Missouri’s farming and food production industries. We are committed to ensuring that our resources, facilities, and expertise continue to drive innovation and practical solutions. These investments not only enhance current research but also lay the foundation for groundbreaking advancements that will benefit future generations of farmers, producers and agricultural professionals.

We are making significant strides at the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (MOAES) to advance research that supports Missouri’s farmers, producers, and the broader agricultural industry. With nearly 14,000 acres across the state, our Research, Extension, and Education Centers (REEC) enable CAFNR faculty to develop and test real-world solutions tailored to Missouri’s diverse geography and climate.

Here are a few exciting projects currently underway:

Creed Barn Remodel – Beef Research & Teaching Farm – Central Missouri REEC
The remodel of the Creed Barn is progressing. This updated facility will support the National Center for Applied Reproduction Genomics (NCARG), bringing cutting-edge reproductive technologies to the beef cattle industry.

Cotton Agronomy Research – Fisher Delta REEC
Progress is being made on the new cotton sample storage building and the cotton lab remodel, a vital addition to our Cotton Agronomy research program.

Enhancing Animal Handling – Southwest REEC
Our investment in a new animal handling facility reinforces our commitment to supporting livestock research and producer education.

Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Farm Learning Center – Central Missouri REEC
Work continues to finish a portion of the interior by July.

Water lab and Forage lab additions – Northern Missouri REEC
Enhances resident faculty’s ability to conduct research onsite

Lower Feedlot Remodeling – Central Missouri REEC
Work to renovate the lower feedlot to increase our capacity in feedlot research has begun; a new feed truck will arrive by August .

These improvements are more than just construction projects — they embody CAFNR’s dedication to strengthening Missouri agriculture through research, education, extension, and innovation. As we continue to build for the future, we are excited to share these advancements with you and look forward to the impact they will have on Missouri’s agricultural landscape.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to excellence in our research endeavors.

Warm regards,
Shibu Jose
Associate Dean of Research

Feature Story
Mako shark trekking patterns reveal a hidden impact of changing ocean temperatures (click to read)
Mako shark trekking patterns reveal a hidden impact of changing ocean temperatures »

New research led by University of Missouri ecologist Michael Byrne uncovers how expanding oxygen-depleted zones shape the movement of these apex predators.

Shortfin mako sharks, an endangered species, are among the fastest and most elusive predators in the ocean, and new research led by Michael Byrne, associate professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources (SNR) sheds light on the limitations of their habitat availability caused by oceanography.

The research tracked mako sharks over vast distances using satellite telemetry. Byrne’s findings reveal a pattern in movements and distribution of the apex predators spanning thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean, highlighting the sharks’ dependence on one very specific factor — oxygen levels in the water.

“I love mako sharks, so I spend a lot of time looking at mako shark tracking data. A decade of satellite tracking data from sharks tagged off the west coast shows what looks like an invisible fence line in the ocean, where they rarely travel south through the North Equatorial Current at around 12 degrees latitude,” Byrne said.

This pattern struck Byrne’s curiosity. He wanted to know what was keeping these otherwise highly mobile sharks with a worldwide distribution and the capacity to travel great distances from venturing further south in the east Pacific. One day, he compared the map of mako shark movements tracked by NOAA and the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Nova Southeastern University with a map of dissolved oxygen, and it suddenly clicked.

Research Highlights
MU Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center to host second Digital Agriculture Symposium (click to read)
MU Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center to host second Digital Agriculture Symposium »

The public is invited to take part in the symposium April 11.

Mizzou’s research exceeds $500 million (click to read)
Mizzou’s research exceeds $500 million »

Historic research activity fuels innovation in agriculture, artificial intelligence, medicine and more.

Research Staff Spotlight
Q&A with Barry Eschenbrenner (click to read)
Q&A with Barry Eschenbrenner

How long have you worked at CAFNR?

I have worked at Mizzou a little over 10 years.

Tell us about what you do in your job?

I work for MOAES as a farm manager. I work at the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin and the Land of Osages Research Center in Laurie. I’m responsible for keeping the farms running and assisting researchers in getting their projects completed.

What is your favorite thing about your work?

My favorite part of the job is getting to help people.

Tell us about your hobbies or interests outside of work.

I’m fortunate enough to own my own farm, so that takes a large percentage of my time. But I also enjoy fishing, hunting, and following the Cardinals, Royals, Blues, and the football Tigers. I’m also blessed to have a great family and three grandchildren.

Save the date for IPG Symposium

The Annual MU Interdisciplinary Plant Group Symposium is set for May 20-23 at Bond Life Sciences Center.

The symposium will bring together leading experts in root biology from around the world and provide a forum for interactions among prominent scholars, postdoctoral fellows and graduate and undergraduate students. It will cover a broad range of topics, including root development and growth, root function in water and nutrient uptake, responses to abiotic and biotic stress and root-microbe interactions. Research presented will span spatial and temporal scales and will encompass studies based on model, crop and native species. The symposium will enable close interactions among all participants to foster the generation of new ideas and collaborations that will ultimately contribute to more sustainable crop production and enhance ecosystem services.

Opportunities at Mizzou
Research Images Sought for Joy of Discovery Sculpture

Bond Life Sciences Center is seeking Mizzou research images to refresh its Joy of Discovery sculpture that spans the five floors of McQuinn Atrium. A total of eight images will be selected by a committee for installation. Suggested entries may include light microscopy images, electron micrographs, images of gels or other assays, data visualizations, computer simulations and any other scientific visualizations. Submissions are due by April 2, 2025. Click here to learn more about criteria and eligibility.

Research Roars

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

Henry Nguyen, Gene editing and innovative mutation breeding approaches to develop 2nd generation improved soybean soluble carbohydrate composition, Texas Tech University (USB), 10/1/24-9/30/25, $85,406

Henry Nguyen, Redefining the effects of beneficial microorganisms on N fixation and nutrient uptake in soybean to provide sustainable solutions to reduce chemical fertilizers use, Texas Tech University (USB), 10/1/24-9/30/25, $80,378

Andrew Scaboo, New Tools for Soybean Cyst Nematode Control, University of Wisconsin-Madison (USB), 10/1/24-9/30/25, $60,000

Bradley Wilson, Seed Quality 3.0: Beltwide Cool Germination Radicle Threshold Trial, Cotton, Inc., 1/1/25-12/31/25, $5,000

Hannah Hemmelgarn, Building a Forest Farming Network to Support Greater Farm Diversity and Enhanced Ecosystem Services in Missouri, Lincoln University (NIFA), 4/15/24-4/14/27, $22,835

Felix Fritschi, Utilizing Genes from the Soybean Germplasm Collection to Mitigate Drought Stress – Phase II (Year 2), Agricultural Research Service (USB), 10/1/24-7/31/25, $226,034

Feng Lin, Utilizing Genes from the Soybean Germplasm Collection to Mitigate Drought Stress – Phase II (Year 2), Agricultural Research Service (USB), 10/1/24-7/31/25, $47,054

Henry Nguyen, Expanding the Genetic Base of Southern Root-knot Nematode Resistance in Soybean, University of Arkansas (USB), 10/1/24-9/30/25, $96,801

Gurbir Singh, Enhancing tools to manage phosphorus in agricultural fields in the Northcentral region to reduce the risk loss to surface waters: a project supporting the Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST), University of Minnesota (USDA), 10/1/24-9/30/27, $140,850

Jay Johnson, Understanding the role of the genome, microbiome, and epigenome on the transgenerational effects of in utero heat stress in pigs, North Carolina State University (NIFA), 7/1/24-6/30/26,  $128,053

In the News

Specialist helps combat pests
Missouri Farmer Today

Strengthening Missouri Agriculture Through Partnership
Farms.com

New meat sciences lab named after Parson
High Plains Journal

Missouri beekeepers lose ‘catastrophic’ numbers of bees. No one knows why.
Fulton Sun

Soybean oil market struggling this week
Brownfield Ag News

How Livestock Economist and Cattle Producer Danyelle Chinn Turns Complex Data into Actionable Insights for Farmers
Successful Farming

St. Patrick’s Day: Time to rock your shamrock knowledge
St. Joseph News-Press

Avoid financial heartbreak after drought
Muddy River News

NOAA cuts cast cloud over Missouri atmospheric science students’ careers
St. Louis Public Radio

Let's Get Social!

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

Twitter: @CAFNRResearch

LinkedIn: Mizzou College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources