Foremost Dairy offers hands-on learning and world-class animal care through a unique partnership between veterinary and agricultural programs.

At the Foremost Dairy, Mizzou is cultivating more than milk—it’s nurturing the next generation of veterinary and agricultural leaders through a collaborative partnership between the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR).

Located just west of Columbia, Foremost Dairy is part of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, a statewide network of farms and facilities that supports research, education and extension. What sets this facility apart is its role as a collaborative classroom for students across disciplines and a model of top-tier animal care.

Vet Med students visit the dairy herd weekly—twice as often as most commercial operations—providing world-class, hands-on care to the cows. This frequent interaction allows students to spot and respond to health issues early, gaining critical skills in preventive care and herd management.

“The Foremost Dairy Facility stands as a remarkable resource for both faculty and students at the University of Missouri,” said Dr. Celeste Morris, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “It allows for studies and education in dairy science, animal health and management practices.”

4D food printing offers safer, smarter meals for people with dysphagia.

Kiruba Krishnaswamy, assistant professor in the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, was one of two Mizzou faculty members interviewed in a live version of the NPR show, Science Friday, on campus on May 10. Catch the podcast featuring her research, “Identifying New Plants, And The Scientific Secrets Of Superfoods,” available now or listen to the show on KBIA or NPR starting at 1 p.m., Friday, May 16.

On the show, Krishnaswamy talks about micronutrients, the ancient grain millet and how honing in food waste could help tackle hunger around the globe.

Looking for undergraduate or graduate students or collaborators?  Explore this new tool!

Connect with potential undergraduate, graduate and faculty researchers using Mizzou’s new ForagerOne platform. In a few clicks, you can activate your pre-populated profile and turn on the “accepting students” button to receive inquires.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peer Review System (PRS) is back online. PRS allows reviewers to read grant proposal applications, submit reviews, create summaries of panel discussions and read other panelist’s reviews.

Peer reviewers (panelists) are selected based on their expertise and credentials, as well as NIFA panel needs, and are a crucial element of the grant application review process. They review applications and enter individual rating scores and comments into PRS before the panel meeting. Peer reviewers participate in panel discussions about application rankings and submit written summaries of the discussion.

If you are interested in serving on a peer-review panel, you can provide your contact information by visiting PRS and clicking the Panelist Recruitment link. You will be asked to provide your contact information and expertise.

CAFNR desires to increase the number of PhD students and postdoctoral research scholars to strengthen AAU metrics and to further strengthen the CAFNR research community. The goal of the CAFNR Matching Assistantship Program (C-MAP) is to support the efforts of our faculty to attract highly competitive PhD students to CAFNR.

Deadline for submission of application documents for the Fall 2025 Semester is June 1.

CAFNR will award C-MAP funds to complement funding from other sources — required as a condition of the award. A maximum of $12,500 for 12 months for up to four years for a new PhD student will be awarded. Annual renewal will be subject to satisfactory progress toward the degree based on annual reviews. C-MAP funds cannot be used to cover tuition, waiver of educational fees, graduate medical insurance subsidy, or other incidental costs (e.g., student recreation center).

Faculty (tenure or non-tenure track) advisors submitting applications for C-MAP must be leading active research programs, have doctoral faculty status, document availability of at least half of the assistantship funding and participate in a Multistate Hatch Project (or will join a Multistate Project by the time the funding is approved).

A subgroup of the CANFR Research Council (CRC) will serve as the selection committee.

The CAFNR Office of Research is pleased to offer the CAFNR Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (C-DRIG) for the fifth time. The purpose of this grant is to support dissertation research projects proposed by doctoral students in the college. Eligible students should have completed their coursework and have advanced to candidacy or will advance to candidacy within six months of the C-DRIG awards. This program has helped many talented PhD students in our college fund portions of their dissertation projects, while also gaining valuable grant-writing and management experience.

Proposals will be evaluated by the CAFNR Research Council (CRC), an advisory body that advises the CAFNR Office of Research and is made up of representatives from each Division in the College, and other CAFNR faculty as needed.

Awards have a duration of one year (Aug. 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026), and pre-award costs may be incurred up to 90 days prior to the award start date with approval from the Associate Dean for Research. No-cost extensions will not be granted, and any remaining funds will be reclaimed.

Application deadline is June 1, and approximately five awards of $2,000 each will be provided.

Gary Stacey honored by American Society of Plant Biologists

Gary Stacey, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Plant Science and Technology, was honored by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) with the Stephen Hales Prize.

Stacey’s research focuses generally on molecular aspects of plant-microbe interactions, including studies of the beneficial legume-rhizobium symbiosis and plant-fungal pathogen interactions. He has also been instrumental in the development of genomic resources for the study of soybean.

Walter Gassmann receives Noel T. Keen Award

Walter Gassmann, professor in the Division of Plant Science and Technology, and director of the Bond Life Sciences Center, has received the Noel T. Keen Award from the American Phytopathological Society (APS).

Gassmann is an outstanding researcher and educator and is a caring, thoughtful, highly valued colleague motivated by a strong sense of community, according to the APS’ announcement.

Bing Yang named Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society

Bing Yang has been named a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society (APS). Yang has a joint appointment in the Division of Plant Science and Technology as a professor, and in the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center as a member and principal investigator in 2018. At Mizzou, he also is an investigator in the Bond Life Sciences Center.

Five CAFNR faculty honored with awards from Mizzou

• David Mendoza-Cozatl receives Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research & Creative Activity in the Biological Sciences
• Hank Stelzer receives Donald W. Fancher Provost Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension and Continuing Education
• Mandy Bish recognized with Provost’s Award for Creative Extension Programming by New Faculty
• Peter Sutovsky named Mizzou Postdoctoral Faculty Mentor of the Year
• Rob Myers receives the C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship Award

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

Michael Byrne, Georgia Coleman: Nest-site selection and nest success of Northern Harriers (Circus hudsonius) in California’s Sacramento Valley, Missouri Birding Association, 4/1/25-3/31/26, $4,000

Felix Fritschi, Following the path of water – testing novel opportunities for soybean improvement, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, 4/1/25-3/31/26, $57,836

Heike Buecking, Acquisition of Goods and Services: Admin/Facility FY 25-, Agricultural Research Service, 4/1/25-3/31/26, $19,580

Andrew Scaboo, Utilizing Molecular Markers for Soybean Variety Development, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, 7/1/25-6/30/26,  $137,000

Andrew Scaboo, North Missouri Soybean Breeding Program, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, 7/1/25-6/30/26, $485,000

4/29/2025, Andrew Scaboo, SCN Screening for MO Breeding Programs, Missoui Soybean Merchandising Council, 7/1/25-6/30/26, $125,000

Ruojie Zhang, Innovating Soy-Based Products: Boosting Micronutrient Absorption with SOYLEICTM, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, 7/1/25-6/30/26, $37,103

Seunguk Shin, Development of a Survey Instrument for Assessment of Outdoor Recreation Priorities in Southeast Colorado, Southern Plains Land Trust (Great Outdoors Colorado), 5/7/25-6/30/25, $7,951

Kelly Nelson, Channel Tiling to Increase Soybean Yield Resiliency on Sloping Soils, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, 4/1/25-3/31/26, $30,000

Jacqueline Limberg, Networking and Collaborative Research on Obesity-Related Cerebrovascular Dysfunction at the University of Missouri, American Heart Association, 4/1/25-3/31/26, $9,900

Heike Buecking, Acquisition of Goods and Services – Plant Genetics Maize FY25-26, Agricultural Research Service, 4/1/25-3/31/26, $26,466

Michael Stambaugh, Development of Natural Community Health Indices, Missouri Department of Conservation, 4/1/25-6/30/26,  $97,000

Bradley Wilson, Test Mid-South BASF proprietary conventional and traited cotton varieties and experimental lines, BASF Corp, 4/15/25-4/14/26, $29,680

Heike Buecking, Acquisition of Goods and Services-Plant Genetics Acquisition of Goods and Services-Plant Genetics Soybean FY 25-26, Agricultural Research Service, 4/1/253-31/26, $33,990

Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, One Health Boone County Pilot Project, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (Missouri Foundation for Health), 1/1/25-6/30/26, $98,250

Tim Reinbott, Do Crop Rotation and Cover Crops Impact Soil Health, Soil Water, Productivity, and Profitability in Missouri Soybean Systems? The Next Step, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, 4/1/25-3/31/26, $28,000

Andrew Scaboo, IIE Rescue Scholar from Afghanistan, Institute of International Education, 3/28/25-3/27/26, $25,000

Missouri Net Farm Income Recovers in 2025
Morning Ag Clips

Donation allows USAID mechanization research to continue at MU
Brownfield Ag News

A spring of greener pastures
Brownfield Ag News

Economist: Farmers, biofuel producers, fuel retailers still seek E15 certainty
Brownfield Ag News

Get to know Missouri’s next-gen weather guy
Farm Progress

Callie, petunia’s upstart cousin, bursts with floral fireworks
News-Press NOW

Cattle Producers: Is It Time for a Budget Checkup?
Drovers

Corn leafhopper detected in Texas, corn belt on alert
Brownfield Ag News

Early-Season Scouting: Protect Corn and Soybeans from Weeds, Insects, and Diseases
Successful Farming

Good Cattle Market Led to a Strong Bull Sale
Morning Ag Clips

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