In CAFNR we have accomplished a lot over the past 150 years, but we’re looking to solve what’s next on our Drive to Distinction. The research in CAFNR spans multiple disciplines; we are a community of experts who tackle complex problems and find appropriate solutions.

As some of you may have seen, a series of videos highlighting CAFNR’s researchers, labs and facilities were featured at the 2021 North Central Mini-Land Grant Virtual Conference last month. We are excited to share these videos with you as well as our audience on social media this week. All videos can be viewed by clicking here.

I want to thank all who participated in the video series. The dedication to your work and to the college is evident. Thank you for everything you do to drive the CAFNR research enterprise to distinction!

Shibu Jose
CAFNR Associate Dean for Research

Chung-Ho Lin is a research associate professor in forestry and lead scientist in charge of the bioremediation and natural products research program at the Center for Agroforestry

Caleb Grohmann, a PhD student in informatics and data science, was selected as a Future Leaders for Food and Agriculture (FFAR) Fellow

DeLine Holdings and CAFNR Partner to Unveil Community Research Site 

DeLine Holdings and CAFNR will celebrate the grand opening of the DeLine Community Research Site on Thursday, Sept. 16. The event will run from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the site in northwest Columbia. The public and media are invited to celebrate a new collaboration developing outdoor research and educational opportunities to facilitate a better understanding of natural systems and processes. Please register for the event if you plan to attend.  The site terrain is somewhat rugged, so appropriate footwear is recommended.

The Hundley-Whaley Research Center field day set for Sept. 11

Science Night at Jefferson Farm and Garden: Atmospheric Science Night was held on Thursday, Sept. 2, at the Center. A live broadcast by Kenton Gewecke, roundtable discussion with MU atmospheric science professors and a weather balloon launch were part of the event!

Tim Reinbott, director of field operations for the Agricultural Experiment Stations, recently received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for the project titled Cover Cropping and Crop Rotation Strategies to Build Soil Health and Improve Yield and Probability of Organic Vegetable Production Systems. As part of the award, Jefferson Farm and Garden, one of University of Missouri’s Agricultural Experiment Stations, received approximately $57,000 to conduct research and outreach at the Center. The grant in total was for $496,815.

This research and outreach project is in collaboration with a team from Lincoln University as well as vegetable growers in Missouri and Kansas. This project is designed to examine the effectiveness of both perennial and annual grasses/legume cover crop mixes. The multi-year nature of the system is expected to reduce management intensity and inputs while enhancing productivity and profitability of vegetable growers.

“Vegetable producers, especially those with limited resources, are constantly looking for ways to reduce cost, increase yield and/or increase value of their farm,” said Reinbott. “We wanted to come up with a plan that was easy and feasible for farmers to implement.”

Research plots will be planted both at Lincoln University in Jefferson City and Jefferson Farm and Garden this fall. On-farm trials will also take place with cooperating farmers. Not only is this research helping soil health and sustainability practices, by planting perennials and annuals it also helps with pollinators.

Jefferson Farm and Garden has plans to host workshops, virtual field days and farm walks to promote their findings.

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

Ahmed Balboula, Mechanisms Underpinning Meiotic Spindle Formation and Behavior, NIH Natl Inst of Gen Med Sci, 9/1/2021-8/31/2022, $376,553

Kerry Clark, SEP21 West Africa SPS/TBT/CSA, Foreign Ag Svc, 9/1/2021-8/31/2024, $699,782.57

Felix Fritschi, Evaluation of Sound Formulation on Corn, Sound Ag, 8/18/2021-12/31/2021, $17,237

Robert Kallenbach, Pesticide Safety Education (PSEP) Coordinator, Mo Dept of Ag, 7/1/2021-12/31/2023, $430,000

Benjamin Knapp, Regenerating Mixed Pin-Oak Forests in East Texas Ecosystems of Boggy Slough Conservation Area, TLL Temple Foundation, 7/1/2021-8/31/2023, $164,113

Sarah Low, State and Regional Farm Financial Analysis, Dept of Ag, 9/30/2021-9/29/2024, $1,425,000

Qisheng Song, Insect Cell Culture Modeling, Agricultural Research SVC, 8/15/2021-8/27/2022, $31,719

Patrick Westhoff, Agricultural Policy and Market Analysis 2021-2022, Dept of Ag, 9/30/2021-9/29/2022, $1,975,000

State Sets Stage for Success in Beef Cattle Production

Ag Update 

Eyes on the Skies: MU Atmospheric Science Program Launches Weather Balloon

Columbia Missourian

Jefferson Farm and Garden hosted Science Night on Thursday, Sept. 2! The header photo features the Missouri Mobile Meteorological Observatory, or MO³. The vehicle is an ambulance that the atmospheric science program converted into a weather vehicle.