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It has been a busy month but I have enjoyed connecting with faculty, staff, students, alumni and other CAFNR friends. MizzouForward candidate interviews continue, as do fall faculty meetings with our CAFNR divisions. I am very excited to share with you that Rob Myers, director of our Center for Regenerative Agriculture, has received the largest federal research, education and extension grant ever awarded to an MU faculty member. The $25 million award comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and will help Missouri farmers adopt climate-smart practices to ultimately improve resiliency of crops and livestock in the midst of growing threats from climate change. Other Mizzou partners include MU Extension and the Center for Agroforestry, as well as Lincoln University, the Missouri Corn Growers Association, the Missouri Soybean Association, the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, state agencies, agribusiness non-profit groups in Missouri and 14 CAFNR faculty. Congratulations to Dr. Myers and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture. We are CAFNR Proud! Last week I attended the President’s Fall Leadership Meeting and Deans Council Meeting, met with the CAFNR Staff Advisory Council, and enjoyed the delicious Farm to Fork dinner at Bradford Research Farm as well as the CAFNR Tiger Classic golf tournament with alumni and friends. Tomorrow I will hold the first CAFNR Core Team meeting of the fall semester and attend an Institute of Food Technologists Taskforce meeting. Later this week I will be part of the Mizzou Financial Research Institute Symposium, the MU Budget and Allocation Process meeting with faculty and staff, Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching/Administrative Heads Section 2023 planning meeting, and a meeting with the CAFNR Advisory Leadership Council. I look forward to dining with CAFNR donors Sept. 24. To finish the month I will attend the Agribusiness Council of Kansas City Ag Outlook Forum, the Missouri Innovation Center Board meeting, an APLU discussion on Strengthening and Advancing U.S. Global Interests, and the Missouri Community College Association Presidents Reception and Tour. I look forward to speaking to attendees at the Missouri Seedman’s Association Scholarship Awards Banquet and the CAFNR Scholarship Dinner. I hope you will take some time to read feature stories with CAFNR young alumni as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. More stories are coming as the month progresses! Please join us for a discussion on the MU Budget and Allocation with Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Latha Ramchand and Vice Chancellor for Finance Rhonda Gibler this Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 4:15 p.m. in 2-16 Ag Science. I hope you also will make plans to join us for a special panel discussion at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Jesse Auditorium, as part of MU’s Extension and Engagement Week. I am proud to be hosting special guests, including Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins, Missouri State Professor Christi Sudbrock, and CAFNR Alumna and Nestle Purina VP Sheri Smithey, to discuss “Adding Value to Agriculture” and showcasing the Show-Me Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Initiative. Register today and view the full agenda of Extension and Engagement Week activities, centered around “All Things Food.” CAFNR Proud, Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean |
