Plant Science and Technology
May 12, 2023
Get to Know Carey Page
Page is the vineyard manager for Mizzou's Grape and Wine Institute
May 10, 2023
CAFNR Students Named Gilman Scholars
Allyson Sampson, senior in animal sciences; Dylan Stover, senior in agribusiness management and plant sciences; and Feather Teghtmeyer, senior in natural resource science and management; have received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
May 8, 2023
Four CAFNR Students Earn Recognition at Mizzou Show-Me Research Week
Nearly 500 University of Missouri students and postdoctoral fellows presented their research and creativity activity during the inaugural Show Me Research Week April 17-21. The week, which celebrated MU students as creators, innovators, problem solvers and thinkers, culminated with an Award and Recognition Ceremony held at the Bond Life Sciences Center. The following CAFNR students were recognized for their work during the ceremony, which also praised MU faculty for serving as mentors: Shagor Sarkar, Plant Science and Technology/Mentor: Jianfeng Zhou, second place in Engineering Grace Johnson, Plant Science and Technology/Mentor: Heike Buecking, second place in Life Sciences Olivia Bongiovi, School of…
May 8, 2023
CAFNR Senior Spotlight – Joey Naumann
Naumann is a senior graduating in May with a degree in agricultural systems technology.
May 2, 2023
Bryan Honored with 2023 Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award
Vicki Bryan, program coordinator in plant science and technology, has received the 2023 Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award. These awards represent those who best reflect honor upon the University and the community through a combination of job performance, job-related personal qualities, relationship with their associates, and the ability to relate their work to the missions and values of the University. One award is given to a staff member in each of the five job categories: Administrative/Professional, Clerical/Office, Crafts/Maintenance, Technical/Paraprofessional, Temp and UM System. Bryan was recognized in the Administrative/Professional category. Bryan will be honored during the 2023 Staff Recognition Week.
May 2, 2023
Sharp Receives UM System’s Jefferson Award
Robert Sharp, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Plant Science and Technology, recently received the UM System President’s Thomas Jefferson Award for his research. The award recognizes one outstanding faculty member annually who has been nationally or internationally recognized for and demonstrated clear distinction in research, scholarship, teaching and public service. Sharp, also former director of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG), received the award for his stellar reputation as an international collaborator furthering the field of plant science, his work overseeing key joint hires at MU and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, helping with the development of the new East Campus…
May 1, 2023
Norman Best
Plant architecture directly influences plant productivity. The Best Lab is focused on manipulating the current maize architecture to improve productivity and resist yield losses incurred by a changing environment. Plant hormones regulate all aspects of plant architecture. Our research is primarily targeting three hormone pathways: gibberellins, brassinosteroids and auxin. We have identified that manipulating endogenous levels of these plant growth regulators through both genetic and biochemical approaches results in drastic effects on plant shape and form. While many of these changes in architecture are beneficial to improve plant performance, there are consequences that can cause deleterious effects. We have used…
April 28, 2023
Cover crops could reduce PPL acres in wet springs
A topic in farm policy circles is whether conservation practices can reduce PPL risk in extreme weather such as floods. Crop insurance is one of the farm bill’s largest expenditures. 2019 file photo of Holt County, Missouri, by Linda Geist. A newly released study shows that planting cover crops and reduced tillage could substantially lower the number of prevent plant (PPL) acres and subsequent federal crop insurance payments. Cover crops lower the number of PPL acres in wet springs, reducing the loss odds by 24%, according to the six-state study released in March, says Rob Myers, director of the University…
April 24, 2023
CAFNR Faculty & Staff Receive Honorary State FFA Degrees
The Missouri FFA Association named a number of CAFNR faculty and staff members Honorary State FFA Degree recipients at the 95th Missouri FFA Convention held April 20-21 in Columbia. This recognition was given for years of support, including service as state superintendents for agriculture, food and natural resources Career Development Events. Those honored include: Matt Arri, Agricultural Sales CDE Andrew Biggs, Agronomy CDE Addison Byrne, Livestock Evaluation CDE Andrew Clarke, Food Science & Technology CDE Lesleighan Cravens, Floriculture CDE Chris Daubert, Support of CDEs and the Convention Tawnie DeJong, Livestock Evaluation CDE Deborah Finke, Entomology CDE Laura Friedrich, Agricultural Sales…
April 21, 2023
CAFNR Advisor Spotlight: Mary Ann Gowdy
How rewarding is it to work with students in the plant science degrees program? Advising and mentoring is immensely rewarding because students begin their college experience as timid students unsure of themselves and graduate as confident energetic young professionals. How do you assist those students throughout their academic journey? I encourage them to take calculated risks and to accept unsuccessful events as learning experiences. I stress the importance of learning to accept responsibility for their actions and how important it is to ask for help when needed. My job as their advisor is to be honest with them and that…