Extension

Reagan Bluel named interim superintendent of Southwest Research Center

Aug. 30, 2023

Q&A with Reagan Bluel

Reagan Bluel named interim superintendent of Southwest Research Center on July 31. What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? As an MU Extension field specialist in dairy and education director for Missouri Dairy, I serve dairy producers statewide through on-farm assessments and learning events. My programming ranges from small group, like Women in Dairy or full farm benchmarking, to large events such as the statewide dairy expo and summer social. Hands-on learning courses are my favorite to teach, such as artificial insemination or udder dissection. Individually, I consult a number of herds on ruminant nutrition. It’s…

July 28, 2023

Q&A with Patrick Davis

Get to know Patrick Davis

July 18, 2023

Top 5 livestock forage actions to take during drought

Most of Missouri is experiencing drought conditions, which have extended almost a full year, putting enormous pressure on cattle producers. University of Missouri Extension specialists have five top action items for producers to do now
A woman in a yellow collared shirt is teaching a group of seven children who are around the age of eight. They are all in a garden. She is holding plants in both hands.

June 28, 2023

Q&A with Jennifer Schutter

Get to know Jennifer Schutter
A man in an orange hat leans over a garden in a greenhouse.

June 28, 2023

Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center Cultivates growth in Local Agribusinesses

Nearly one-third of Missouri's economy is tied to agriculture. Now, as part of a partnership that evolved from a statewide effort to help agricultural producers scale their businesses, the Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center (MAFFIC) has launched. The center draws on agricultural business development expertise at the University of Missouri and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA).
A white man with dark hair and sungalsses wearing a bright yellow t-shirt sits next to a white woman with long, blonde hair and glasses wearing a grey polo shirt. The two examine pieces of grass laid out on a wooden table in front of them. The woman is holding one piece of grass

May 31, 2023

A Natural Fit

MU Extension Field Specialist Valerie Tate sat at her desk near Linneus as her co-worker popped in. “Oh, hey, do you mind if I put these insect traps up around the farm as part of the statewide MU IPM pest monitoring network?” Tate asked. When she asked this question, Tate was already on “the farm.” Tate works out of the Linn County Extension Office, which moved into the administrative building at Cornett Farm — part of Mizzou’s Northern Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (NM-REEC) — in March. The REEC is part of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural…
Flooded field

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…
Andre Froes de Borja Reis

April 5, 2023

Andre Froes de Borja Reis

Andre FB Reis is the statewide specialist in soybean farming systems and joined the division of Plant Science and Technology in 2023. Educational background Ph.D., Crop Science, University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) M.S., Crop Science, Federal University of Tocantins (Brazil) B.S., Agronomy, University of Sao Paulo (Brazil)…
Sarah is posing for a photo in front of a tree in the woods.

March 20, 2023

Q&A with Sarah Kenyon

What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am a field specialist in agronomy serving six counties in the southwest region. Based in West Plains, Missouri, I conduct educational programs for producers in forage production and management. I also participate with local farmer cooperators with on-farm demonstrations concerning grazing management, weed control and fertility management. How long have you worked in this position? I started in November 2009, so I have been in this role for over 13 years. What is your favorite part about the work you do? I enjoy working with farmers…
A woman stands outside next to her cattle operation. The sky is great and it looks windy.

March 17, 2023

Annie’s Project empowered Marion County farmer Amy Lehenbauer

Annie’s Project, a program offered by University of Missouri Extension for two decades, gave Amy Lehenbauer the confidence she needed to become active in the family farm. Lehenbauer is one of more than 19,000 women across the nation who completed the program during the past 20 years, says MU Extension agriculture business specialist Karisha Devlin. The program celebrates two decades of helping women in agriculture gain skills in leadership, business and estate planning, self-defense and self-care. “Annie’s Project educates and empowers women in agriculture and encourages them in whatever role they choose to have in their farming operations,” says Devlin.