CAFNR

Man holding smartphone with social technology

March 13, 2020

Let’s Get Social

Mizzou Tigers are everywhere – on campus, at community events and scattered across the country as proud alumni! Social presence in the Tiger community can be powerful when it comes to reporting emergencies, sharing sports highlights, unveiling research, as well as sharing the memorable faces and spaces that make us so proud to sing “Old Missouri, Fair Missouri!” While we want you to share your love for CAFNR and Mizzou, there are some new guidelines for personal social media usage as MU employees. Keep in mind these best practices as you engage your followers: “Even if you are personally engaging…

March 13, 2020

Q&A With Rhonda Turner

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I am the executive assistant to Shibu Jose, the associate dean in the CAFNR Office of Research. I maintain his calendar of meetings and events ensuring he is prepared in advance. I also handle the administrative duties of the office and act as liaison to both internal and external audiences. I assist Shibu on a variety of projects related to the CAFNR Office of Research. How long have you worked in CAFNR? I will have worked in CAFNR for six years this July. What do…
Henry Nguyen, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Plant Sciences in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), is part of a group that recently compared the three most recent reference genome accessions, which includes an improved “Williams 82” assembly, and new assemblies of “Lee” and PI 483463.

Feb. 17, 2020

An Important Comparison

It was nearly a decade ago when the first soybean reference genome, “Williams 82,” was published in 2010. For the next several years, that cultivar, which was chosen to represent the northern United States germplasm, served as the main soybean reference genome – the sequence that gives scientists a baseline of a species’ set of genes. A few years after “Williams 82” became available, Henry Nguyen, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Plant Sciences in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), was part of a team that developed additional reference genomes, this time focusing on soybeans…
The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Office of Marketing and Communications recently added two individuals to its team – Reagan Brown (right) and Ashley Craft (left). Brown has been named the CAFNR marketing communications coordinator. Craft’s new role is as the Extension communications strategist.

Feb. 13, 2020

Strengthening CAFNR Communication

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Office of Marketing and Communications recently added two individuals to its team – Reagan Brown and Ashley Craft. Brown has been named the CAFNR marketing communications coordinator. Craft’s new role is as the Extension communications strategist. “We are so excited to add Reagan and Ashley to our team,” said Michelle Enger, director, CAFNR Office of Marketing and Communications. “Both bring unique skillsets and experiences that will help us expand how we talk about the outstanding things happening in CAFNR.” Showcasing Missouri Agriculture Brown joins CAFNR after spending the…
150 years graphic.

Feb. 12, 2020

Celebrate CAFNR’s 150th Anniversary

It’s a big year in CAFNR! We are proud to be observing the 150th anniversary of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources in 2020. Make plans to join us in celebrating the golden legacy and bold future of our college. Save the date to join us for the CAFNR Founding Day celebration, Monday, Feb. 24. We will have a special proclamation ceremony in the Jesse Hall rotunda at 1:30 that afternoon. This event will mark 150 years to the day of our founding in 1870. Speakers will include Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who will also read a…
The Agribusiness Career Connections Program is designed to connect CAFNR undergraduates to various agribusinesses located throughout the Midwest. It is sponsored, in part, by the John Brown Scholars Fund. Photo courtesy of Bryan Garton.

Feb. 4, 2020

Building a Network

As the director of career services in the CAFNR Office of Academic Programs, Matt Arri dedicates his time to building networks and relationships between CAFNR students and industry professionals. Arri’s goal is to make sure those students are career ready – and he has introduced a variety of new initiatives to help them along the way. It was an alum who helped set up the most recent Agribusiness Career Connections Program trip. Craig Bacon, senior vice president of technical services for Simmons Prepared Foods, was part of CAFNR’s Robert O. Reich Executive-in-Residence Program in October 2018. Bacon returned to campus…
Sarah Lovell officially joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) in August 2019, as the H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Professor and director of the Center for Agroforestry. Two months later, Lovell, who became just the second individual to hold the endowed chair position after Shibu Jose served eight years in the role, welcomed guests to the grand opening celebration of the Land of the Osages Research Center. Neither the H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Professorship nor the Land of the Osages Research Center would have come to fruition if Gene Garrett would have ignored a Post-it Note with a name and phone number on it back in 2003.

Jan. 29, 2020

A Humble Giver

Sarah Lovell officially joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) in August 2019, as the H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Professor and director of the Center for Agroforestry. Two months later, Lovell, who became just the second individual to hold the endowed chair position after Shibu Jose served eight years in the role, welcomed guests to the grand opening celebration of the Land of the Osages Research Center. Neither the H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Professorship nor the Land of the Osages Research Center would have come to fruition if Gene Garrett would have ignored a…
J. Soctt Angle, the director of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), earned a master’s degree in soil science at the University of Maryland and earned his PhD in soil microbiology at the University of Missouri, studying under George Wagner.

Jan. 29, 2020

A Great Experience

J. Scott Angle never intended to have a career in agriculture. An interest in golf led Angle to turf management (agronomy) at the University of Maryland. The agronomy degree program was in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland. “I had no interest in agriculture,” Angle said. “I grew up in the city, in Baltimore, and I didn’t really have any ties to agriculture. I did love golf and was focused on becoming a golf course superintendent. It just so happened that turf management was part of the agriculture college at the University of Maryland.”…
Shibu Jose’s appointment as associate dean for research and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station is effective immediately.

Nov. 22, 2019

Growing CAFNR’s Research Footprint

It was 10 years ago when Shibu Jose joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) as the H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Professor in the School of Natural Resources (SNR) and the director of The Center for Agroforestry. During the past year, Jose has served as the interim associate dean for research in CAFNR and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station (AES), CAFNR’s network of research centers throughout the state. The interim tag has now been officially removed. Jose’s appointment as associate dean for research and director of the AES is effective immediately. Jose became…
Students work with horses at the MU Equine Teaching Facility at South Farm. The Division of Animal Sciences recently unveiled a new equine science and management certificate.

Nov. 14, 2019

Learning by Doing

Experiential learning is embedded throughout MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources courses. From Cafe at Eckles, a café operated by students and faculty of the hospitality management program, to Tiger Garden, a student-operated florist shop, there’s no shortage of opportunities for CAFNR students to gain valuable work experience. The Division of Animal Sciences recently added an Equine Science and Management Certificate, a program that will allow students to emphasize and quantify to employers their hands-on work experience with horses. “This certificate focuses on hands-on experience,” said Marci Crosby, an instructor within animal sciences and the coordinator of the…