Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station

An arial view of a herd of sheep grazing a green pasture with solar panels.

April 30, 2024

A bountiful harvest: Agrivoltaics blends solar energy with agriculture in innovative research project at University of Missouri

As solar-generated electricity is increasing, some landowners are pondering converting land used to produce food to land used to produce energy, but what if they could do both? What if they didn’t have to choose? Agrivoltaics is a new concept that blends solar energy production with agricultural uses like row crops or pastureland, and researchers at the University of Missouri’s Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (CM-REEC) are looking to answer many questions about the new practice with its new demonstration site. A herd of sheep grazes among solar panels at a farm practicing agrivoltaics. “As a research institution,…
Red building with grey roof

April 12, 2024

New building at Mizzou’s Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Farm to support research, teaching and extension efforts in mid-Missouri

A new building at the University of Missouri’s Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Farm (HARF) in New Franklin will upgrade the ability of the farm to host educational and outreach events, and support the local community, including producers and landowners.

March 30, 2024

School of Natural Resources researcher works to develop guidelines for industrial hemp producers in Missouri

In the early 20th century, Missouri was a leader in hemp production, ranking second in the nation.  Still, after more than a century of the crop being categorized as a controlled substance, the rich knowledge Missouri farmers had of the crop was lost. Researchers at the University of Missouri are now working to learn how to recapture the value that growing industrial hemp could provide for the state’s farmers. “We are looking at this like a new crop, and, like any new crop, there are ups and downs,” said Gurpreet Kaur, assistant research professor at MU’s School of Natural Resources.
Two women smile for a selfie.

Feb. 26, 2024

Mizzou dairy cattle experience connects generations

Recent animal sciences graduate Sarah Estes and her mother, Amy Jo, both found love for animal sciences at Mizzou.
Drone flying over field

Feb. 7, 2024

Smart agriculture: Farming in the digital age

Mizzou’s new Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center will enhance research, education and outreach in emerging digital technologies for farming.

Feb. 2, 2024

Graduate Student Spotlight: Q&A with Angelica Crosby

What is your research focus?  I will be studying nutrient management in cotton grown in a peanut-cotton rotation. Why does this field interest you?  Peanuts are still relatively new to the state, but we are seeing a lot of our cotton producers take interest and including them in their field rotations already. We know that peanuts as a leguminous crop host nitrogen-fixing bacteria and it is important for our growers to know how that could be affecting their cotton production in terms of fertilizer application. Why did you decide to come to Mizzou?  I have actually worked for the MU…
Two men in blue jeans and work boots place tubing into the ground of a harvested corn field to collect a water sample

Jan. 30, 2024

Grant to expand water testing capabilities for northern Missourians

A USDA grant is funding a new water testing facility at MU’s Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Farm
A pond sits with corn growing in the foreground and rolling hills with hay bales in the background on a cloudy day

Jan. 29, 2024

MU to expand outreach and technical assistance to Missouri land-owners for conservation practices through NRCS grant

A pair of grants totaling $1.4 million will fund eight new positions located throughout the state and impact more than 20,000 acres of Missouri farmland.

Nov. 1, 2023

Missouri Foundation Seed moving forward with modernization project

Last year, Missouri Foundation Seed (MFS) received a $3.25 million appropriation from the State of Missouri to modernize its facilities and, ultimately, be more competitive with other states. Today, MFS is hard at work implementing that project.

Aug. 2, 2023

T.E. ‘Jake’ Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center to host first ever Ag Research Expo

University of Missouri’s T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center (REEC) invites the public to its first Ag Research Expo on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The event is a new approach to the REEC’s traditional Field Day, and will focus on producers while providing separate events for other stakeholders.