Research

Ray Massey

April 8, 2021

Nudging Landowners and Tenants Toward Environmental and Social Stewardship

Ray Massey, Extension professor, and Michelle Segovia, assistant professor, both faculty of agricultural and applied economics in the Division of Applied Social Sciences, recently received a grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The grant is for $498,833 and is titled, “Nudging Landowners and Tenants Toward Environmental and Social Stewardship.” The grant was part of a recent $11.5-million USDA research investment to help ensure America’s small and medium-sized farms become more profitable and improve the quality of life in American farm communities. “The ultimate goal of our project is to promote societal goals by fostering new leasing…
The Precision and Automated Agriculture Lab (PAAL) in the CAFNR Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering recently teamed up with researchers in the CAFNR Division of Plant Sciences to study yield estimation of soybean breeding lines under drought stress using unmanned aerial vehicle-based imagery and convolutional neural network. Their work resulted in a paper published by Biosystems Engineering. Pictured is Jing Zhou flying a drone at the Fisher Delta Research Center. Photo courtesy of Jing Zhou.

April 7, 2021

A Different Perspective

High yield potential is often the top trait crop breeders look at, as higher yielding crops can lead to more money in a producer’s pocket. Researchers in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) conduct a variety of trait-related trials through various breeding programs. The Precision and Automated Agriculture Lab (PAAL) in the CAFNR Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering recently teamed up with researchers in the CAFNR Division of Plant Sciences to study yield estimation of soybean breeding lines under drought stress using unmanned aerial vehicle-based imagery and convolutional neural network. Their work…
Kiruba Krishnaswamy

March 18, 2021

Food Innovations to Address Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger

Kiruba Krishnaswamy, assistant professor of food science in the Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering, recently received a VentureWell Faculty Grant that will support a new course that incorporates experiential learning to create innovative solutions in food and agricultural systems. The course will be aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal to eradicate hunger. “Students will learn about global challenges in food systems, including chronic hunger and hidden hunger, and learn how to become agents of change through food systems innovation,” Krishnaswamy said. Krishnaswamy was one of 13 recipients from across the United States who were chosen through a competitive…
Farm income could decline in 2021, in spite of large increases in the value of crop and livestock sales, according to the latest analysis of national and global agricultural trends from the University of Missouri. Lower government payments and higher farm production costs could outweigh the increase in sales. Even with the decline projected by analysts at the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), net farm income of $112 billion in 2021 would still be much higher than it was from 2015-2019. Net farm income increased to $121 billion in 2020, the highest level since 2013, primarily because of $46 billion in government payments.

March 12, 2021

Agricultural Markets Still Face Uncertainty, but University of Missouri Analysts See Signs of Optimism

Farm income could decline in 2021, in spite of large increases in the value of crop and livestock sales, according to the latest analysis of national and global agricultural trends from the University of Missouri. Lower government payments and higher farm production costs could outweigh the increase in sales. Even with the decline projected by analysts at the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), net farm income of $112 billion in 2021 would still be much higher than it was from 2015-2019. Net farm income increased to $121 billion in 2020, the highest level since 2013, primarily because…
The current CAFNR Research Council is made up of 11 individuals and chaired by Sarah Low, associate professor in the Division of Applied Social Sciences (DASS). Felix Fritschi, professor in the Division of Plant Sciences, is the co-chair.

Feb. 24, 2021

Raising the Research Profile

CAFNR Research Council working to promote researchers and projects.
When Lauren Eagon came to the University of Missouri to study natural resource science and management, one of her goals was to complete her own research project. With the help of the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), Eagon, who is now a senior, has been an active participant in undergraduate research throughout her collegiate career. She has gained hands-on experience through various research projects, where she has partnered with CAFNR faculty, staff and graduate students. She has also accomplished her goal and conducted her own research. Photo courtesy of Lauren Eagon.

Feb. 17, 2021

Part of the Frontline Discovery Group

When Lauren Eagon came to the University of Missouri to study natural resource science and management, one of her goals was to complete her own research project. With the help of faculty mentors in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), Eagon, who is now a senior, has been an active participant in undergraduate research throughout her collegiate career. She has gained hands-on experience through various research projects, where she has partnered with CAFNR faculty, staff and graduate students. She has also accomplished her goal and conducted her own research. “Providing undergraduates with such a valuable opportunity…
Nearly 30 years after it was established in 1888, researchers at the University of Missouri began the process of taking and studying soil cores at Sanborn Field. About every 25 years, those cores are taken again to gain an understanding of the changes in the soil over time, given the variety of treatments and rotations that occur each year. It’s been more than 30 years since the soil cores have last been studied. Tim Reinbott, director of Sanborn Field, worked throughout 2020 to secure funding and was able to put together a team of partners who removed the cores in November 2020.

Jan. 27, 2021

‘Just the Tip of the Iceberg’

Nearly 30 years after it was established in 1888, researchers at the University of Missouri began the process of taking and studying soil cores at Sanborn Field. About every 25 years, those cores are taken again to gain an understanding of the changes in the soil over time, given the variety of treatments and rotations that occur each year. It’s been more than 30 years since the soil cores have last been studied. Tim Reinbott, director of Sanborn Field, worked throughout 2020 to secure funding and was able to put together a team of partners who removed the cores in…
The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) is going to dive deeper into regenerative agriculture by forming a new Center for Regenerative Agriculture. While there is no single definition for regenerative agriculture, some key elements of the practice include increasing soil health and biodiversity, integrating a mix of conservation practices, and contributing to overall sustainability and profitability on working farms and ranches. Photo courtesy of Rob Myers.

Jan. 4, 2021

Diving Deeper Into Regenerative Agriculture

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) is going to dive deeper into regenerative agriculture by forming a new Center for Regenerative Agriculture. While there is no single definition for regenerative agriculture, some key elements of the practice include increasing soil health and biodiversity, integrating a mix of conservation practices, and contributing to overall sustainability and profitability on working farms and ranches. “We have been fortunate to obtain external funding to support the center, which will foster faculty and student collaboration across the entire college and will support key aspects of our new strategic plan…
Tony Lupo, a professor of atmospheric science in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) School of Natural Resources (SNR), said the winter weather shouldn’t stray too far from last year’s winter, although it may be a tad bit cooler.

Dec. 18, 2020

A Long-Term Look

While there’s never a dull moment when it comes to long-term forecasting, Tony Lupo doesn’t foresee any wild weather swings during the upcoming winter months in mid-Missouri. Lupo, a professor of atmospheric science in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) School of Natural Resources (SNR), said the weather shouldn’t stray too far from last year’s winter, although it may be a tad bit cooler. “December has definitely started off on the warm side of normal, but I think as we move forward, our temperatures will move to cooler than average based on La Niña,”…
Pavel Somavat joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering (FSB) this year as an assistant professor of food science/biomedical, biological and chemical engineering. Somavat taught courses in food science and researched natural food colors, grain and biomass processing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley before joining CAFNR. Somavat was at CCS Haryana Agricultural University before joining the faculty at Rio Grande Valley. Photo courtesy of Pavel Somavat.

Dec. 14, 2020

Working to Benefit Society

Pavel Somavat spent four years teaching electrical engineering at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, a land-grant university located in India. Somavat enjoyed the underlying philosophy and offerings of the land-grant system – and when he had an opportunity to take a faculty position at one of the two land-grant universities in Missouri, he jumped at the chance. Somavat joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering (FSB) this year as an assistant professor of food science/biomedical, biological and chemical engineering. Somavat taught courses in food science and researched natural food…