Stories

Pengyin Chen

March 17, 2021

Pengyin Chen Honored with American Soybean Association Pinnacle Award

Pengyin Chen, who holds the David M. Haggard Endowed Professorship in Soybean Breeding at the Fisher Delta Research Center, recently received the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) Pinnacle Award, the ASA’s highest honor. Chen was honored during the ASA Awards Program virtual broadcast on Tuesday, March 16. The Pinnacle Award provides industry-wide recognition of individuals who have demonstrated lifetime contribution and exemplary long-time leadership within the soybean family and industry. Chen joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) in 2016. He does a variety of research at the Fisher Delta Research Center, located…
Maya Puller, senior in Plant Sciences, spoke about the importance of the state-of-the-art Henry Kirklin Plant Sciences Learning Laboratory at the dedication event on Feb. 24. (photo courtesy of News Bureau)

March 12, 2021

A Historic Dedication

On Feb. 24, the 151st anniversary of the founding of our college, CAFNR recognized Henry Kirklin, a celebrated Black farmer and educator who lived in and around Columbia from 1858 until his death in 1938, with the naming of the Henry Kirklin Plant Sciences Learning Laboratory, and the establishment of a scholarship for underrepresented minority students studying plant sciences, in his honor. Nearly a dozen of Kirklin’s descendants were in virtual attendance as leadership of MU and CAFNR, along with city leaders, dedicated the lab, which recognizes the man believed to have been the first Black teacher at the University…
Cindy Greenwood

March 12, 2021

Q&A With Cindy Greenwood

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I am the Executive Assistant in the School of Natural Resources. I provide support to our Director, Dr. Patrick Market. I handle his calendar, work with faculty on promotion and tenure, annual reviews, faculty hiring/interviews, event planning, and I am the Building Coordinator for ABNR. I also am a member of the Director’s Staff Advisory Team in SNR and Co-Chair of the CAFNR Staff Council. How long have you worked in CAFNR? I started in SNR on June 1, 2015. Previously on campus, I worked…
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…
Variety of vegetables in a pile

March 11, 2021

MU Huerta Sostenible Familiar

MU Agriculture and Environment Extension specialists continue to produce materials with Spanish-speaking Missourians in mind. Huerta Sostenible Familiar: MU Sembrador, a weekly series of online vegetable gardening classes, begins March 17 at 6:30 p.m. All 13 classes will be taught in Spanish. “The webinar series will cover the basics in vegetable production, technical concepts to grow vegetables, safe food preparation and preservation tips, and so much more,” said Estrella Carmona, MU Extension county engagement specialist in nutrition and health. “We will also explain how growing vegetables can positively contribute to the well-being of their families and communities.” The series is…
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.
Jared Decker

Feb. 22, 2021

Jared Decker Part of Ag Innovation Panel Discussion

Decker is an associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences.

Feb. 22, 2021

Students Earn Honors During Animal Sciences Graduate Forum

The Division of Animal Sciences held its Animal Sciences Graduate Forum virtually in January. There were a total of 20 oral presentations and 19 poster presentations, as nearly all Animal Sciences graduate students participated. Along with numerous presentations, the division recognized 2020 MS and PhD graduates. Below are the winners for each category. MS Oral Presentation First: Amanda Schmelzle Second: Maddie Spooner Third: Destiny Johns Honorable Mention: Alana Rodney PhD Oral Presentation First: Sara Nilson Second: Paula Chen and Jason Rizo Third: Colby Redifer MS Poster Presentation First: Kelsey Clark Second:…

Feb. 18, 2021

Q&A With Lydia Jefferson

Why did you decide to come to the University of Missouri and major in environmental sciences? What do you enjoy about the program itself? The field of study? I’ve wanted to come to Mizzou since I was in eighth grade, back when I wanted to be a fiction writer. Even though my interests shifted to STEM during high school, my admiration for Mizzou did not. I came in as a biochemistry major but switched to environmental sciences-water because I didn’t want to leave the home I found in CAFNR, but was struggling with my courses. I ultimately decided on environmental…
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…