Stories

Recently, three CAFNR professors, in the area of plant biology, were honored with Extraordinary Professor appointments in the Department of Biotechnology at UWC – Bob Sharp, Curators’ Distinguished Professor in the Division of Plant Sciences and director of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG); David Mendoza-Cózatl, associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences; and Scott Peck, professor in the Department of Biochemistry.

Oct. 14, 2021

Interdisciplinary Plant Group Celebrates their 40th Anniversary with Seminars

The Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) is celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year. The IPG is a campus-wide community of University of Missouri (MU) faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows and professionals who are pursuing novel, creative and transformative ideas in the field of plant biology. To celebrate the 40th anniversary, a series of seminars will be presented throughout the months of October and November. The series will feature a prominent IPG alum from each of the four decades of the program. Two additional seminars will highlight recent IPG alumni. The series will showcase the various career paths IPG alumni…
Field of corn under sky.

Oct. 13, 2021

Jacobs and Davis Receive AFRI Sustainable Agriculture Systems Program Grant

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced awardees of its AFRI Sustainable Agriculture Systems Program. Two CAFNR researchers were part of the 2021 awards. Keri Jacobs, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics, and Morgan Davis, assistant professor in soil and environmental sciences, received funding for a study led by researchers at Iowa State University titled “Regenerating America’s Working Landscapes to Enhance Natural Resources and Public Goods through Perennial Groundcover (PGC).” The University of Missouri (MU) is among seven universities and stakeholder organizations leading this five-year, $10-million grant. MU received $660,000…
Brenda Schreck at work

Oct. 7, 2021

Q&A with Brenda Schreck

What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? My focus is consulting with elevator firms to maintain compliance with USDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) guidelines for animal feed. I also work with area producers enrolled in the Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program and …
Kate Preston

Oct. 7, 2021

Q&A With Kate Preston

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I work in CAFNR’s Communications department as a Research News Strategist. I work with researchers on campus to write feature stories promoting their research or grants they’ve received. I also work with the Agricultural Experiment Stations across the state writing stories and promoting events held at the centers. How long have you worked in CAFNR? I started working in CAFNR this past June, so about four months. I graduated from MU in May with a master’s in Agricultural Education, Communications and…
Ben Brown talked to guests at the 2021 Graves-Chapple Research Center Field Day about recent market trends. 

Sep. 29, 2021

Q&A with Ben Brown

What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I have a split appointment between MU Extension and FAPRI. My topic areas include agricultural risk management – markets, policy and finance. Currently, I’m wrapping up a project on land rental rates for Missouri’s crop, pasture and timberland. I also have projects that look at how increased precipitation impacts local basis for Midwest crop prices and a project that examines improving onboarding and training for service professionals in the areas of farm management and agronomy. In addition, I’m working on an international agri-benchmark project where I study production systems around the globe with a case farm…

Sep. 28, 2021

Wurdack Research Center to Host Field Day

The Wurdack Research Center will host an in-person field day on Friday, Oct. 8. The event is free and open to the public, with a lunch at noon sponsored by FCNB Bank. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with tours starting at 9 a.m. “We are so appreciative of their support that helps us continue to provide a free event for local producers,” said Dusty Walter, superintendent of the Wurdack Research Center. Ashley Conway, assistant research professor in the Center for Agroforestry will speak about using shade to enhance herd productivity. Eric Meusch, field specialist in livestock will talk about…

Sep. 27, 2021

Q&A With Caitlyn Allen

Why did you decide to come to the University of Missouri and major in parks, recreation and sport? What do you enjoy about the program itself? The field of study? My decision to come to Mizzou was originally because of the journalism school. However, shortly into my freshman year I decided to look into CAFNR’s sport management program to supplement my journalism degree. After taking a couple of classes in the sport management program, I knew this was where I belonged. What I love most about this program is how intent the courses are in teaching you to…
Mason Ward’s extraordinary research portfolio has earned him two undergraduate research awards from the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Ward earned the Undergraduate Student Achievement in Entomology award from the Plant-Insect Ecosystem (P-IE) section of the ESA, as well as the BioQuip Products Undergraduate Scholarship from the Systematics, Evolution and Biodiversity (SysEB) section.

Sep. 27, 2021

Taking a Chance

As a freshman, Mason Ward took a chance and applied to the Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program with the thought that he would give research a try. Ward wasn’t sure if research would be a major part of his collegiate career, but figured by pushing himself he would certainly learn something new. Now, three years later, Ward’s extraordinary research portfolio has earned him two undergraduate research awards from the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Ward earned the Undergraduate Student Achievement in Entomology award from the Plant-Insect Ecosystem (P-IE) section of the ESA, as well as…
Growing up in a town of less than 300 people, Elizabeth Gunter’s graduating class at DeKalb High School consisted of just 15 students. Coming to the University of Missouri, with enrollment above 30,000 students, was a big change of pace. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) made that change much easier. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gunter.

Sep. 27, 2021

Feeling Right at Home

Growing up in a town of less than 300 people, Elizabeth Gunter’s graduating class at DeKalb High School consisted of just 15 students. Coming to the University of Missouri, with enrollment above 30,000 students, was a big change of pace. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) made that change much easier. “It was definitely a little intimidating being in a lecture hall with more people in it than my entire town,” Gunter said. “However, through CAFNR I was able to meet so many students who had that same rural background who felt the…
After multiple internships and professional work experiences related to agriculture communications – and numerous leadership opportunities within CAFNR – Samantha Turner now has the opportunity to share the agriculture message across the state as the newly named director of communications for Missouri Soybeans. Photo courtesy of Samantha Turner.

Sep. 27, 2021

An Opportunity to Share Missouri Agriculture

When Samantha Turner first declared an agricultural education major within the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), she was focused on educating future generations of agriculturists as a high school teacher. Once Turner got into the program and got more involved, she knew that agricultural education was the right path. However, she realized that instead of communicating agriculture to only high school students, she wanted to share that knowledge with individuals throughout Missouri outside of the classroom. After multiple internships and professional work experiences related to agriculture communications – and numerous leadership…