Stories - Page 112, Page 112

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ South Farm Research Center conducts a variety of research – from swine to turf – on its nearly 1,500 acres of land. More than 10 years ago, then-CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Tom Payne put together a team to find the best way to showcase the assortment of projects taking place at South Farm. Not only did the group want to highlight the research, they wanted to make the showcase interactive, allowing the community to really see what was happening at the South Farm Research Center. The goal was to create an atmosphere where people of any age could come in and have fun while learning more about the agricultural world.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: Fun on the Farm
The Baskett Research Center is used as an outdoor laboratory for several classes, including dendrology, ornithology and resource measurements, and it has been the study location for more than 125 publications. Students and faculty work together on a variety of projects, including the development of strategies to mitigate invasive species, wildlife population research, investigation into predation and predatory patterns, the absorption of carbon dioxide in natural environments and much more.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: A View From the Top
Nitrogen application is an incredibly important part of achieving high crop yields in Missouri and elsewhere, but management of this essential plant nutrient is challenging because it is susceptible to environmental loss. The management of that nitrogen is also incredibly important, from yield and environmental standpoints. The Greenley Research Center is working on numerous projects related to nitrogen management, as well as agricultural lime placement, and the issues concerning that management and placement.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: Managing Nitrogen in the Soil
Matthew Burdick grew up in Kansas City and was interested in becoming a veterinarian when he came to the University of Missouri. He began working at Foremost in 2016 to get more hands-on experience with cattle.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: A Hands-on Learning Experience
Agroforestry incorporates trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems. The goal is to create environmental, economic and social benefits across the farm. One of those agroforestry practices is mushroom cultivation forest farming, where landowners can generate an extra income – or extra food – through growing their own varieties of mushrooms.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: A Unique Farming Enterprise
Due to its location on second bottom river soils, the Hundley-Whaley Research Center provides an optimum location for agronomic studies including testing and comparison of new varieties and new products. Jennifer Miller has looked for ways to build on those projects since she was named the superintendent of the Research Center in 2018. Her focus has been on small-acre entrepreneurship plots that are around five to 30 acres. After asking for feedback and doing her own research, Miller chose honeybees as a topic of interest.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: Beginning Beekeeping Analysis
The Southwest Research Center is home to a number of specialty crop projects, ranging from elderberries to pawpaws. That research includes a blackberry project led by Patrick Byers, a field specialist in commercial horticulture for MU Extension in Webster County. Byers is focused on researching blackberries grown in a trellis system. The project includes multiple blackberry cultivars and Byers has been able to showcase how a trellis can be extremely beneficial to blackberry growers.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: Taking the Blackberry Message Across Missouri
The Graves-Chapple Research Center was established in 1988 as a collaborative effort between Atchison County Extension, Holt County Extension, University of Missouri Extension Commercial Agriculture Program, the University of Missouri’s Agricultural Experiment Station, local agribusinesses and local producers. The site is a prime example of how the missions of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and MU Extension work together.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: ‘A Living Guide Sheet’
Felix Fritschi (right) and Bob Sharp received a $1.56 million grant in 2009 to construct drought simulators. The first two were built at the Bradford Research Center. Additional simulators have been built at the Fisher Delta Research Center, in Portageville, and the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, in New Franklin.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: Battling Drought
Brent Booker was one of six boys who grew up on the Booker family farm, just three miles from the Wurdack Research Center. Throughout their high school years, five of the Booker boys were employed by the Research Center. Brent began at Wurdack in 1980 as a part-time employee. He would go to high school for half a day and finish his day at Wurdack. When he graduated high school in 1981, he was hired as a full-time employee.

Aug. 5, 2019

Research Center Magazine: Familiar with the Farm Life