Stories
May 2, 2021
Carol Swaim Receives Haynes Distinguished Service Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association
Carol Swaim, administrative assistant, Agricultural Education and Leadership program, has been named the recipient of the 2021 Dana Brown Haynes Distinguished Service Award, given by the CAFNR Alumni Association each spring. Swaim has been part of the Agricultural Education and Leadership team for 16 years, and at Mizzou for 27 years. She is a three-time recipient of the CAFNR Staff Advisory Council’s Above and Beyond award (2009, 2013 and 2018). In 2015 she received an Honorary State FFA Degree – the highest degree presented by the Missouri FFA Association to individuals for their dedication to furthering agricultural education and FFA.
April 29, 2021
Bissonnette Receives Faces of the Future Award from American Phytopathological Society
Kaitlyn Bissonnette, assistant Extension professor, plant sciences, has been awarded the Schroth Faces of the Future award from the American Phytopathological Society for her work in applied nematology and Extension nematology. This award is given to forward-thinking scientists within 10 years of earning their PhD who are perceived to be future leaders in the field. Bissonnette coordinates a regional applied nematology project exploring the impacts of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) seed treatments on SCN reproduction and soybean yield across more than 12 US states and one Canadian province. This includes research at four MU research stations. In addition to building…
April 28, 2021
Increasing fruit and vegetable production
With lower initial investments and higher returns, fruit and vegetable production could play a big role in doubling the state’s agricultural economy by 2030, according to a study by University of Missouri researchers. “Compared to row crops, you don’t have to have as many acres of fruit and vegetables to generate a significant return,” said John Kruse, associate research professor in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “A farmer we interviewed for a recent study produced 2 acres of specialty crops. The way he had his operation constructed, he was generating between $200,000 and $300,000 a…
April 26, 2021
An Entrepreneurial Passion
A background in agriculture, a degree in animal sciences from the University of Missouri and an entrepreneurial passion helped Elaine Martin launch Blue Cedar Beef in 2019. Martin and her husband, Brendan, saw a problem in their local community – and came up with a solution. “We had been selling halves and whole beeves to family, neighbors and friends for several years but kept getting requests for smaller quantities of beef,” Elaine said. “I combined that idea with the fact that you can get nearly anything today shipped to your doorstep. Why not get quality beef shipped to…
April 20, 2021
Sharing Insights and Opportunities
The inaugural University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Research Day will not only showcase the variety of research conducted within the College, the event will share insights about grants and programs for faculty, staff and students. CAFNR Research Day will be held Friday, May 7, and will be completely virtual. Registration is required for the event. “We’re incredibly excited to be able to offer this opportunity for our faculty, staff and students,” said Sarah Low, associate professor in the Division of Applied Social Sciences (DASS) and chair of the CAFNR Research…
April 14, 2021
Q&A With Katie Crider
Why did you decide to come to the University of Missouri and major in food science and nutrition? What do you enjoy about the program itself? The field of study? My decision to come to the University of Missouri was a fairly easy one after I visited campus and met with the CAFNR staff. Everyone I met was very friendly and made me feel very welcome. Originally, I was an animal sciences major; however, that was very short-lived when I realized that field was not for me. I quickly switched to hospitality when I discovered that I liked…
April 14, 2021
A ‘Mind-Blowing’ Experience
When Chloe Dobson arrived at the University of Missouri in 2017, her declared major was political science. Dobson said she was hoping to eventually attend law school. A Thomas Rhett concert at Mizzou changed all of that. Dobson signed up as event staff for the concert, which took place in late 2017. After working the entire event, Dobson switched her major to hospitality management in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). “I was really, really broke at the time, so when I saw an email about a paying job working the concert, I…
April 8, 2021
Q&A With Amy Moum
What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I am a program/project support coordinator II in the Division of Applied Social Sciences. I work on faculty development for the division, including faculty awards and promotion & tenure. Once the pandemic restrictions are over I will get back to supporting executive education programming in the Division, as well as building capacity in experience learning for our hospitality management students through the Eckles Café event space. How long have you worked in CAFNR? I have been in CAFNR a little over…
April 7, 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…
April 6, 2021
CAFNR Announces Dissertation Research Improvement Grantees
The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Office of Research recently announced its inaugural award winners of the CAFNR Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (C-DRIG). Each grant is worth up to $2,000 to support or partially support dissertation research projects proposed by doctoral students in the College. Proposals were evaluated by the CAFNR Research Council, an advisory body that advises the CAFNR Office of Research and is made up of representatives from each division in the College. Student: Pawan Basnet (Plant, Insect and Microbial Sciences) Advisor: Andrew Scaboo (Assistant Professor, Division of Plant Sciences) Development…