Stories
Aug. 10, 2020
Keeping Consumers Safe
Produce contamination accounts for an estimated 46% of foodborne illnesses across the United States each year — a serious issue affecting health, the economy and society as a whole. Even in the midst of the current pandemic, safety training for produce farmers is not only vital, but required for many, said MU Extension horticulture field specialist Patrick Byers. To combat contamination issues, the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule requires that many growers receive education and produce safety training, such as that offered by the Produce Safety Alliance through MU Extension. With COVID-19 restrictions on face-to-face training,…
Aug. 6, 2020
Tracking Two Bird Species
Two bird species – black duck and wild turkey – are incredibly important to the regions where they are commonly found. Those species are also well studied; however, there is a period of time during the summer where research is lacking. Mitch Weegman, an assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources, is looking to track both species’ whereabouts during that time frame. Weegman recently received $2.4 million in funding through two separate grants to conduct the research. “I could not be more thrilled to get started,” Weegman said. “These are projects you develop to meet great conservation priorities. To…
July 31, 2020
History in Bloom
Successful efforts by a handful of energetic horticulture students in the late 1970s led to the planning and execution of an ambitious garden project located next to MU’s Agriculture Building. The space was dedicated as the Woodland and Floral Gardens in April 1980. A public celebration to mark the garden’s 40th anniversary and rededicate what remains of the original landscape as the Missouri Woodland Garden was scheduled to be held April 2020, but has been postponed until further notice. Left to right: Kevin Karel and Bill Ruppert, the horticulture students who worked to design and build the Woodland & Floral…
July 27, 2020
An Investment in Animal Reproduction Research
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently announced an investment of $6.2 million in animal reproduction research. Nearly $1.5 million of that investment is coming to the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ (CAFNR) Division of Animal Sciences. A total of 14 awards were handed out to 11 institutions, with CAFNR earning three of the awards. “This is an incredible achievement and showcases how strong our Division of Animal Sciences continues to be,” said Shibu Jose, associate dean in the CAFNR Office of Research. “We’re proud of each…
July 22, 2020
A Lifelong Learner
As Darcy Wells looks back on her 30-plus-year career in higher education, the majority of which took place at the University of Missouri, there’s one experience she does her best to overlook – a year at the University of Kansas. “It’s a little bit of an unmentionable experience that I definitely get a lot of grief for,” Wells joked. “Honestly, though, it was a first-class experience. I really enjoyed Lawrence and met so many exceptional people during that year.” It was actually that year away from Columbia that made Wells realize how much she missed being a Tiger. She joined…
July 21, 2020
Ray Massey Receives 2020 C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship Award
Ray Massey, Extension professor of agricultural and applied economics in the Division of Applied Social Sciences, received the 2020 C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship Award as part of the UM System President’s Awards. The C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship Award recognizes a University of Missouri faculty member who demonstrates commitment, dedication and effectiveness in advancing the land-grant mission through Extension, international education and agricultural economics programs. In these respects, Massey has performed at the highest levels throughout his career, according to the UM System. His work in agricultural economics has improved lives worldwide, and he is recognized for his contributions…
July 17, 2020
Sofia Ortega Named Zamorano AGEAP USA Alumni of the Month
Sofia Ortega, assistant professor of reproductive physiology in Animal Sciences, has recently been recognized as the AGEAP USA Alumni of the Month. Ortega’s interest in reproductive physiology began at Zamorano (Class of 2003), through her work in Honduras. She received her MS in Animal Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and she completed her PhD at the University of Florida in 2016 in Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology. Her CAFNR team utilizes a systems biology approach to optimize cattle fertility, using CRISPR knockouts to study preimplantation bovine embryo development. Ortega has published more than 17 peer-reviewed articles in…
July 10, 2020
Going Virtual
Following discussions with local health departments and advisory boards, all educational field days offered by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Agricultural Research Centers will be hosted virtually this year. These decisions were made locally at each Research Center. “These were incredibly tough decisions that we did not take lightly,” said CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher Daubert. “We understand how important our Research Centers are to their respective communities, which is why instead of completely canceling our field day season we are offering virtual presentations. This will allow our outstanding faculty and researchers…
July 9, 2020
Charles Nilon Named the Newest Holder of the William J. Rucker Professorship in Fisheries and Wildlife
Charles Nilon, professor of urban wildlife management in the School of Natural Resources, was recently named the newest holder of the William J. Rucker Professorship in Fisheries and Wildlife. From its inception in 1944, the William J. Rucker Professorship in Fisheries and Wildlife’s purpose has been for the “instruction of youth upon the subject of the value and preservation of wild life.” Funds are used primarily to support graduate research assistant stipends. “I have known Dr. Nilon almost since the start of my MU career, when I arrived in 1999,” said Pat Market, interim director of the School of Natural…
July 9, 2020
The Importance of Inland Fish
Inland, or freshwater, fish carry considerable economical, recreational and cultural value across the globe. Those species, which include trout, crappie and catfish, among many others, provide critical ecosystem services to communities worldwide – and are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. A working group made up of researchers and scientists from the United States and Canada recently created an online database of academic papers related to the effects of climate change on inland fish. “Our primary focus was to provide a database of peer-reviewed, published papers on the effects of climate change on inland fish,” said Craig Paukert, adjunct…