Stories

Four CAFNR students were selected as recipients of the MU Award for Academic Distinction.

May 5, 2020

An Academic Honor

Propelled by two of MU’s values, discovery and excellence, four CAFNR students have received the 2020 University of Missouri Award for Academic Distinction. Undergraduate students who excel at contributing to MU’s academic atmosphere are recognized with the award. CAFNR seniors Cole Diggins, Kody Jones, Paxton Kostos and Stephanie Scott were among the 15 students selected for the campus-wide honor. Criteria for the award includes evidence of extraordinary intellectual curiosity, actively seeking knowledge beyond the classroom and striving to share that knowledge with others for a broader impact. Cole Diggins – Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences As a member…
Kate Geppert

May 5, 2020

Kate Geppert Receives True Tiger Volunteer Award From CAFNR Alumni Association

Kate Geppert, a 1989 graduate of CAFNR with a BS in Ag Journalism, has received the 2020 True Tiger Volunteer Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association. Geppert has served as President of the Association’s Board of Directors, and has chaired and co-chaired the CAFNR Unlimited banquet and fundraising auctions. For 15 years, she has helped develop, design and write the Unlimited sale catalog. She also has been involved in the dairy program at Mizzou, serving as a dairy judging coach and volunteer with the Dairy Hall of Honors. Geppert is a past President of the National Holstein Women’s Scholarship Board…
Laura Hertel

May 5, 2020

Laura Hertel Honored with Haynes Distinguished Service Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association

Laura Hertel, Senior Coordinator of Student Services, School of Natural Resources, has been honored with the 2020 Dana Brown Haynes Distinguished Service Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association. Hertel, who earned her bachelor’s in Communications and Elementary Education from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has been part of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri since 1992, currently serving as Senior Coordinator of Student Services. She also instructs a course on College Success in SNR. She established the Natural Resources Alumni Organization, coordinates the annual Trivia in the Wild Scholarship Fundraiser and established the annual new student breakfast.
The Center for Agroforestry’s Chung-Ho Lin, an associate research professor, and his lab are currently looking at how to redirect its analytical capacity (reverse-transcription and real-time qPCR) for the detection and quantification of COVID-19 in food, water and air – and develop mitigation techniques to reduce community exposure to COVID-19.

May 4, 2020

Contributing to Research

For more than 20 years, the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri, has served as one of the world’s leading centers contributing to the science underlying agroforestry, which is the science and practice of intensive land-use management combining trees and shrubs with crops or livestock. Agroforestry practices help landowners to diversify products, markets and farm income; improve soil and water quality; sequester carbon; reduce erosion, non-point source pollution and damage due to flooding; and mitigate climate change. The Center for Agroforestry’s Chung-Ho Lin, an associate research professor, and his lab are currently looking at how to redirect…
FAPRI released its most recent U.S. Agricultural Market Outlook in March – and has already released an additional report, which presents a preliminary analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural markets in the U.S.

May 4, 2020

Gathering Preliminary Data

The U.S. Agricultural Market Outlook is prepared annually by economists with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) and MU Agricultural Markets and Policy (AMAP) and is updated each August. FAPRI Director Pat Westhoff said the report gives policymakers, farmers, agribusinesses and the public an overview of the state of the U.S. farm economy. The market projections it contains can be useful to farmers making production choices, to policymakers trying to decide how to respond to agriculture issues, to lenders who must decide whether to make loans and to agribusinesses making investment decisions. FAPRI released its most recent U.S.
Loyd Wilson

May 4, 2020

Loyd Wilson Honored With Past President Award by CAFNR Alumni Association

Loyd Wilson, who received a bachelor’s in animal sciences from CAFNR in 1986, has been honored with the 2020 Past President Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association. Wilson, who also received an MPA in Public Administration from Mizzou in 2005, served as president of the Association over the past year. He is director of administration for the Missouri Public Service Commission and has served as deputy director for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “Loyd is a highly involved member of the Board of Directors currently serving as Immediate Past President as his 7th year on the Board. Loyd is extremely knowledgeable and…
Students in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) don’t only receive a degree during their time in Columbia – they get the entire CAFNR experience. The CAFNR Experience has changed drastically in light of the recent changes required due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students are working hard to keep on track as the end of the semester is being completed remotely. Photo courtesy of Audrey Hannah.

April 28, 2020

A Different Look

In mid-March, the University of Missouri System announced that its four universities would conduct remote courses for the reminder of the spring 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most students traveled home and have been finishing their coursework remotely. Students in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) don’t only receive a degree during their time in Columbia – they get the entire CAFNR experience. That experience includes access to award-winning advisors and teachers; research opportunities with internationally renowned scientists; study abroad options tailored to degree programs and in more than a dozen countries; career expos bringing…

April 21, 2020

Anita Carter Receives Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award

Anita Carter, program/project support coordinator in the School of Natural Resources, was awarded the Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award in the Part-Time/Temporary category. This award is presented to a staff member who exemplifies the university’s values through temporary or part-time employment and consistently display characteristics that are valued and appreciated by their coworkers. They lead by example, motivate those around them, demonstrate compassion and bring innovative ideas to their teams.

April 21, 2020

Tony Lupo receives SEC 2020 Faculty Achievement Award

Tony Lupo, professor of atmospheric science, has received the SEC 2020 Faculty Achievement Award. The recognition is given out to one faculty member from each school once a year. The SEC then awards one of those candidates as SEC professor of the year. First presented in 2012 and selected by the SEC provosts, these awards honor one individual from each SEC member university who has excelled in teaching – particularly at the undergraduate level – and research.

April 21, 2020

Tom Spencer Appointed to Position with Office of Research and Economic Development

Tom Spencer, Curators Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences, has accepted a part-time appointment as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Strategic Initiatives in the Biomedical and Agricultural Sciences. In this capacity, Spencer will work with the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, as well as the Provost, Deans and Center Directors, to shape and enhance the current research centers, develop strategies for new strategic centers of excellence in research and creative works, support the Research Core Facilities, coordinate among departments and colleges the recruitment of faculty in strategic research thrusts and plan and drive new strategic initiatives that will…