Stories

Tim Safranski, professor in the Division of Animal Sciences and a state swine Extension specialist, received the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Golden Apple Award for going above and beyond in teaching and advising Tuesday morning, during his writing intensive swine production course. Safranski was surprised by the unexpected interruption, led by Bryan Garton, senior associate dean and director of academic programs, and Shari Freyermuth, assistant dean and director of student services.

Oct. 8, 2019

A Golden Surprise

Just four years into his tenure as an assistant professor at the University of Missouri, Tim Safranski was given the Provost Award for Creative Extension Programming by New Faculty. A year later, Safranski was honored with the National Pork Producers Council Swine Industry Award for Innovation in Education. Education has always been a focus for Safranski, who is a professor in the Division of Animal Sciences and a state swine Extension specialist, and the teaching awards continue to come. Safranski received the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Golden Apple Award for going above and beyond in…
Mizzou's historic columns

Oct. 8, 2019

Honoring CAFNR’s Top Alumni

The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has honored its second class of recipients of the CAFNR Column Award for Distinguished Alumni. This is the only award specifically for alumni presented by the college. The awardees include one graduate from each of CAFNR’s six divisions, reflecting the six historic columns at the University of Missouri. “We are proud to recognize these six impressive graduates of our college with the highest alumni honor from CAFNR,” said CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher R. Daubert. “This award is unique – and prestigious – as it is given directly by the college…
Pat Westhoff speaks to media

Sep. 18, 2019

Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) Celebrates its 35th Anniversary

This year, the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) celebrates its 35th anniversary. With its more than 20 contributing faculty, staff and students, FAPRI works with Congress to shape U.S. farm policy. It provides objective analysis of agricultural markets and policies and uses economic models to estimate how those policies affect consumers and markets. Access more information about the institute and its work at fapri.missouri.edu.

Sep. 17, 2019

Accepting the Challenge

Kristy Weber, MD, hasn’t been afraid to challenge the status quo and break barriers throughout her lifetime, regardless of where life has taken her. As a student working toward an animal sciences degree at the University of Missouri, Dr. Weber was the only female in her artificial breeding class. That didn’t stop Dr. Weber, who grew up in St. Louis, from earning an ‘A’ in the course, which primarily featured students who had grown up on the farm. When Dr. Weber made the decision to pursue medical school, she chose orthopaedics, mainly because many people told her that women couldn’t…
RISE in CAFNR

Sep. 13, 2019

Rising to the Occasion

We know CAFNR students always rise above the rest, but now – it’s official. As part of the “CAFNR Strategic Plan, Drive to Distinction,” launched in April, all undergraduate students will take part in a “signature experience” during their time on campus. This is denoted as the “RISE” initiative: Research, International, Service learning, Experiential learning. (Of course, students don’t have to stop at one – students are welcome to participate in as many signature experiences they can fit into their college career!) “RISE is another part of what we call ‘The CAFNR Experience,’” said Bryan Garton, Senior Associate Dean…
Field Day tours

Aug. 30, 2019

An Investment in Agriculture

University of Missouri officials announced today a $6.5 million investment in the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station of MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The investment will enhance the university’s ability to share next-generation agricultural technologies developed by MU researchers with Missouri’s farmers and ranchers. “CAFNR’s world-class animal and plant researchers use these centers to translate research from the laboratory and evaluate its impact under real field conditions,” MU Chancellor Alexander N. Cartwright said. “Because these projects oftentimes include an educational component, our students also use the research centers for essential field studies. Needless to say, these centers are…
CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher Daubert

Aug. 5, 2019

Drive to Distinction: The First Two Years

Dear Friends of CAFNR: Hard to believe, but it’s two years since my family and I located to Columbia, Missouri. When contemplating the move, I felt drawn to Mizzou and the people of Missouri. Although there have been difficult and challenging days as Vice Chancellor and Dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, I know the right decision was made, and I am exactly where I am supposed to be and doing exactly what I was intended to do. My days have been full of meaning and purpose, as I know that together we can better our…
MOFLUX tower at Baskett.

June 27, 2019

Throwing New Light on Photosynthesis

In the summer months, Jeff Wood, a biometeorologist in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri, likes to spend his days with his head in the clouds, or at least the canopies of forests. Sometimes starting before dawn and staying until dusk, he uses a 32-meter tall instrument-studded tower at the Missouri Ozark AmeriFlux site (MOFLUX) at the Baskett Wildlife Research and Education Center near Ashland, Missouri, to monitor the “breathing” of the forest. Using tools to measure the flow of carbon dioxide and water from the level of the individual leaf to the entire forest, he…
The University of Missouri recently announced that researchers in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources have received an $8.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a new national research center. The Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center will focus on aiding the development of biomedical treatments for human diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

June 26, 2019

Aiding Disease Treatment

The University of Missouri recently announced that researchers in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources have received an $8.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to establish a new national research center. The Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center will focus on aiding the development of biomedical treatments for human diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The center will be tasked with creating protocols to evaluate the safety and efficacy of reagents, which are the tools researchers use to edit and repair disease-related genes. In supporting the translation of swine research into treatments for human diseases, the center’s mission…
Michelle Enger was recently named director for the CAFNR Office of Marketing and Communications. Enger has been the marketing communications coordinator in the CAFNR Office of Marketing and Communications since 2011. Enger’s new role as director is effective July 1, 2019.

June 25, 2019

‘Sharing CAFNR’s Message’

Michelle Enger was recently named director for the CAFNR Office of Marketing and Communications. Enger has been the marketing communications coordinator in the same office since 2011. Her new role as director is effective July 1, 2019. “I am confident Michelle will serve CAFNR well in this important role for our College,” said CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher Daubert. “Michelle has spent the majority of her career in communications at land-grant institutions, and she has a deep knowledge of our College, its programs and partners. Michelle is the perfect choice to help share the great stories coming from CAFNR.”…