Stories
May 2, 2023
‘Perfect Timing’
Hannah Twenter originally applied to Mizzou as a freshman business major wanting to pursue real estate. However, her dad didn’t want her to leave her home state of Illinois for a business degree as she could earn that nearly anywhere. She was determined to pursue her education out-of-state, so her dad suggested animal sciences instead. Twenter says that was the best recommendation he ever gave her. By the time she stepped on campus in the fall of 2009, her major was declared as animal sciences. During her undergraduate career, Twenter gained valuable hands-on experience through the equine program, and found…
May 2, 2023
Sharp Receives UM System’s Jefferson Award
Robert Sharp, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Plant Science and Technology, recently received the UM System President’s Thomas Jefferson Award for his research. The award recognizes one outstanding faculty member annually who has been nationally or internationally recognized for and demonstrated clear distinction in research, scholarship, teaching and public service. Sharp, also former director of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG), received the award for his stellar reputation as an international collaborator furthering the field of plant science, his work overseeing key joint hires at MU and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, helping with the development of the new East Campus…
April 28, 2023
Cover crops could reduce PPL acres in wet springs
A topic in farm policy circles is whether conservation practices can reduce PPL risk in extreme weather such as floods. Crop insurance is one of the farm bill’s largest expenditures. 2019 file photo of Holt County, Missouri, by Linda Geist. A newly released study shows that planting cover crops and reduced tillage could substantially lower the number of prevent plant (PPL) acres and subsequent federal crop insurance payments. Cover crops lower the number of PPL acres in wet springs, reducing the loss odds by 24%, according to the six-state study released in March, says Rob Myers, director of the University…
April 26, 2023
Q&A with Justin Keay
What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? As a field specialist in horticulture, I work with specialty crop producers and home gardeners to help folks grow more produce while protecting our state’s natural resources. In my work with specialty crop producers, I help folks with fertility, pest, and irrigation management, as well as marketing and evaluating new crops and enterprises for their farms. I get to serve as a resource for growers in my region, helping to connect them with science-backed information that helps them make informed management decisions on their farms. With projects…
April 24, 2023
Ahmed Balboula Receives 2023 SSR Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Award
Ahmed Balboula, assistant professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, received the 2023 SSR Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Award from the Society of the Study of Reproduction (SSR). This award recognizes an active, regular member of the society for outstanding research completed and published within 12 years after receiving their PhD or other equivalent degree. In order to be considered for nomination, candidates undergo assessment based on the novelty, importance, and influence of their research in the field of reproductive sciences or related areas, as well as the extent to which their work was conducted independently from that of…
April 24, 2023
CAFNR Faculty & Staff Receive Honorary State FFA Degrees
The Missouri FFA Association named a number of CAFNR faculty and staff members Honorary State FFA Degree recipients at the 95th Missouri FFA Convention held April 20-21 in Columbia. This recognition was given for years of support, including service as state superintendents for agriculture, food and natural resources Career Development Events. Those honored include: Matt Arri, Agricultural Sales CDE Andrew Biggs, Agronomy CDE Addison Byrne, Livestock Evaluation CDE Andrew Clarke, Food Science & Technology CDE Lesleighan Cravens, Floriculture CDE Chris Daubert, Support of CDEs and the Convention Tawnie DeJong, Livestock Evaluation CDE Deborah Finke, Entomology CDE Laura Friedrich, Agricultural Sales…
April 21, 2023
CAFNR Advisor Spotlight: Mary Ann Gowdy
How rewarding is it to work with students in the plant science degrees program? Advising and mentoring is immensely rewarding because students begin their college experience as timid students unsure of themselves and graduate as confident energetic young professionals. How do you assist those students throughout their academic journey? I encourage them to take calculated risks and to accept unsuccessful events as learning experiences. I stress the importance of learning to accept responsibility for their actions and how important it is to ask for help when needed. My job as their advisor is to be honest with them and that…
April 20, 2023
Building Their Careers
The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) offers its students a variety of opportunities to connect with industry professionals, through career fairs, symposiums and tours. For Alex Stone, one of those opportunities connected him with a fellow parks, recreation and sport alumnus – as well as the St. Louis Cardinals. During his senior year, Stone attended a sport-specific symposium where he met Andrew Dean. Dean had earned his parks, recreation and sport degree from MU two years prior and was working with the Cardinals in ticket development. The two had a good conversation and Stone…
April 20, 2023
The Legacy of Jake Fisher
Jake Fisher greets attendees of the 52nd annual Fisher Delta Field Day in 2013. Fisher retired as superintendent in 2011 but continued to serve the REEC as an advisory board member. The community across the Delta region of the southeast corner of Missouri was struck with a deep loss with the passing of Jake Fisher in March. Fisher was the long-time superintendent and namesake of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center (REEC) in Portageville, but to the community there and at the University of Missouri, he was so much…
April 19, 2023
Colby Redifer Received 2023 MWASAS Young Scholar Award
Colby Redifer, PhD candidate in ruminant animal physiology, was honored with the Young Scholar Award at the 2023 Midwest American Society of Animal Science (MWASAS) meeting. His research focuses on developmental programming, specifically the impacts of late gestational nutrient restriction on prenatal and postnatal offspring nutrient utilization in beef cattle, under the guidance of his advisor, Allison Meyer, associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences. The Young Scholars Program recognizes and features research accomplishments of recent PhD recipients or current PhD students in the advanced stages of their program at the annual ASAS Midwest Section meeting. Promising scholars within…