The soils in southeast Missouri, including those at the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville, Mo., allow for a wide variety of research studies and field trials. Soil variability in that part of the state creates opportunities for researchers to better understand the uniqueness of those soils and how best to manage them. Along with soil variability, southeast Missouri also…
Irrigation ⋅ Page 1
MU Grazing School Key to Edgewood Dairy and Creamery
June is Dairy Month
Twenty years ago, Charles Fletcher of Edgewood Dairy and Creamery attended a University of Missouri Extension grazing school. It would change the future of the family dairy operation. Fletcher’s father started the dairy farm in 1966. His father milked cows by hand 365 days a year, morning and night. In 1993, the Fletcher family formed a partnership that included poultry…
Advancing Surface Irrigation
Earl Vories honored with ASABE Award for the Advancement of Surface Irrigation
Earl Vories has been a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for 30 years, and has attended ASABE conferences since he was in graduate school at the University of Arkansas. Vories, a professional engineer, earned a major award at the most recent ASABE conference — the Award for the Advancement of Surface Irrigation. “These conference have…
A Perfect Day for Presentations
More than 300 attend Greenley Research Center Field Day
The wagon tours were packed throughout the morning as more than 300 attendees enjoyed presentations and discussions during the 39th annual Greenley Research Center Field Day on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Attendees were able to take part in three tours – pest management, agronomy and beef. “The turnout and the weather were both really good,” Greenley Superintendent Dana Harder said. “The…
Managing Water Efficiently
Greenley Research Center study looks at future of subsurface drip irrigation
In Missouri, some have adopted efficient tile drainage systems, but the installation of drip irrigation hasn’t become a regular management strategy. Research Agronomist Kelly Nelson looks to change that with a study just getting its feet wet at Greenley Research Center in northeast Missouri.
Cotton Goes Wireless
MU researcher investigates wireless sensors for cotton irrigation
In agriculture, timing is critical. Often, it rests in the hands of Mother Nature, whether it’s rain that falls shortly after sowing seeds, or a chance dry period just before harvest. Joe Henggeler, irrigation scientist at Fisher Delta Research Center, is investigating wireless technology to inform farmers of the optimum time to irrigate their cotton fields—providing control of the one…
Growing rice where it has never been grown before
A Missouri research program may help better feed an increasingly hungry world
In an unexpected place, the Bootheel of Missouri, a research program that could increase rice production began just as the world was reading the shortage news. Using a system of watering familiar to Midwestern farmers, center-pivot irrigation, the study is looking to grow rice on land where it cannot now be planted. If successful, the project could significantly increase rice production.