Tim Reinbott, director of field operations for the Agricultural Experiment Stations, recently received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for the project titled Cover Cropping and Crop Rotation Strategies to Build Soil Health and Improve Yield and Probability of Organic Vegetable Production Systems. As part of the award, Jefferson…
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A Destructive Bug
Billbugs can cause massive damage to numerous turfgrass species
Proper turf care is absolutely critical for golf course superintendents across the globe. From the tee box to the fairway to the putting green, each section needs to be meticulously cared for and watched over. Superintendents face a constant battle with pests, weeds and disease. One of the pests that many superintendents may not even know about is the…
Blindness Doesn’t Stop Sixth Generation Farmer
District supervisor for Rehabilitation Services for the Blind serves on MU Extension's AgrAbility team
Jim Brinkmann’s blindness does not keep him from helping others with vision problems reach their potential. Brinkmann helps people with visual impairments succeed in agriculture, says Karen Funkenbusch, Missouri AgrAbility Project state director and University of Missouri Extension specialist. Brinkmann serves with Funkenbusch on the AgrAbility team. He is mid-Missouri district supervisor for Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), one…
Bee Workshops Lead to More Hives, Honey and Crops
More than 300 people began beekeeping after workshops
Beehives in the Lake of the Ozarks are buzzing, thanks in part to University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. MU Extension specialists and beekeepers Travis and Joni Harper have coordinated beekeeping classes for more than 800 Missourians during the past three years. More than 300 people began beekeeping in more than 1,100 hives after attending beginning…
Couple Returns from Asia to Provide Produce for Rolla Area
Now they are teaching others how to "Grow Your Farm"
Eric and Pathoumma Meusch had a hard time finding good-quality, locally grown foods when they moved from Asia to Eric’s hometown of Rolla. They grew their own food and soon received requests from friends and neighbors to buy food. They opened Meusch Farms in 2010. They shared their experiences at a recent “Grow Your Farm” workshop sponsored by University of…
CAFNR Welcomes NIFA Director
Sonny Ramaswamy discusses food security issues facing the world
The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources welcomed Sonny Ramaswamy to campus last week to discuss several food security issues. Ramaswamy is the director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Ramaswamy’s talk was titled, “Feeding the world with user-inspired science.” After his hour-long seminar, he took questions for a…
Graduates in Demand
Opportunities plentiful for graduates with degrees in food, agriculture, natural resources or the environment
Finding employment after college can be a stressful experience for students and their families. For students with degrees in food, agriculture, natural resources or the environment, there will be plenty of opportunities in the coming years. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there will be a high demand for college graduates in the agriculture and food industries during the…
As Heard on Insight: The Soybean Sleuth
Kristin Bilyeu's research is leading to a healthier soybean
This story also appears in our University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Center Magazine. Stop by your local Research Center to pick up a copy! You can view the magazine online by clicking here: Road to Discovery. Did you miss the first airing of the thirteenth installment of our new Insight series? LISTEN NOW to the program…
Capital Gain
CAFNR graduate begins new journey as USDA chief of staff
These days, it’s not easy to catch Karla Thieman. As the newly appointed chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the days of Thieman (pronounced TEE-man) include meeting with outside stakeholders, working directly with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the budget and dealing with any personnel issues that come up for a federal agency that employs more than 99,000…
International Collaborations
Algerian women visit MU through Cochran Fellowship
“Everything is so green,” Louiza Chekmam quietly murmured in amazement as the van she was riding in pulled into Peach Tree Farms. “Back home, our summers are dry and everything turns yellow and brown. This is just beautiful.” The visit to the family-operated farm outside of Boonville was one of many stops Louiza, Souad Mammou and Sihem Khiri toured during…