Mizzou College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources - CAFNR

We’re #CAFNRproud of our alumni and friends working in the food, fuel, feed and fiber industries. Happy National Ag Day! From our alumni board members: Samantha Davis, MBA Davis: I’m the O of Soy 😊 in the I ❤️ Soy display. Jason Dieckhoff: Teaching soybean yield estimates. Chuck Miller: Feed/fencing materials I delivered to Georgia last year for hurricane relief for livestock producers; with the delegation of Cattlemen's officers with Gov. Kehoe during a Cowboys at the Capitol visit; and with my son Ethan (Mizzou freshman) and MU President Choi at the Missouri Cattlemen's Convention while I was president. #AgDay25

Our environmental sciences degree in the Mizzou School of Natural Resources prepares students for careers as broadcast meteorologists, water quality specialists, environmental lawyers, soil scientists, ecologists and more. We offer hands-on learning where students practice forecasts in the Weather Analysis and Visualization (WAV) Lab with professional meteorology modeling, forecasting and graphics equipment, and a green screen. Hear from recent graduate Sophie Sallot, B.S. '24, on the value of her degree.

We’re making significant strides at the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (MOAES) in advancing research to support Missouri’s farmers, producers and agricultural industry. With nearly 14,000 acres across the state, our Research, Extension and Education Centers (REEC) allow CAFNR faculty to develop and test real-world solutions tailored to Missouri’s varied geography and climate. A few of the recent and ongoing projects include: Creed Barn Remodel – Beef Research & Teaching Farm – Central Missouri REEC Under the leadership of Jordan Thomas and Craig Payne, the remodel of the Creed Barn is underway. This updated facility will support the National Center for Applied Reproduction Genomics (NCARG), bringing cutting-edge reproductive technologies to the beef cattle industry. Cotton Agronomy Research – Fisher Delta REEC We're thrilled to see progress on the new cotton sample storage building and the cotton lab remodel, a vital addition to our Cotton Agronomy research program. Enhancing Animal Handling – Southwest REEC We’re investing in a new animal handling facility, reinforcing our commitment to supporting livestock research and producer education. These improvements are more than just construction projects — they represent CAFNR’s dedication to strengthening Missouri agriculture through research, education, extension — and innovation! We’re excited to keep building our #CAFNRMOmentum. #DriveToDistinction Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eDYziaNR

While Missouri may be landlocked, the Mizzou School of Natural Resources is diving deep into ocean research! Michael Byrne, associate professor of wildlife ecology, has been studying shortfin mako sharks — one of the fastest predators in the sea. “I love mako sharks, so I spend a lot of time looking at mako shark tracking data. A decade of satellite tracking data from sharks tagged off the west coast shows what looks like an invisible fence line in the ocean, where they rarely travel south through the North Equatorial Current at around 12 degrees latitude,” Byrne said. That pattern sparked his curiosity. Why would these highly mobile sharks — capable of traveling vast distances worldwide — rarely venture further south in the eastern Pacific? One day, Byrne compared shark tracking maps from NOAA, the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Nova Southeastern University with a map of dissolved oxygen levels. That’s when it clicked. “Mako sharks are the Ferraris of the shark world,” Byrne said. “They are very fast, and they have a high metabolic rate. That high performance comes with high oxygen demands. They are also endothermic, meaning they maintain their body temperature several degrees above the surrounding water. This helps with their speed but could potentially lead to overheating if they stay in very warm water for extended periods of time.” His study revealed that both water temperature and oxygen levels limit where mako sharks can travel. Byrne's research provides critical insights for conservation. Byrne worked on this project with an interdisciplinary team of scientists from institutions around the country including the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Rhode Island. Their work sets the stage for future research on marine life. From the Midwest to the deep sea, #Mizzou is making waves in wildlife research! Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5_BnEig #CAFNRinnovation #MizzouResearch

CAFNR students and post docs, showcase your research — register by Wednesday, March 19!

Our thanks to Mizzou alumni Powell Carman (BS Ag Econ ’83) and Kelley Carman (BA ’87) for their generous gift to the Carman Family Endowment in our Mizzou Division of Applied Social Sciences. This incredible gift will make a lasting impact on the success of our faculty and students. We are so grateful for their commitment to CAFNR and Mizzou! Join the Carmans in supporting CAFNR: https://lnkd.in/gc3n86S4 #MizzouGivingDay

Calling All Tigers! Support CAFNR today on #Mizzou Giving Day by making a gift to the RISE Signature Experience Fund, CAFNR Joy of Discovery Fund, CAFNR Priorities Fund, or the area of Mizzou that matters most to you! Other funds we’re highlighting during #MizzouGivingDay include: the CAFNR 150 Endowment, the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG), one of our CAFNR Programs of Distinction, and the Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education and Training Laboratory. Thanks to a generous gift from Dan Malan, B.S. Ag ’75, all gifts to the CAFNR 150 Endowment will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $250. This endowment has affected thousands of CAFNR students, with annual support including $100,000 toward scholarships and $50,000 in grants to support student organizations and academic divisions in CAFNR. The Mizzou Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) is a community of researchers who are pursuing novel, creative and transformative ideas in plant biology. The Michael L. Parson Meat Science Education and Training Laboratory will be a new building that expands lab and classroom space, enhancing student entrepreneurial experiences and hands-on learning. Give now: https://lnkd.in/gc3n86S4

Ben Brown, extension agricultural economist, is supporting the Agricultural Systems Technology Club’s annual Lawn Mower Tune-Up fundraiser! Local Boone County community members can drop off their mowers for club members to perform oil changes, sharpen blades and power wash — all while supporting a great cause. Proceeds from this fundraiser help club members travel for industry tours. Last year, they visited the headquarters of AW Dynamometer, Beck’s Hybrids and Precision Planting to gain hands-on experience and industry insights.

THANK YOU to everyone who made 2025 CAFNR Unlimited such a huge success! Because of the generosity of our alumni and friends, we raised $94,424 for CAFNR student scholarships and more. We're so grateful for our CAFNR Community! 

Today’s CAFNR #MajorMonday highlights our agribusiness management degree, where students acquire a solid foundation of business and economic skills as well as agricultural knowledge. Earning this degree equips our graduates with the necessary critical thinking skills to help them succeed as leaders and decision-makers. While stressing conceptual understanding, the program immerses them in opportunities to apply their skills and experience real-world problem-solving.