By Curt Wohleber
COLUMBIA, Mo. – From a new plot combine in northwestern Missouri to an expanded education center in Columbia and virtual fencing technology in the Ozarks, recent investments at University of Missouri Extension and Education Centers are helping deliver more research, education and practical solutions to Missourians.
Supported in part by an increase in state funding for MU Extension, the improvements are expanding the university’s ability to serve agricultural producers, communities and students across the state by delivering research-based information to Missourians through demonstrations, educational programs and field days, said Rob Kallenbach, MU Extension senior program director for Agriculture and Environment.
“These centers are resources for the people of Missouri,” said Kallenbach. “The goal is to strengthen our ability to conduct relevant research, provide educational opportunities and demonstrate practices that producers and communities can use.”
Better tools for agricultural research
At the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center near Rock Port, a refurbished plot combine designed for harvesting small research plots reduced harvest time by about 60% while improving the precision of yield measurements. The center also completed comprehensive grid soil sampling, creating detailed nutrient maps that allow fertilizer applications to be tailored to specific areas of a field.
Additional purchases, including mowing equipment, a utility vehicle trailer and upgraded seating for field days, help staff spend less time on routine tasks and more time supporting research and educational programs.
Similarly, the Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center near Albany used funding for grid soil sampling and precision nutrient management planning across approximately 120 acres of research land. “We call this our ‘precision agriculture testbed,’” Kallenbach said. The detailed soil information improves the reliability of research results shared with producers. The center also completed needed facility repairs, including storm-related work on the Learning Discovery Center roof and a machine shed.
“These kinds of investments improve the baseline for everything we do,” Kallenbach said. “Better facilities and better field data help us provide better information to farmers.”
Expanding educational opportunities
At Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center in Columbia, a new education building has created more space for classes, workshops and community events.
The new facility, which can hold up to 110 learners, includes modern teaching technology, flexible classroom space and areas for both indoor and outdoor learning. The center’s location alongside MU’s Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center positions it to support programs ranging from gardening and conservation to precision agriculture, drones and emerging technologies, said Charles Holland, director of the center.
Jefferson Farm and Garden serves a broader community than many of the university’s agricultural research centers, hosting festivals, field trips, educational programs and workforce development efforts while providing a convenient location for many Boone County Extension activities.
Accessibility improvements, including a new adaptive beehive design, are helping make programming available to more participants.
Testing new tools for livestock producers
At the Wurdack Extension and Education Center near Cook Station, a virtual fencing project is helping evaluate technology that could make livestock grazing management easier and more efficient.
The system uses GPS-enabled collars that allow producers to create and adjust grazing boundaries without installing physical fencing. Faculty are studying how the technology can support rotational stocking, improve pasture management and reduce labor requirements.
Kallenbach said demonstrations like the virtual fencing project show producers how emerging technologies perform under real Missouri conditions before they invest in them themselves.
“These centers exist to test ideas and show what works – and what does not work,” he said. “If we can demonstrate how to use a technology effectively, it gives producers confidence to evaluate whether it fits their operation.”
Local resources with statewide impact
Each MU Extension and Education Center serves as a regional hub for research, demonstrations and educational programming, Kallenbach said. Advisory boards help ensure that research and outreach address issues important to local producers and communities while contributing knowledge that benefits Missouri statewide.
The recent improvements strengthen that mission by expanding research capacity, improving facilities and creating new opportunities for learning.
“When we invest in these centers, we’re investing in the people they serve,” Kallenbach said. “Whether it’s helping farmers make better management decisions, giving communities access to educational programs or evaluating new technologies, these improvements help us better meet the needs of Missouri.”
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