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Superintendent
David Davis
21262 Genoa Road
Linneus, MO 64653
Phone: 660 895-5121
FAX: 660 895=5122
Email: DavisDK@missouri.edu

Forage Systems Update
Vol 13, No. 4

Significance of Agricultural Research in Northern Missouri
Nationally, Missouri ranks 2nd in number of farms (over 107,000) averaging 280 acres in size. In north Missouri, production agriculture is an integral part of rural social, educational, and economic structure. Over 80% of the land area in north Missouri is devoted to row crop, forage, and livestock production. Approximately $1.4 billion in cash receipts was produced by these agricultural activities in 2002. The northern region of Missouri (see map on reverse side) produces over 50% of the corn and soybeans and over 20% of the winter wheat on about 40% of Missouri's cropland acres, and it also maintains over 30% of Missouri's beef cattle. Northern Missouri communities are leaders in value-added agriculture such as ethanol production derived from corn (four of five plants in the state are/will be located here), grain processing, pasture finished beef production, and other value-added marketing enterprises.

The Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) maintains eight research Centers (Forage Systems Research Center, Greenley Research Center, Hundley-Whaley Research Center, Brown Farm, Graves-Chapple Farm, Jones Farm, Thompson Farm, and Timmons Farm) in northern Missouri that are essential for applied agricultural research in the life sciences, value-added endeavors, and technology transfer to farmers. These Centers command over 5000 acres of crop land resources and over 1700 head of cattle designated for agriculture research and demonstration. Responsible management during all phases of research, development, and use of biotechnologically enhanced products is needed for advancement and public acceptance of newly developed agricultural products and technologies. Increasing governmental regulation and implementation of new biosecurity measures in the life science arena will require AES Centers to be leaders in development, testing, and field monitoring of new life science discoveries.

North Missouri AES Centers have a long history of being leaders in agricultural research and technology transfer. The MU-Drainage and Subirrigation (MUDS) research at Greenley Center has shown producers how to utilize drainage as part of an integrated water management system that helps maximize row crop yields and maintain environmental sustainability and water quality on the flat claypan soils common in this region. Research at the Forage Systems Research Center has lead to development of Management intensive Grazing (MiG) systems, promoting environmentally sustainable and economically viable grazing systems for Missouri's Green Hills region prone to severe soil erosion under row crop systems. Pioneering research on grazing systems ecology has received recognition from the MDC and USDA while the Grazing Schools offered by the Center are required for many cost share programs. Hundley-Whaley Research Center focuses on research and application of alternative cropping and livestock systems, fertility management, and weed control for northwest Missouri. Graves-Chapple Farm is dedicated to development and demonstration of new technologies and practices for production of agricultural commodities with emphasis on no-till planting techniques on the unique soils found in extreme northwest Missouri. Revolutionary research at the Thompson Farm on beef reproduction, estrus synchronization, timed insemination, and heifer development are redefining beef production and beef herd improvement in Missouri.

Need
Working together, the north Missouri AES Centers will continue to be leaders in grazing, beef reproduction, and row crop production systems and in agricultural life science research. At present, these AES Centers need resources necessary to address biosecurity concerns, continue ongoing research, and to adequately test, segregate, and monitor new life science discoveries. Infrastructure and research equipment needs at the northern AES Centers are currently limiting the scope of agricultural research and technology transfer programs needed to promote economic development in this region. In addition, increased governmental regulation of agricultural life science discoveries and the new MU Life Science effort will add extra demands on limited resources. Modernizing infrastructure and research equipment today will position this network of research Centers to attract additional research funding, support new and ongoing research projects, and implement needed biosecurity requirements. Providing for food security, production technology assessments, and technology transfer are essential for the long-term sustainability of our rural agricultural communities and advance economic opportunities for rural Missouri.

Action
The North Missouri coalition within the Agricultural Experiment Station has submitted a request through the University of Missouri-Columbia for an annual appropriation of $950,000 for FY 2006 through FY 2010 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address improvements to facility infrastructure, essential research equipment, implement biosecurity measures, and be leveraged to promote ongoing and new innovative research at north Missouri AES Centers. These "field laboratories" are necessary to accomplish the agriculture research and education goals of the Missouri AES and to provide new innovations for northern Missouri's primary industry, agriculture.

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