Horticulture Workshops, Conferences & News

Grazing School Seminar
* September 30, October 1 and 2, 2008

Field Day
* Our annual field day will be held on September 12, 2008.

Ag. Education Day
* Our Ag Education day will be held on September 11, 2008.

Southwest Center FFA Workshop
* The Southwest Center will sponsor a workshop for area FFA students, which was held on March 6, 2008.

SW CTR Grazing Dairy

Ag Preparedness

Research

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Contact us
Email: Southwestcenter@missouri.edu

Superintendent:
Dr. Richard Crawford - Bio
14548 Highway H
Mt. Vernon, MO 65712-9523
Phone: 417-466-2148
FAX: 417-466-2109
Email: crawfordr@missouri.edu

From the Superintendent...

Winter has turned to spring. This is one of the busiest times of year for the staff at the SW Center as we prepare for another season of research.

The Bermudagrsss/Tall Fescue Systems Study started its 3 year on April 1. This project compares two grazing systems, one with only tall fescue, and the other 75% tall fescue and 25% bermudagrass. With the all fescue system, steers graze E+ tall fescue spring, summer and fall, and are fed fescue hay at times when pasture growth is inadequate to meet needs. In the latter, steers begin grazing tall fescue, move to bermudagrass for much of the summer, and return to tall fescue in the fall.

The two systems are being compared for forage production and quality, cattle performance, and economic factors. While the bermudagrass system may involve more inputs, it is expected that improved productivity will more than offset the increased costs.

The SW Center Dairy has begun its 10th year! Starting in 1999 and working with Extension and dairy producers in the region, the seasonal, pasture- based dairy has generated useful information for and received great feedback from those involved in the science and business of dairy grazing.

The dairy, under the leadership of Research Specialist Chris Davis, is now ready to take the program to a whole new level. Herd size has been gradually expanding from the original 45 heifers in 1999 to close to 100 cows in 2008; plans are to continue expansion up to around 120 cows. This high stocking rate is needed to achieve efficient utilization of pasture forages by means of managementintensive grazing.

After several years of pasture renovation at the dairy, we are about to undertake a major research effort designed at looking at pasture yield and quality. While this may seem like a simple thing, it will require very intensive measurements of pasture growth using devises such as a rising plate meter and a CDAX, quality measurements using near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), as well as and milk production and composition. Thanks to the Missouri Legislature, a grant from the Life Sciences Trust Fund will allow us to upgrade the milking equipment to automatically record milk weights for each cow at every milking. Please help us in thanking our state Representatives and Senators for making this wise investment in the future of the Missouri dairy industry.

With the wide variety of horticulture projects already going at the SW Center, you might wonder how Andrew Thomas, Research Associate in horticulture, would have time for more. Yet this spring we will be starting a major grape research project here, in cooperation with the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology (ICCVE), directed by campus-based Keith Striegler, with the assistance of Research Specialist Eli Bergmeier.

The project, still in the development phase, calls for establishing approximately 2 acres of Chambourcin grapes on the north side of Hwy H just across from the Center’s office building. Look for our next issue of Ruminations for an update from Andy on the progress of this exciting new project.

Another year of funding for the Beef Efficiency Project will allow for the final installation of the automatic feeding and weighing equipment needed for us to begin the actual research. The goal is to measure residual feed intake (RFI) for cattle with high or low efficiencies for gain. A group of heifers has already been tested for RFI, and they have been bred to known high or low efficiency bulls. Their offspring are due to hit the ground this fall.

While much of the effort on beef efficiency will focus on the animal side, one can not overlook the importance of agronomy, that is forages and grazing management, in the overall picture. Cattle are ruminants and as such are designed to digest fiber (cellulose). As fertilizer and feed costs continue to escalate, the importance of getting the most out of pastures and forages continues to grow as well.

To that end, Sr. Research Specialist Matt Massie has overseen the renovation of almost 80 acres of pasture, and is working to improve an additional 80 acres of pasture currently being used to maintain the Center’s cow/calf herd. This is in addition to the myriad of small plot projects Matt conducts with campusbased faculty including Rob Kallenbach, Dale Blevins and Craig Roberts.

The magnitude and variety of research conducted at the SW Center depends on the knowledge, skills and dedication of researchers like Andy, Chris and Matt. But equally important is the dedication and hard work of the support staff, including Farm Manager Dallas Ross, Farm Worker II Stan Wilken, Animal Technician John Nelson, and Farm Worker I Ricky Robinson. A small complement of part-time employees, currently including Duane Maphies, Eric Vimont, Ashley Vinson and Diane Thompson, rounds out the work force.

In addition to the research support they provide, these members of the staff are also responsible for the general operation of almost 900 acres of farm, including beef and dairy herds, general cropping and hay production, grounds keeping, building and equipment maintenance and so many other things.

And working in a much different but equally important capacity, Administrative Assistant Carla Rathmann works diligently to ensure that payroll, accounting, recordkeeping, scheduling, Field Day planning, and mountains of paperwork are handled promptly and efficiently. And she always has a cordial greeting for the many visitors and callers to the SW Center.

And what about me? Well, let me just say that between now and November, you can find me out in a pasture with a rising plate meter in my hand.

Finally, we have met several times with the architectural firm of Bates and Associates and the MU Facilities Planning and Development staff several times, and our project is on schedule and on budget. Below is a rendering of the front of the new facility as well as a floor plan.

While many details remain, we are excited about construction starting and look ahead to a completion date in 2009. We are already getting calls to schedule meetings in the new facilities. We expect to have a lot to celebrate in 2009, with both the dedication of the new building and the SW Center’s 50th anniversary. Save the date for Friday, Sept. 11, 2009!