Field Day
*Our annual field day will be held October 3, 2008.

FFA/Science/
Career Field Day
*Our annual Ag Sciences Day will be held October 2, 2008.

Research

People

Weather

Contact us
Superintendent:
John Poehlmann
2-44 Ag Building
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-4450
Email: poehlmannj@missouri.edu

Farm Manager:
Brent Booker
Phone: 573-743-6612
Email: WurdackFarm@missouri.edu

Donna Marie Thomas
MO AES Field Operations
2-21 Ag Building
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-4450
email: thomasdm@missouri.edu

Mission Statement

Vision Statement

Focus areas

Budget

Calendar of Events

The Hugo Wurdack Farm will conduct demonstrations and research in integrated livestock, forages, forestry, and wildlife management practices that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and sociologically acceptable for the Ozark Region of Missouri. The Wurdack Farm is operated using Best Management Practices and provides educational information on a wide range of agricultural, natural resource, and scientific topics to area beef and forage producers, soil and water district members, students from elementary and secondary schools, and other interested groups. Farm activities emphasize management practices that promote sustainable agricultural production while protecting the natural environment and the quality of life for citizens of Missouri's Ozark region.

Vision Statement

MU's Wurdack Farm is an outstanding example of an Ozark farm that manages resources of forage, beef and timber in a manner that attracts farmers, foresters all students and citizens of all walks of life to learn about the farm and compare it with their own environment.

Commitment to Stimulate Research and Education

Recognizing the cost of accomplishing research and education programs, the Wurdack Farm management team makes funds available to assist with such programs. The following conditions outline how this program works:

1. The research or education to be carried out must be on the Wurdack Farm property.
2. Funding is open to a variety of research and education programs that fall within the interest areas outlined in this Wurdack Farm
3. Where possible, these funds are to be used as a match to acquire other resources and funding.
4. Funding is contingent upon availability of funds. Projects can be multiple years in length.
5. No formal application form is available. Requests should include:
   1. Title of research/education project and names of those involved
   2. A description of the study limited to one page.
   3. Explanation of how this project will benefit the Wurdack Farm region
6. Applications will be reviewed by the executive committee with approval from the Advisory Committee when needed.
7. Successful awards shall be done contingent upon receipt of a full protocol of the project

Forage Production:
General conditions: Wurdack Farm has 400 acres of grass with no grain crops. In order to carry 100 cows the 280 acres must be managed to optimize production by allocating adequate ground to produce 400 bales of hay, grazing throughout the year and reduction of feed costs by stockpiling. Cattle sales are the sole source of the operating budget for Wurdack Farm. Through public information of how the farm makes decisions and the production as well as economic results, a comparison is available for the forage producers of the region to compare and learn for their own operation.

I. Objective: Produce forage that avoids periods of poor performance in cattle while keeping production costs low.

1. Management of pasture species and production
   1. Selection of species will provide a predictable supply of high quality forage that provides healthy feed for the entire beef herd while balancing supply against the droughty nature of the pastures.
   2. Varieties will be selected for relative feed value (RFV), hardiness, absence of toxins and stand maintenance
   3. astures will provide comparisons with typical versus improved forage species.
   4. Legumes will be mixed with grasses where appropriate for the benefit of forage quality, drought resistance and fertility management
   5. 5 year plans for pasture management will balance the requirement for annual forage production while providing annual changes in pastures that provides for the long term improvement of both quality and quantity.
   6. The 2002 pasture renovation program will be continued.
   7. In 2006 an evaluation of pastures will determine future adjustments and provide for a longer-term plan of pasture renovations that reduces the risk of inadequate forage supply due to pasture area under establishment.
   8. Fertility applications will be based on soil tests in accord with MU recommendations and timed to provide optimal growth.
      1. P, K and pH levels will be kept in the moderate to high range
         1. Soil fertility levels will be tracked with goals set and benchmarked by soil test data for phosphorus and potassium with differentiation between
            1. Areas harvested for hay
            2. Areas utilized for pasture
      2. Nitrogen credits will be accorded to legumes in mixed stands
      3. Emphasis on best management practices will include matching fertilizer applications with soil tests and crop needs, as well as split applications and other management strategies.
   9. Grazing management
      1. Rotational grazing will be utilized during the growing season
      2. Winter pastures will be located to enhance shelter for cattle and accommodate winter feeding with minimal destruction to pasture stands

2. Research will be solicited that addresses the following areas:
   
   1. Varietal performance demonstrations
   2. Species interaction with cattle, wildlife, etc.
   3. Fertility impact upon forage quality and quantity
   4. Establishment practices and their results
   5. Fertilizer use, analysis, application techniques & timing, and economic by agronomic strategies that differentiate NPK rates depending on prices of each.
   6. Pest management strategies

3. Education / Demonstrations
   
   1. To generate a realistic farm plan annual audits of farm acres will provide a breakdown of the Wurdack Farm acres by:
      1. Timber
      2. Cow acres
         1. Hay
         2. Pastures
         3. Feeding & Lots
      3. Agroforestry
      4. Draws and drainage areas not appropriate for other use
   2. Partnerships with other agencies and businesses will be cultivated to form alliances for mutual interests
   3. Communication with those doing research and demonstrations will include specific definitions of:
      1. Responsible party for carrying out research
      2. Task delineation for research including timing, required action, reporting, etc.
      3. Budgets for research that identify costs, incomes and resource use by all parties
   4. Assemble and market the details of Wurdack Farm
      1. Collect old data and protect it from loss
      2. Analyze data in a form that it can be used publicly
      3. Determine documentation that will be employed each year
   5. Establish a grass museum
   6. Best management practices and their timing will be outlined and available
   7. Field days and tours will include the forage and beef management topics
   8. Grazing Schools and workshops will provide management training for other producers
   9. Economics
      1. Historical records (where available) will be summarized and provide comparative information for other producers
      2. Pasture enterprise analysis will tie costs of forage production to pounds of beef sold from the farm
      3. Trial scenarios for the past and or future will be used to demonstrate the impact of renovating pastures on different pasture regimes.

Beef Production
General conditions: Wurdack Farm began it's beef herd with a group of cattle lacking uniformity and quality. Focus on improving quality of the herd through selection of breeding animals, hybrid crosses and herd management have significantly improved the quality and production of the animals. Information regarding cattle management and production is desired to be available to the public for comparison with their operations. Because animals are the property of the University of Missouri, animals are managed under protocols from the Animal Care and Use Committee. Cattle sales provide the operating budget for the farm and heavily impact what Wurdack Farm can do. Research utilizing the beef herd has to avoid negative impacts on sales or offset the amount. Wurdack Farm utilizes marketing strategies that provide information on genetic improvement of the cow herd, supports extension efforts to enhance profitability and optimizes farm income.

II. Objective: Improve the quality and uniformity of the beef herd by genetics and management in a manner that is measurable and economical.

1. Herd Improvement through Breeding Selection
   1. Map trend lines from historical data on the herd
      1. Implement and utilize record-keeping that can define:
         1. Annual cow costs
         2. Pounds of beef produced per cow and per acre
   2. Develop goals for the herd
   3. Outline data needed from animals that are sold
   4. Project a 10 year breeding program
      1. Continue artificial insemination especially with heifers
      2. Continue with angus emphasis on herd through 2006
      3. Cull cows to arrive at an all black herd after which Hereford will provide more uniform heterosis
      4. Artificial inseminate using angus with Hereford clean-up bulls
      5. Selection for genetics will emphasize uniformity of body
   5. Insure that data needed to measure herd improvement is collected:
      1. Collect carcass data from both, splitting the herd depending on conditions of the programs of Premier Beef; Missouri Verified Beef or through a custom feeder
      2. Herd Health Management
         1. Practice a preventative vaccination program that enhances both herd health and animal sales
         2. Implement the national system of animal ID
      3. Beef Marketing Program
         1. Map trend lines from historical data on the herd
         2. Develop goals for the
         3. Compile a historical enterprise analysis by the year
         4. Prepare an annual budget
         5. Project and plan marketing objectives & strategies
      4. Education / Demonstrations
         1. Identify best management practices and timing
         2. Define economics of the A.I. program including a statement that balances the cost with the genetics that are available
         3. Demonstrate electronic identification system with the equipment and management components to make it work.
         4. Offer tours or workshops on the following topics:
            1.  
         5. Field Day tours on improving the Wurdack Farm beef herd
         6. Extension tours on improving the Wurdack Farm beef herd
      5. Research
         1. Collecting, analyzing and packaging data collected from the herd is a high priority to connect research and education
         2. Animal identification and recordkeeping
         3. Economic and performance analysis
         4. Micro-nutrient deficiencies
         5. Analysis of spring versus fall calving cows
         6. Impact of maternal characteristics upon value of animals
         7. DNA work tied to information from feedlot data
         8. Develop a herd management record keeping system that can process information from past years and interface with new requirements of animal identification, herd economics and performance analysis. Collect information from other centers to assist with selection of the program.

Timber Production & Management
General conditions: Wurdack Farm has 800 acres of trees reflecting typical forest growth of the region in a variety of landscape settings, stands and species. Making this 2/3 of the farm into a continuing profit center through the use of improvement techniques, research, demonstration, marketing and management appropriate for the respective stands is important to the long-term development at Wurdack Farm and is desired to be an integral part of the Wurdack Farm value to the region.

III. Objective: Continue to develop and improve timber stands for planned harvests that provide an optimal long-range income.

1. Timber Stand Management
   1. Compile routine timber inventories
   2. Have written management strategies for quality timber
   3. Outline practices to improve forest health
   4. Have a 15 year plan for managing timber sales
   5. Utilize sustainable forest management principles
   6. Identify woodlots that will serve multiple roles
   7. Incorporate other agencies in the demonstrations that provides mutual support.
2. Education / Demonstrations
   1. Annually review educational events from the previous year and plan events that strengthen this part of the educational program.
   2. Identify best management practices and timing
   3. Detail the impact of timber sales on the farm economics and viability
   4. Include annual focus tours on timber management (or workshops)
   5. Host regular Chain saw safety workshops
   6. Develop the management handbook for the Wurdack Farm timber
   7. Summarize timber sales as far as historical accuracy provides
   8. Formulate timber sales along with supporting decision-making data and package for dissemination the breakdown of timber costs, income and annual events of accomplishing this plan.
   9. Develop a display of the Timber Map with description of research that is current or past on the Wurdack Farm.
   10. Provide signage for research and demonstration projects
3. Research
   1. Agroforestry studies
   2. Silva-pastoral studies
   3. Light quality impacts on forages
   4. Small diameter utilization projects
   5. Results of economics for timber research
   6. Annual summaries of studies

IV. Objective: Develop wildlife and natural resource management that complements the beef, forage and timber management of Wurdack Farm

1. Management
   1. Compile wildlife and natural resource inventories
   2. Develop management strategies for wildlife and natural resource management
   3. Outline practices to promote desired species of wildlife
   4. Incorporate other agencies in the demonstrations that provides mutual support.
2. Education / Demonstrations
   1. Identify best management practices and timing
   2. Annual focus as part of tours on wildlife management (or workshops)
   3. Develop and have for display a management handbook and references for the Wurdack Farm wildlife and natural resources. Include annual summaries of studies from the Farm.
   4. Economic Reports
      1. Summarize costs of activities
      2. Formulate projections for alternative enterprises whether carried out or not (example: hunting leases, naturalist tours, etc.)
   5. Address issues facing landowners reflected in our ¾ mile of Meramec River frontage
      1. Provide education on best management practices employed in gravel mining in conjunction with MDNR oversight
      2. Utilize the streambank stabilization project previously done at Wurdack Farm
   6. Research
      1. Agroforestry x wildlife studies
      2. Forage x wildlife studies
      3. Historical perspectives of natural resource areas of the farm
      4. Biological surveys of plant and wildlife on the farm

V. Management organization

1. Superintendent
   1. Insure good communication flow between all parties
   2. Quality control over Wurdack Farm e.g.
   3. Budget and Personnel management
   4. Resource management for research and education
   5. Representation within CAFNR
   6. Plan, advertise and conduct four Advisory Committee meetings per year in concert with the Advisory Committee Chair.
2. Advisory Committee
   1. Purpose is to compare needs of the area and identify those needs that can be addressed by the farm
      1. Community Leaders to connect Wurdack Farm with regional needs and assist with program development
      2. Extension Specialists to facilitate the educational and management plans
      3. Campus Faculty to identify areas and personnel for research involvement
3. Management Committee (comprised of members of the committee) to develop details of beef, forage, timber and wildlife management, education and research
   1. Comprised of the following
      1. Superintendent & Farm Manager
      2. Chair of the Advisory Committee
      3. Representatives from agencies in the region
      4. University personnel with respect to the 4 objectives
   2. Meet every four to six weeks
4. Farm Manager
   1. Conduct daily coordination with activities
   2. Implement the plans for forage and beef outlined by teams
   3. Responsible for areas of quality work related to forage, beef and timber
   4. Facilitates research
5. Research Scientists e.g.
   1. Plan and submit research outlines
   2. Conduct research work
   3. Provide annual summaries
   4. Present at Field days

VI. Budget Projections

VII. Facilities

1. Infrastructure - Waterline replacement
2. Building Construction - new machine shed & shop
3. Building Construction - ?

VIII. Calendar of Events (circa 2004)

Dent County Cattleman
Dent County Extension Council
Crawford County Extension Council
Young Farmer Tour
Grazing School
Advanced Grazing School
Youth Field Day
Public Field Day
High School Teacher's Workshop
Future Business Leaders of America barbecue
High School Applied Science Class
Regional Extension Staff Meeting
University of Missouri Entomology Class
Visitors average once bi-weekly
Rolla League Baseball Team picnic