One man whose dedication and expertise have advanced the facility’s operations is Dr. Karl Wilker. He serves as manager, winemaker and distiller. He’s also a research professor in the Darr College of Agriculture. The college houses the winery and distillery, which is part of the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station. Creating commercial wines During his horticulture PhD … [Read more...] about Making a name in wines and spirits
This reduces the amount of sunlight hitting the ground. If left in such a condition for too long without disturbance, important tree species cannot regenerate. Invasive or shade tolerant species creep in and animals leave the area, in search of better food. Or maybe the trees simply age, produce less fruit and continue to weaken. These scenarios drive the forestry field … [Read more...] about Seeing the forest and the trees
Instead, it's the work of the Japanese beetle. But it's never just one. The beetles arrive in multitudes out of the earth. From white grubs chewing on the roots of your plants, they grow into a swarm that blankets your plants. They eat the tissue, damaging the plants beyond survival. For farmers, the beetles' attack is an even greater concern. It's devastating to a crop, yet … [Read more...] about Traveling scientist: Finding a home in the lab and field
That is why agriculture professor Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang and his team of researchers at Missouri State University are exploring grape genetics. They use cutting-edge DNA marker technology to expedite traditional breeding of grapes, which may take more than 20 years to release a new type of grape, also known as a cultivar. If you don’t have sustainability of your vineyard, you … [Read more...] about Breeding grapes the smarter way
Their work and stories intrigued him, ignited his passion for agriculture and led him to study agricultural economics in the United States, which changed the course of his career. "Agriculture brought me to real people and their problems," said Rimal, a professor of agriculture and interim department head of agribusiness, education and communication in the Darr College of … [Read more...] about Sustaining local agriculture for economic growth
When a Missouri vineyard manager contacted Dr. Wenping Qiu in 2004 to express concerns about a disease plaguing his vineyard, Qiu speculated the decline was caused by a virus. Unable to find the link with known viruses after two years of testing, Qiu and his research team began utilizing a relatively new technology called RNA (Ribonucleic Acids) sequencing to decipher the … [Read more...] about Getting the juicy details
Schmitt has worked with elephants for more than 30 years. In addition to his role at Missouri State, he serves as the chair of veterinary services and director of research and conservation at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation. In this capacity, he oversees the care of about 50 elephants for Ringling Bros. Although elephants are … [Read more...] about Working with endangered Asian elephants
Here, researchers like Dr. Wenping Qiu, director, and Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang, associate professor at the William H. Darr School of Agriculture, explore grape genetics. They want to increase the profitability of the grape and wine industry, ensure its stability and improve human health with their genetic findings. One of the primary grapes studied at the center is Missouri’s … [Read more...] about Keeping grape populations healthy