With the new structure at the University of Missouri, there will be field days by both Extension and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

In May, the University of Missouri reconfigured its Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station system to create four more localized Extension and education centers — operated by MU Extension — and four regional research hubs dubbed Research, Extension and Education Centers — operated by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

The four Research, Extension and Education Centers are Central, Northern, Southwest and T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta. The four education centers operated by MU Extension include Graves-Chapple, near Rock Port; Hundley-Whaley, in Gentry County; Wurdack, in the northeastern Ozarks; and Jefferson Farm, in Columbia.

Limited learning opportunities

In 2021, there were nine opportunities for farmers and ranchers to hear the latest in research and technology. Today, that number is down to six as the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center plans to host a career exploration day for middle and high school students.

The Forage Systems Research Center, or Cornett Farm in Linneus, is now included in the Northern REEC, along with the Thompson Research Center.

Some MU Extension field days are being retooled to garner more interest and greater attendance.

MU Extension and Education Center’s Hundley-Whaley location brings more information to farmers and consumers. There will still be the traditional wagon tour with researchers presenting results on row crop trials, says Jennifer Miller, the center’s superintendent, but others may want to listen in on health-related topics. She says the center is looking at reaching all area residents with timely rural topics.

Dates to remember

Field days are free and open to the public. Here is a list of MU’s local and regional field days, as of July 1:

Aug. 23. Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center, 201 Highway 136 East, Rock Port, Mo. The event starts with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., with the program from 8:15 a.m. to noon.

Aug. 26. T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center Field Day, County Road 308, Portageville, Mo.; 7 a.m. breakfast followed by tours at 8 a.m.

Aug. 30. Northern Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center, Greenley Place, Novelty, Mo. Breakfast is from 7 to 8 a.m.; tours from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch.

Sept. 8. Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center, 1109 S. Birch St., Albany, Mo. The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m.

Oct. 1: Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center, HARC Chestnut Roast, 10 Research Center Road, New Franklin, Mo. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oct. 7. Wurdack Extension and Education Center, 164 Bales Road, Cook Station, Mo. The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.