Going Virtual: MU research centers to host virtual field days

Southwest Research Center field day set for Sept. 10 online
Following discussions with local health departments and advisory boards, all educational field days offered by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Agricultural Research Centers, except one, will be hosted virtually this year. The Graves-Chapple Research Center, located near Rock Port, is the only Research Center that will host an in-person field day and will follow all CDC guidelines for social distancing. These decisions were made locally at each research center.
“These were incredibly tough decisions that we did not take lightly,” said CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher Daubert. “We understand how important our research centers are to their respective communities, which is why instead of completely canceling our field day season we are offering virtual presentations. This will allow our outstanding faculty and researchers an opportunity to still interact with Missourians across the state.”
Each year, the research centers offer educational presentations and demonstrations through a variety of field days throughout the state. Those events offer regionally specific data and information that farmers and producers use to improve their own operations.
The field day schedule will remain the same; however, most research centers will offer a schedule of prerecorded presentations on a variety of topics debuting the day of the scheduled field day. Those topics range from cover crops to industrial hemp to rotational grazing. The recordings can be found through each center’s website and Facebook page, as well as a special CAFNR webpage. All presentations are free and open to any member of the public.
“While we understand the disappointment in not gathering for our in-person field days, we are excited to be able to offer timely information through virtual means,” said Shibu Jose, associate dean in the CAFNR Office of Research. “Our faculty and researchers are still committed to serving Missourians during this trying time.”
Additionally, other large events, such as the South Farm Showcase, held in Columbia, Mo., and the Missouri Chestnut Roast, held at the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) in New Franklin, Mo., have been cancelled for 2020.
Jose added that if conditions improve later this year, there could be opportunities for the research centers to offer an in-person gathering to watch the presentations together, as well as hear live speakers. Those types of decisions will come at a later date.
The annual field day held at Southwest Research Center, Mt. Vernon, is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10.