Horticulture and Agroforestry Center field day set for June 30

NEW FRANKLIN, Mo. – The Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) will host a field day featuring multiple presentations on agroforestry and horticulture, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 30.

If you are interested in growing a few nut trees, or several acres, researchers from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri will showcase varieties and discuss care and pest control. Looking to start or expand your fruit orchard, or considering trying to cultivate the famous black truffle? Johann Bruhn, associate research professor of plant sciences, has more than 10 years of research to share on the elusive and highly valuable mushroom.

The 665-acre center will offer two tours throughout the day. The first tour offers seven presentations on nut and fruit trees, small fruits, mushrooms and wine grapes.

The second tour features silvopasture, shade tolerance trials of warm-season grasses for forages in alley cropping systems and water quality and biomass research. Attendees will see the flood lab, where a research team is evaluating the flood tolerance of four biomass crops to simulate growing conditions along the Missouri and Mississippi river corridors.

John Dwyer, associate professor of forestry, and Jimmy Houx, research specialist in plant sciences, will discuss multiple species of Missouri crops and their suitability for biomass production.

Chris Starbuck, associate professor of plant sciences, will share promising research that a pine straw industry can be developed in the Midwest.

In addition to the latest research in raising cattle and trees together, developing new fruit and nut cultivars and finding fuel for the future, is a look into the past. Tours of one of the oldest standing brick homes in Missouri, the Hickman House, built in 1819, will also be available. The home sits atop a hill at HARC. All tours are free and open to the public. Lunch will be served 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

HARC is part of a network of research centers across Missouri, extending CAFNR’s research to nearly 13,000 acres to meet the regional research and demonstration needs of agricultural producers and natural resource managers.

For more information, contact Nancy Bishop at BishopN@missouri.edu or 660-848-2268.

CAFNR is changing the core components of society that impact what we eat, where we live and how we’ll face tomorrow. As the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, we are at the forefront of research and education, working toward global sustainability.