New investments boost Hundley-Whaley's impact

ALBANY, Mo. – Recent repairs and upgrades at the University of Missouri Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center are strengthening the site’s ability to deliver high-quality research and practical education for Missouri farmers.

While many of the improvements focused on needed maintenance, the most significant impact may come from new precision agriculture tools that provide a more detailed picture of soil conditions across the center’s fields, said Shawn Deering, director of MU Hundley-Whaley Center.

“These upgrades let us do better research and provide better information to producers,” Deering said. “We’re improving the baseline so that everything we do here is more accurate and more useful.”

The improvements were supported in part by a one-time increase in state funding for MU Extension that included investments in infrastructure and capacity-building across the university’s network of extension and education centers.

Precision ag upgrades improve soil understanding

At Hundley-Whaley, that funding enabled comprehensive grid soil sampling across roughly 120 acres of research land. Rather than taking a few composite samples from large sections of a field, grid sampling divides fields into smaller units and collects soil from each one. The resulting information is used to create detailed nutrient maps showing how soil fertility varies across a field.

Using those maps, the center has developed precision fertilizer and lime application plans tailored to the specific needs of each area, so center staff apply nutrients only where needed, avoiding both over-application and under-application.

This not only helps improve crop performance but also strengthens the integrity of research conducted at the center. Uneven soil fertility can skew results, making it difficult to draw reliable conclusions. By leveling out those differences, researchers and partners can better compare results across test plots.

“That’s really important,” Deering said. “If you’re doing trials, you want to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples and not getting results influenced by differences in soil fertility.”

Alongside the precision ag work, the center completed key repairs to restore facilities and equipment to full working order. This included fixing storm-related damage to the Learning Discovery Center roof and a machine shed.

Expanding capacity for research and education

Hundley-Whaley Center serves as a regional hub for MU Extension programming, hosting meetings, field days and educational events for farmers, agribusiness professionals and students.

With improved facilities and more precise soil data, the center is better equipped to support research projects, attract collaborators and deliver programming that reflects real-world farming conditions, Deering said.

Ultimately, the upgrades enhance the center’s ability to fulfill its mission of helping Missouri farmers make informed decisions about crop production and soil management.

About MU Hundley-Whaley Center

Demonstrations and research at the 375-acre Hundley-Whaley Research Center are made possible through the generosity of Elma Hundley and Lulu Whaley. Located near Albany in Gentry County on second-bottom river soils, the center provides an ideal setting for agronomic studies, including testing and comparison of new crop varieties and products.

Research focuses on best management practices and the economics of corn and soybean production, along with pesticide evaluations and comparisons. The center is also known for its emphasis on sustainable agriculture and projects that address improved management of crops, timber and bottomland soils.

For more information, visit the MU Hundley-Whaley website or call 660-726-5610.

Upcoming events at Hundley-Whaley

June 24-25: Northwest Missouri Regional Grazing School

Aug. 29: Missouri Waste Pesticide Collection Event

Sept. 3: Hundley-Whaley Center Field Day

Sept. 9: Hundley-Whaley Center FFA Day

Photos

Sign at MU Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center, Albany, Mo.

Farm work at Hundley-Whaley.

Grid soil sampling at Hundley-Whaley.

UTV-mounted sampling system for precision agriculture work at Hundley-Whaley.

Soil map allows for precise application of fertilizer to fields.