From The Ground Up team connects with Missouri farmers at key agricultural events
The From The Ground Up (FTGUp) team recently engaged farmers, agricultural professionals, and community members at two major agricultural events in Missouri, sharing farmer-led research initiatives and building connections to support sustainable farming practices across the state.
At the beginning of June, the team attended the annual Carver Farm Field Day at Lincoln University’s George Washington Carver Farm in Jefferson City, Missouri. The event gives farmers and community members an opportunity to learn about the latest agricultural research through a trolley tour of the farm, with stops highlighting topics such as integrated pest management, greenhouse production, small ruminant production, livestock grazing, and other innovative agricultural practices. About 14 booths were set up around the research farm, allowing farmers to explore and engage with faculty and student researchers on the agricultural research they are conducting.
Dr. Mohan Acharya, State Extension Specialist, Small Ruminant Program at Lincoln University of Missouri, and FTGUp team member, engaged audiences on the project. Also present was Dominique Locklear, an FTGUp undergraduate intern from Central State University, Ohio. Among the officials who visited the FTGUp booth was Dr. Johnnie Westbrook, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences, Lincoln University of Missouri.
Dr. Acharya explained to audiences that in traditional agricultural research, scientists typically identify a problem, design a study, collect and analyze data, and then encourage farmers to adopt the resulting practices. But FTGUp takes a different approach. It begins with asking farmers about the challenges they face and the solutions they believe are worth testing in real-world field conditions. The farmers then lead design trials, data collection, and evaluation, with the support of researchers, ensuring that the research is driven by farmers’ needs and experiences.
Dr. Acharya provided audiences with an overview of ongoing FTGUp conservation practices studies at different nodes in Missouri, including research on cover cropping, alternative soil amendments, and varying seed treatments.
Several farmers expressed interest in learning more about FTGUp’s research and ongoing on-farm research trials, and were notified of upcoming opportunities, including peer-to-peer learning activities and on-farm visits.
At the end of May, the FTGUp team also participated in the Midwest Buck Sale (regional marketing opportunity for breeders) at the Goat Expo, which took place in Sedalia, Missouri.
Goat Expo is a nationally recognized goat industry event bringing together families, youth exhibitors, breeders, and professionals from across the region. This event was a key chance for producers to learn from industry experts, share ideas, and connect with fellow goat farmers across the region. Besides the sale, an educational program on breed improvement was offered, giving attendees insights into genetic selection, herd management, and strategies to boost herd productivity.
At the event, Dr. Acharya explained the significance of various FTGUp research, answered questions about the project’s goals, and discussed how the research findings could benefit farmers, researchers, and rural communities statewide. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among universities, agricultural professionals, and local producers to address challenges such as changing environmental conditions, resource management, and sustainable food production.
By Dr. Mohan Acharya
