Farm Upgrades Enhance Crop Research and Soil Data Accuracy

By Blake Jackson

Recent equipment and infrastructure improvements at the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center near Rock Port are helping researchers work more efficiently while expanding the farm’s ability to support agricultural studies, demonstrations, and outreach programs.

The 200-acre University of Missouri research farm has benefited from several upgrades, including a refurbished plot combine, advanced soil sampling technology, and new maintenance equipment. These additions are expected to improve research accuracy and provide farmers with better information to guide management decisions.

“We can work more efficiently, be more productive,” said Jim Crawford, director of the center. “It lets us do better research, more accuracy in the data we collect and the programs that we run. It also lets us increase the volume and the number of projects.”

Many of the improvements were funded through a one-time $5 million state investment in MU Extension.

According to Rob Kallenbach, MU Extension senior program director for Agriculture and Environment, “We set aside part of that money to do some infrastructure development and capacity-building at our extension education centers around the state.”

One of the most significant additions was a refurbished plot combine used to harvest research plots and gather yield data. Installed last fall, the machine reduced harvest time by about 60% while improving data consistency.

The center’s previous combine had been in service for 55 years. By purchasing a refurbished model from ALMACO for less than $200,000, the center gained modern capabilities at a fraction of the cost of a new machine.

The funding also supported detailed grid soil sampling across the farm. Researchers collected soil information from approximately one-acre sections to create nutrient maps showing variations in phosphorus, potassium, and other soil properties.

“Instead of going in and hoping that random sample was right and applying 100 pounds of phosphorus to every acre, there are parts of the field that need 100 pounds per acre and there are parts that need 20 pounds per acre,” Crawford said.

The center continues to support long-term studies on crop production, soil health, conservation practices, and precision agriculture. “You don’t just go out and toss some stuff on and suddenly have healthy soil,” said Rob Kallenbach. “It takes decades to develop that.”

Photo Credit: gettyimages-casarsaguru