Southwest Baptist University Agriculture Program

10/07/2023

Look for us in the Southwest Baptist University homecoming parade! Go SBU, corral McKendree!!

09/13/2023

The SBU Ag Introduction to Soil Science class has been enjoying our beautiful weather this fall working in the field. Students spent time measuring and recording plant rooting depth as part of our variety trials. They have also been mastering their skills of soil texture analysis, using Munsell charts for soil color determination, and have been analyzing soil cores to map horizons on our crop campus. The class also had the opportunity to participate in our on-going dung beetle research by learning to collect and identify the beetles. The SBU Ag program stresses hands-on, applicable skills to help our students be successful!

09/08/2023

The SBU Ag crop production class spent time this week evaluating their sorghum-sudan variety trials. The students harvested plots to determine forage production and vegetative characteristics. They also collected samples to analyze nutrient composition, digestibility, and nitrate levels. It’s great to be back with the students and in the field!

07/02/2023

Congrats to Dr. Murphy, the new dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences!

Congratulations on the appointments of Dr. Bill DuVall as dean of the Geneva Casebolt College of Arts and Social Sciences and Dr. John Murphy as dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences! 🎉

Full Story: https://www.sbuniv.edu/news-events/2023/duvall-murphy-appointed-deans.php

06/20/2023

SBU Ag would like to thank all of the support we have received from our community! The support of our local businesses and producers helps our students be successful by offering opportunities for hands-on learning and program advancements.

When our SBU Ag students were ready to plant the Kifer Crop Campus this month RBW Agricultural LLC stepped up huge! Britta Winfrey and Raymond Winfrey allowed our program to demo a brand new Massey Ferguson 5711 to pull our no-till drill! The MF 5711 has great cab visibility, amazing power, easy to use controls and offers great operator comfort.

Check out the drone video that our program put together of the tractor and our progress!

If you are in the market for new or used equipment give RBW a call. The faculty and students want to say a big “Thank you” for your extreme generosity and support of our program!

06/15/2023

SBU Ag would like to thank all of the support we have received from our farming community! The support of our local businesses and producers helps our students be successful by offering opportunities for hands-on learning and program advancements.

This past year, local businessman and producer, Thane Kifer, leased land to the SBU Ag program. The SBU Kifer Crop Campus, located along highway 13, allows our students to receive active practice in crop production and technology as well as precision agriculture prescription and fertility planning. Thane also leased the SBU Kifer Cattle campus, located along highway T, where students will be managing a beef cattle herd this fall utilizing a grazing system they have designed and built. Our faculty have also initiated a long-term grazing study to measure the impacts of grazing systems on plant and animal performance.

The faculty and students want to says a big “Thank you” to Thane and Suzanne for their support of our program!

06/15/2023

It may be summer, but our students and Ag program are still busy! Over the past week, our students and faculty have been busy planting different varieties of warm season annual forages on our crop campus. The students also received hands-on experience in drill calibration, depth adjustments, and maintenance. Warm season forages can help alleviate issues due to K31 fescue and summer slump. They can also provide emergency hay options when our fescue yields are down. Keep following our progress and results to learn how these forages could help you and your operation.

05/24/2023

He’s done it again! Congrats Dr. Murphy, we are proud of you!

05/11/2023

The SBU Ag program recently hosted Dr Temple Grandin on campus! She led a lecture to our Beef Production and Management class. Dr Grandin also stopped by our undergraduate research lab and visited with the students about their research on modified weaning in beef calves. What an amazing opportunity for the students!

05/08/2023

Our very own Dr. John Murphy helped kick off Missouri Beef Days yesterday by bringing the Word at cowboy church! We are thankful for Dr. Murphy’s Christ-like leadership and the example he serves as in our students lives.

05/08/2023

A great night of cowboy church, worship and guest speaker Amanda Radke at Southwest Baptist University Agriculture Program. Missouri Beef Days is off to a great start!

05/07/2023

Cowboy Church is a FREE event happening TODAY with nationally known speaker Amanda Radke!! 4:00pm at Southwest Baptist University- Plaster Stadium.

Then join the Polk County Cattleman for steak sandwiches and hot dogs available for purchase after church along with a children's book reading by Amanda!