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The theme for Wednesday's Fisher Delta Research Center's 54th Annual Field Day in Portageville was, "Delta Agriculture on the Move." The day was filled with informative talks from congressmen, legislators, and professors who spoke on various issues from the research center's new agricultural programs to the EPA's overreaching regulations that will have a negative impact on not only the farmers, but the nation as a whole.

FDRC Director Trent Haggard welcomed everyone to the event and opened the program by saying, "Farmers, each and every day, 365 days a year, work to better feed and clothe the world." After the invocation given by Dr. Gene Stevens, the Professor of Cropping System, the crowd grew silent with a moving presentation of the colors, conducted by Billy Becker, VFW commander Post 4680 and uniformed military personnel.

The event took place in Rone Exhibit Hall and the very witty MU Vice Chancellor and Dean Tom Payne was the emcee for the day and introduced all of the speakers that included U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, U.S. Congressman Jason Smith, UM President Tim Wolfe, Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, Attorney General Chris Koster, Director of Missouri Department of Agriculture Richard Fordyce and Senator Brian Munzlinger.

As Blunt spoke to the group, he emphasized the importance of agriculture and he said that the world food demand would double sometime between now and 2070. "This is an unbelievable challenge and it is an unbelievable opportunity, and no one is in a better position to take advantage of that then we are here, in Missouri where we live," said Blunt. "The Mississippi River Valley has the best farmers, the best ranchers, the best agricultural research institutions, public and private, in the world, and it has the best way to get products to anywhere in the world."

He said that he and Smith see a lot of FFAs when working in Washington, and when he sees these students, he brings attention to the area of agriculture and the vast opportunities within it, whether it is in production agriculture, food processing, commodities trading, or shipping. "Any aspect of it, in your working lifetime, the commerce of food will be twice as big when you retire as when you started," he said. "What an unbelievable opportunity. At the Fisher Delta Research Center, more things happen, and it is because of that, we will be able to meet that (demand) challenge with more crops, more effectively grown on the same amount of land."

Blunt talked about the advantages of living in the Southeast Missouri area and agriculture, but that was not all he and others talked about. They also discussed the constant vigilance that was needed to fight the war on utilities by the Environmental Protection Agency and the ones it would hurt, including the farmer.

After all of the speakers addressed those present, Munzlinger, chair of the Senate Ag Committee and graduate of the university, prepared for a special presentation.

He talked about the late Missouri Senator Peter Myers who helped Munzlinger when he first came into office and wanted to serve on the Ag Committee. After Myers' passing in 2012, Munzlinger wanted to set up the Peter Myers Distinguished Service Award in honor of the senator's dedication to agriculture, and it was at that time that he presented the award to former Superintendent Jake Fisher, whom Munzlinger said "has dedicated his life to agriculture and for fifty years serving the research center." In 2011 the center was renamed after him.

After the speakers finished addressing the group, the farm tours began which covered various areas of research, including a new Apiary (Beekeeping) program. The tours and talks were about the center's research in the following areas:

* Rice: Rice Variety Trials and Factors Impacting Chalkiness in Rice by Matt Rhine, University of Missouri; and Positive Impacts of Proper Potash Management in Rice by David Dunn, University of Missouri.

* Corn and Pollinator: Impacting Yield Through Variable Rate Seed, Fertilizer and Irrigation Regimes and Managing Your Irrigation Needs Using a Smartphone App by Dr. Gene Stevens, University of Missouri; and Reinvigorating the Missouri Bee Population Through the Missouri Pollinator Conservancy Program by Dr. Moneen Jones, University of Missouri and Bob Walters, FieldWatch, Inc.

* Soybeans: Showcasing Future Soybean Options for Delta Growers by Dr. Grover Shannon, University of Missouri; and Developing Conventional Soybeans for Missouri Farmers by Dr. Andrew Scaboo, University of Missouri.

* Cotton and Weed Science: Official Cotton Variety Trials by Andre Jones, University of Missouri; Understanding Challenges of New Weed Technologies by Jim Heiser, University of Missouri; and Stewardship of Water and Fertilizer in Irrigated Cotton by Dr. Earl Vories, USDA-ARS/University of Missouri.

Students from area schools including Senath-Hornersville and Southland attended their own event on Field Day. High school students learned about career opportunities in all areas of the agricultural field, along with other fields taught at the University of Missouri. They were also counseled in ways to finance their college from scholarships to A+ programs, and afterward they took the tours and learned about the agricultural progress being made at FDRC.

After lunch and the closing statements were made, VFW Commander Billy Becker ended the event by presenting the center with a POW/MIA flag. "Each year we donate a flag to an organization that recognizes our POWs," said Becker. "This year we chose the Fisher Delta Research Center as the recipient for the flag." Haggard received the flag for the center and thanked the VFW for it.

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