Horticulture

The Lincoln University Horticulture/Commercial Vegetable program (CVP) applies research, extension and teaching methods aimed to help farmers increase income and profitability through sustainable agricultural practices. Participants learn new growing techniques and how to increase the nutrient concentration of their crops. The program also provides educational and hands-on opportunities on the use of high tunnels and how they help Missourians to extend their growing season.

The Horticulture-CVP is rooted within core values associated with a sustainable agriculture framework and is service-oriented, consistent with the mandate of a land-grant university. To comply with the mandate of the 1890 land-grant institutions, the CVP serves all farmers in Missouri, with emphasis on service to underserved populations (limited resource farmers, women farmers and veteran farmers).

Crops of focus include tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, watermelon, kale, ginger and turmeric. Research projects include experiments in open field and in high tunnels. Our disciplinary strengths are in plant nutrition, soil fertility and production in open field and high tunnels. A key strength of the program is the ability to interact with stakeholders, understand real world problems within an agricultural production system, and conduct research or implement training programs to address our stakeholders' issues, and advance the sciences of vegetable production.

Addressing relevant production questions combined with a fundamental scientific background provides us with a mechanism to write competitive grant proposals. Our work is supported by USDA funds as a Land Grant Institution, and through competitive grants. Since 2014, competitive grants have generated 73.6% of our total program funds. Obtaining extramural funding enables the program to hire key personnel including undergraduate students, which contributes to the next generation of future scientists. The extramural funding helps the program conduct research projects to generate new scientific knowledge and then translate this knowledge into Extension programming to deliver solutions to clientele issues.

Team members have a wide opportunity of growth as they are exposed to applied field and high tunnel research, advanced crop production tools and technology, and advanced laboratory instrumentation. They have many opportunities to interact with scientists, farmers, and USDA personnel.

Horticulture Publications

Education

The focus of my teaching, research and extension work is sustainable production of horticultural crops. My research projects include agricultural strategies to increase the nutrient concentration in vegetable crops, production of Brussels sprouts for marketing on stalks, and the use of high tunnels to extend the growing season and increase the profitability of produce crops. Courses that I teach include Organic Farming and Gardening, Sustainable Horticulture and Introductory Horticulture. My extension program consists of applied research and educational programs aimed to help farmers increase income and profitability through sustainable agricultural practices. — Dr. Touria Eaton