The new state-of-the-art greenhouse facility gives students experience by being involved from planting to sales. The complex also features an 1,800-square-foot head house or work facility, which is used as a preparation area for mixing soil and sterilizing pots. The head house also serves as a retail operation and provides much-needed storage space.

The second phase of the project, which could begin in two to three years, calls for building a classroom-laboratory building featuring a bio-tech lab where classes will be taught in a high-tech environment. In the future, there will be an arboretum, walkways and turf management facilities.

David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center
The David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center at Southeast Missouri State University is a teaching asset designed for undergraduate research and education. Undergraduate students participate in all aspects of the beef herd management. The disciplines that are emphasized at the beef farm are reproductive physiology, genetics of food animal improvement, ruminant nutrition and beef production management.

The herd is a cow-calf enterprise with all calves being marketed through specific programs.  Heifers are sold as bred heifers in the Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale. The herd has the highest selling pen average and herd sale average. Steer calves are grown to harvest weight and sold on a beef quality grid marketing system with U. S. Premium Beef. The national average for choice plus calves is 53 percent.  Southeast Missouri State University averages 75 percent choice + quality grade.

Presently the herd consists of 113 mature cows, six harvest lot heifers, 42 bred heifers, 104 fall 2005 born calves, and three herd bulls. Numbers are large enough to permit student undergraduate research projects.  Additionally, applied research is conducted in the ares of beef nutrition, beef reproduction, and forage management.

Teaching is not strictly related to beef production, the herd is a teaching asset also used to train students in  several aspects of management. Students are trained to plan the work and work the plan. It is not about beef it is about managing an asset in a working environment.

University Turf Grass Research Plots
The Southeast Missouri State University Turf Grass Research Plots are a hands-on asset designed for research and development of turf grass. The plots are maintained by undergraduate students majoring in agriculture with interest in horticulture.

The Research Plots were designed and constructed by undergraduates in the spring of 2007. Roughly covering two acres of ground, with a state of the art irrigation system, the plots have the best conditions for all aspects of turf grass research. The plots have 81 different types of turf including Zoysia grass, Fescue grass, Bermuda grass and Bent grass. The students get hands on experience including grow in’s of new grass, mowing practices, irrigation equipment and chemical application.

Research data is enough to provide students with undergraduate research projects and independent studies. The University works closely with Dalhousie Golf Club to learn the latest technology and equipment of the turf industry.

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