Dr. Rob Myers

Dr. Rob Myers is Director of the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture and an Extension Professor in the Plant Science and Technology Division. Since 2010, he has also served as Regional Director of Extension Programs for the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program. In his leadership role with the Center for Regenerative Agriculture, he administers a $25 million USDA climate-smart grant called the Missouri CRCL Project and also the $10 million National Cover Crop Variety Development Project, along with other grant projects. His professional expertise encompasses sustainable and regenerative agriculture, soil health, conservation, and cropping system diversification. In the digital agriculture area, he has been involved with efforts to develop online cover crop economic decision tools, use remote sensing with cover crops, and participate with the electric autonomous tractor team at MU. He has also written and spoken regularly on the use of new equipment technology with cover crops and conservation agriculture.

Keywords: Regenerative agriculture; Cover Crop; Soil health; Sustainable ag

Research Focus

Regenerative agricultural practices to improve soil health and the resiliency of farming systems. The primary practice I work on is cover crops but I also oversee projects that involve regenerative grazing and virtual fencing, the use of native plants in agriculture systems, improved nutrient management, and no-till systems.

New Funding/Grants
$934,000 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant – Farmers for Soil Health education and training programs.
$3,780,261 USDA-NRCS Cooperative Agreement for National Soil Health Assessment
$250,000 Walton Family Foundation – Developing cover crop farmer-to-farmer networking and outreach.

Publications

Jones, R., Myers, R., Wilson, K., and Caillouet, O. 2026. How Missouri farmers are strengthening land and livelihoods. University of Extension News Bulletin.

Mercier, S., Myers, R.L., and Kulik Price, V. 2025. Diversified farming systems and U.S. agricultural policy. AGREE Coalition Report. 31 p.

Sutton, E., Myers, R., Reberg-Horton, C. Woodard, A., and Henriquez Inoa, E. 2025. National cover crop variety testing program: 2024-2025 trial results. University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture. 19 p.

Werblow, S., Myers, R.L, Bedeker, B., and Heiniger, R. 2025. National cover crop survey report: agricultural advisors. Joint report of USDA-SARE program and Conservation Technology Information Center. 43 p.

Parvej, M.R., Brandt, D., Myers, R., Nelson, K., Reinbott, and T., Singh, G. 2025. Permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC): A sensitive indicator of reactive soil carbon. University of Missouri Extension Guide G9073. 17 p.

Caillouet, O. and Myers, R.L. 2025. Integrating drone technology into cover cropping systems. MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture. 3 p.

Melo, J., Wilson, K.R., Heimsoth, J. and Myers, R.L. 2024. There will always be collars in my future”: exploring US ranchers’ and company representatives’ perspectives of virtual fencing for livestock. Smart Agricultural Technology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2024.100632