Blake Barlow is the Director of Research and Agronomy for the Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC). In this position he serves the Missouri soybean farmer by facilitating and managing their checkoff research investment. In addition to managing the portfolio of research and agronomic projects, Barlow serves as the staff liaison between the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) and the Mid-South Soybean Board (MSSB). He interacts extensively with the University of Missouri-Columbia, other state universities, industry leaders, state and federal agencies, varied commodity organizations, and fellow qualified state soybean boards (QSSBs).

Barlow previously held roles at Bayer Crop Science as a seed and trait technology development representative and a crop protection technology development representative, planning and summarizing agronomic and crop protection research. He holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture business and crop and soil science from the University of Central Missouri and a Master of Science in plant insect and microbial science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His Master of Science research focused weed resistance and seed treatment and herbicide interactions.