Barlow appointed to drive soybean innovation in Missouri
Missouri Soybeans announced June 25 Blake Barlow’s appointment as the organization’s new director of research and agronomy.
With experience in agricultural research and sales, Barlow aims to drive innovative solutions for Missouri soybean farmers.
Barlow will work with the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council to select and oversee funded projects that will most impact Missouri soybean farmers.
This includes managing the evaluation and selection of plant-breeding and biotech-research projects and applied-agronomic projects funded by Missouri’s checkoff.
In addition to managing the portfolio of research and agronomic projects, Barlow will serve as the staff liaison between the North Central Soybean Research Program and the Mid-South Soybean Board.
He will interact 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).
“We are thrilled to welcome Blake to the team,” said Gary Wheeler, Missouri Soybeans CEO and executive director. “His experience, combined with his passion for agronomic innovation, will be instrumental in developing and implementing advanced solutions to enhance the productivity and sustainability of Missouri soybean farming and ensure the effective use of the checkoff.”
Raised in Hale, Missouri, Barlow comes from a family with a rich history in seed sales.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business and crop and soil science from the University of Central Missouri and a master’s degree in plant insect and microbial science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
He and his wife, Haylee, who works in R&D at Bayer Crop Science, still help on their family’s farm today.
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 also served as an input-sales agronomist at Bartlett Grain Co., selling agricultural inputs to producers.
“This role provides a unique opportunity to help Missouri soybean farmers advance productivity through innovative research,” Barlow said. “I look forward to working closely with researchers and the board to ensure the effective use of the Missouri checkoff.”
Missouri Soybeans said it is excited about the future and positive impact these changes will have on the organization.
