The School of Agriculture requests funding for the following items, in order of priority:
1) MTSU dairy milk parlor software and equipment upgrades. This system collects individual cow data related to health, activity level, and milk production. The old software is not compatible with current Windows operating systems, forcing the use of a computer that is well beyond its reasonable service lifetime and unreliable. This technology is utilized by all animal science courses in the School of Agriculture (250+ students).
2) A Fisherbrand Isotemp Heating and Drying Oven for drying soil and plant biomass samples and a grinder to prepare samples. This equipment is used by faculty and students in soil, plant, and animal science courses, including PLSO 3340, 3350, 4310, 4340, and 4730 and ANSC 3440, 3550, and 4410 impacting more than 120 students.
3) Calcmet Pro software. Used to increase efficiency in the existing Soil Respiration System. This software will annually impact more than 150 students in plant and soil science courses (PLSO 3330 and 3340).
4) Four 28 liter refrigerated circulators. Used for instruction in processing and production of cultured dairy products, fermented animal and plant products, and yeast cultures for alcohol production. (FERM 4550, 4560, 4570, 4580, 4600, 4610, 5560, 5570, 5580, 6450, and 6600; ~100 students impacted).
5) An industrial-sized feed mixer. This unit will replace the dilapidated mixer at the MTSU dairy. A new mixer will provide efficient and accurate feed mix results for students in ANSC 3350, 4410, and 3440.
