University, supersize nuts and outdoor sports

Friday 3rd June

Spent the morning giving a presentation at Missouri University alongside Doug Wallace from The USDA – a perspective of EU and UK agroforestry alongside USDA policy on AF – which is way more advanced than in the UK. The middle of the day was spent discussing policy and potential areas of collaboration – there seems to be good area where we can collaborate across the pond to progress AF policy, research and adoption.

Was facinated by a large acorn and spruce cone in the bdept forestry from the NW USA - would want to meet the supersize squrell that eats the acorns!!!

Finished Friday by looking around Sanbourn field – one of the longest soil study sites in the USDA. The very high temps made it impossible to stay out in the sun for long.

Dusty then took me to the Bass sports shop – walking in I was flabbergasted at the size of the place – think super wharehouse selling everything from speedboats to clothes – everything you would want for watersports, golf, fishing, camping, hunting etc all under one huge air-conditioned roof!!!!. We went to the gun section – krikey – never seen so many guns in one place. 12bores, sawn off (Saturday night specials), assult rifles and racks of pistols – Had to have a look and handle a Walther PPK – very James Bond!!!

Spent a very pleasant friday evening with Dusty and his family, Grillin hamburgers and drinking bear. Found a new way to cook chicken in the BBQ thrust over a beer can - the liquid keeps it moist and the flavour is great...the bird looks od though!!!!

The heat has been high today with temps reaching 94deg F….and the Secadas humming and making you feel like you have a bad case of tinnitus! Rounded of the evening drinking whiskey and listening to tunes