The Research and Outreach Centers associated with the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota represent, in a very real and practical way, the University's mission to respond to the needs of all Minnesotans. Affectionately known as "the ROCs," they are strategically located across the state to serve a site-specific, coordinated research program.

There are six of them: at Crookston, Grand Rapids, Lamberton, Morris, and Waseca, and UMore Park at Rosemount. Other facilities also part of this research and outreach network include the Cloquet Forestry Center, the Sand Plain Research Farm at Becker, and the Horticultural Research Center and Arboretum in Chanhassen.

Research Where It’s Needed

Minnesota was one of the first in the nation to establish an agricultural experiment station at its University. It was equally foresighted in creating a series of associated research centers across the state, the first begun over 100 years ago. Minnesota is a diverse state, and the Centers offer University researchers the unique opportunity of conducting research under regionally specific conditions.

Each Center has developed its own character and strengths responding to local needs. They continue to evolve in response to those needs. For example, when Fusarium Head Blight (scab) threatened small grain production in the late 1990s, the Northwest Research and Outreach Center at Crookston was perfectly situated to respond to that crisis. The North Central Research and Outreach Center at Grand Rapids is developing an important research program to help beef producers. In the west central part of the state, the Center at Morris is investigating the potential for renewable energy resources in the area. At Lamberton, organic farmers connect to keep up with the Center’s research and share their expertise.

University of Minnesota
Agricultural Experiment Station
Research and Outreach Centers
Web Links

1. NW Research & Outreach Center, Crookston
   http://nwes.umn.edu/
2. NC Research & Outreach Center, Grand Rapids
   http://ncroc.coafes.umn.edu/
3. Cloquet Forestry Center, Cloquet
   http://www.cnr.umn.edu/cfc/
4. WC Research & Outreach Center, Morris
   http://wcroc.coafes.umn.edu/
5. Sand Plain Research Farm, Becker
   http://sprf.coafes.umn.edu/
6. MN Landscape Arboretum & Horticultural Research Center, Chanhassen
   http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/
7. U of M, St. Paul Campus
   http://www.maes.umn.edu
8. UMore Park, Rosemount
   http://www.umorepark.umn.edu/
9. SW Research & Outreach Center, Lamberton
   http://swroc.coafes.umn.edu/
10. South Research & Outreach Center, Waseca
    http://sroc.coafes.umn.edu/

The Centers are also an important communication and feedback tool for the research programs sponsored by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. They inform the larger University research mission in many ways, and help keep the focus on productive and practical results.

Across the six agricultural research and outreach centers over 70 faculty members are onsite, supported by about 120 field, livestock and office staff. Many other St. Paul Campus-based scientists operate research projects jointly, or with the assistance of, Center-based staff. Each of the Centers has its own administrative head who manages a local operating budget and supervises on-site staff.

The Research and Outreach Centers are largely funded through federal and state grants administered by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. The Centers are administered by the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science. The Cloquet Forestry Center is operated by the College of Natural Resources and focuses research, education, and outreach in one of the nation’s premier experimental forests.

The Centers work with the University of Minnesota Extension Service to support the mission of connecting community needs to University resources.

Gateway to the University

Each Center provides an entry point for the University in that region. They offer an opportunity for the University to provide service to the people of Minnesota where they are. Minnesota’s farmers were the original beneficiaries of University research and outreach. Now, all Minnesotans share these benefits whether they live on a farm, or in a city, suburb, or rural town. The system of Research and Outreach Centers forms a major part of the University’s contributions to the foundation of life in Minnesota, making it a safer, more profitable, and better place work, play and live.

The following pages introduce you to just a small part of the active communities at each Research and Outreach Center. All are open to the public and welcome visitors.

What Is the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station?

Headquartered on the University’s St. Paul campus, the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station funds research of University of Minnesota scientists on ways to improve Minnesota’s agricultural and forest products, horticulture, human nutrition, family and community life, and environmental quality. It supports both basic and applied research with practical goals for improving the lives of Minnesotans. As it funds scientists who work in five different colleges and at Research and Outreach Centers across the state, it is an organization that supports cross-disciplinary problem solving, and responsiveness to emerging issues.

In any given year, Experiment Station funding supports approximately 400 research projects conducted by more than 300 faculty. Their projects employ more than 600 field research and laboratory assistants, technicians and postdoctoral research associates.

Research results are brought to Minnesotans through a partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. From soybeans to tourism, from Norway pines to new apple cultivars, from beef cattle to housing for families, the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station continues to seek, through its statewide research programs, a better life for all Minnesotans.

“Increasingly, our research will take directions from those we serve. We’ll find out what’s important to Minnesotans, be they producers or consumers, young or old, urban, suburban or rural residents.”

—Charles C. Muscoplat, Director, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and Dean, College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences.