Southern Research and Outreach Center

Waseca, Minnesota

The Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) at Waseca is a busy regional hub, ideally located to represent the soil and climatic conditions of south-central and southeastern Minnesota in its agricultural research. The counties surrounding the Center represent roughly one-sixth of the state’s land area but produce more than a third of Minnesota’s cash farm sales. As a result, research designed for this location has a vital impact on state economics.

Environmentally Robust Systems

The overall goal of SROC efforts is to enhance the quality of life through rural economic development and the wise use of resources. Environmental quality is an overarching theme. The SROC provides farmers and others with knowledge about crops, soils, and livestock systems that will help ensure a healthy environment as well as economic viability. On property bordering a growing city’s neighborhoods, the Center provides an ongoing demonstration of farming techniques for the region’s changing populace.

The agronomy research program at the SROC is based on integration of key concepts and tools to address site-specific solutions. Integrated crop and weed management strategies focus on site-specific, knowledge-based approaches to economically and environmentally robust farming systems. New methods can improve production efficiency while reducing chemicals for control of weeds, insects, and plant diseases. Profitable third crops and energy crops are also major foci of the program. Increased production is no longer always the goal; greater profitability and landscape value may result from diversifying systems and philosophies.

Crop production research and outreach includes nutrient, soil, water quality, pest control Best Management Practices to optimize the value of agricultural crops in the rural landscape.

The Agricultural Ecology Research Farm is a 200-acre site providing unique opportunities for studies addressing rural landscaping issues including water management. A multi-disciplinary effort is under way at this site to study traditional drainage and water management topics as well as emerging landscape optimization, alternative crops, biomass renewable energy, and water quality enhancement issues.

studying cabbages to produce phytonutrients

Various types of cabbage are being studied to determine the ability of vegetable hybrids to produce naturally occurring cancer-fighting chemicals called “phytonutrients.”

Wide-ranging Research Goals

The soil science program at the SROC focuses on nutrient management, tillage systems, and cropping systems and their combined impact on production economics and environmental quality. Nutrient rates, application timing, and placement methods of fertilizer and manure for corn and soybean production are among specific areas studied. But, field research efforts at the SROC go far beyond just corn and soybeans. Vegetable processing is big business in this part of the state, and research aims to improve early-season stand establishment (especially for sweet corn), alleviate damage caused by root rot in peas, and promote the ability of vegetable hybrids to produce “phytonutrients”—cancer-fighting chemicals that occur naturally in many vegetables.

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the primary focus of the plant pathology program at the SROC. A widespread pest problem, SCN costs Minnesota producers approximately $80 million per year in lost revenue due to reduced yield. Nematologists are developing a better, integrated system of management using resistant soybean varieties, new crop rotations, and other alternative methods.

Livestock Production

The SROC is involved in swine, dairy, and dairy-beef research. The focus of these programs is to understand the complex inter-relationships between genetics, physiology, nutrition, health, and herd management.

A 600-sow farrow-to-wean and a 640-pig wean-to-finish facility, coupled with a swine metabolic unit, allow scientists to conduct cutting-edge research related to sow and piglet nutrition and health. Swine dietary manipulation studies aim to reduce nutrient excretions and odor levels in manure.

Swine research in state-of-the-art facilities focuses on enhancing production systems.

Ruminant research efforts at the SROC have traditionally included dairy youngstock to be raised as dairy heifer replacements or for dairy-beef production. These projects continue to provide applied nutrition, health, and management options for producers. The University of Minnesota Department of Animal Science has identified dairy youngstock research, management and outreach as a priority. Consequently, plans are well underway to enhance the SROC’s role in this area by addressing the economic efficiencies, health, growth, nutrition, feeding management, and alternative management systems for raising youngstock as well as to minimize the nutrient flow into the environmentally sensitive areas. Future projects will be interdisciplinary with multistate teams.

A sequencing batch reactor treats manure for enhanced flexibility in nutrient management. The waste management program focuses on processes and equipment for improved use of nutrients in manure and odor control.

The volume of manure produced by the animal industry has raised concerns about the capacity of the receiving cropland, the traditional destination of animal wastes. Research at the SROC is developing effective techniques to decrease potential environmental impacts caused by expanded animal production. Current research in a new manure processing facility addresses waste treatment and management including nutrient cycling to the landscape and odor control. Also being studied are ways to convert animal manure (and other agricultural wastes) to value-added products, including energy to benefit both farmers and the environment.

Outreach an Important Focus

SROC outreach activities take place throughout the year and include numerous educational events, informational opportunities and tours. In addition to the traditional agricultural focus, these events also address urban, suburban, and rural issues in an attempt to improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans.

Every September the Center hosts a program to teach elementary school children about agriculture and the environment. Over the years thousands of students have experienced this hands-on opportunity.