To Order

Two key words describing the SWROC are partnership and innovation. The Center has forged strong partnerships with local communities, producers, schools, local, state, and federal agencies, and conservation groups. The faculty has created a productive synthesis of research and outreach, connecting local families, farmers, and communities to the Center and to the University of Minnesota.

As part of its water quality and nitrogen management research, nitrogen movement off two parcels of land is monitored to track the quality of pond water.

Agricultural professionals are trained in an educational program based on field research in corn and soybean production at the Center.

Current and projected research and outreach efforts enhance agricultural production by providing information on maintaining profitability in a complex system of economic, environmental, social, and biological factors. Research at the Center is directed toward improving environmental quality by focusing on nitrogen cycling and nitrogen management, organic management systems, water quality, and environmentally sound pest management research. Diversified agricultural production systems are being developed as potential economic and environmental strategies. There is an emphases on sustaining the value added contributions of livestock production to the region while addressing community and environmental concerns Outreach programs provided by the Center and the Extension service are focused on sustaining and revitalizing Minnesota's rural communities.

Restored prairie in the ditch between a county road and the Elwell Agro-Ecology Farm is an effort to honor the original landscape of the area.

Outreach

The SWROC delivers educational outreach programs with a research base from across the University. These programs, which address critical issues in the region, are delivered in partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Summer field days feature research and demonstration tours on conventional and organic farming systems as well as workshops on production and marketing issues to support production agriculture in the region. Extensive programming on environmentally and economically sound pest management is ongoing. Livestock outreach programs are conducted on environmental, economic, and social aspects of production and manure nutrient utilization. Options for pork producers in the areas of market contracts, alternative production, specialty marketing, and production costs and arrangements are also addressed. The Organic Conversion Project at the Center supports on-farm experimentation in both crop and livestock systems. An annual Horticulture Day complements other programs offered to support Master Gardeners, home gardeners, and industry people in the region.

Alternative crop research at the Center (flax, shown here) offers farmers information about diversification options.

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.

The Center has a strong emphasis on K-12 education. Ag&U programming offers professional development opportunities for current and future educators at the K-12 level, modeling innovative, proven, and effective K-12 instructional strategies for teaching concepts related to the food system. The cross-disciplinary approach connects professionals to science-based resources supportive to increasing agricultural literacy at the student level. Elementary Field Day programming is an example of directly increasing agricultural literacy for fourth grade students in the region with information on the environment, food safety, food system, and farm safety. The emerging Environmental Science and Prairie Site project supports K- 12 education as well as University undergraduate programs, Master Gardener programs, and soil and water research. ConnectU is a new program connecting youth and family professionals to research and resources from the University of Minnesota in addressing critical needs of children and youth.

In Addition

The SWROC is equipped with a U.S. Weather Bureau monitoring station, which records local weather conditions for distribution to the Weather Service, researchers, and local media. Long-term temperature and precipitation data have been collected at the Center since 1960, which allows analysis of climate and crop development patterns in the southwestern part of Minnesota. The SWROC is also part of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program and the Mercury Deposition Network. The purpose of this program is to collect data on the chemistry of precipitation for monitoring geographical and temporal trends, contributing to efforts for improving environmental quality. Also monitored are levels of various insects throughout the growing season to aid in regional integrated pest management. Each summer insect light traps are set up to monitor and evaluate flight patterns of insects of economic importance.

Climatologic data collection has been continuous from the beginning of the Center, and provides information to local farmers for planting and harvesting dates as well as providing researchers information for variety development and production recommendations.

SWROC Competitive Niches

• Research on nitrogen management and use in agricultural systems for more than 40 years



• Studies of tillage practices on soil structure for more than 15 years



• Diversified agricultural production systems including 120 acres of organic cropland



• Crop breeding including development of soybeans to tolerate high alkaline soil



• K-12 education initiatives and professional staff development on youth development issues (ConnectU)



• Agricultural literacy program