To Order

What is the special advantage of UMORE Park? In real estate language, it’s “location, location, location.” Situated in a rapidly growing area twenty-five miles away from the University’s St. Paul campus, it is an agricultural research asset within the Twin Cities suburban/urban fringe. It is uniquely positioned to understand and address the land use issues arising from that location. It is also a living demonstration site of modern agricultural and horticultural resources for a population that is increasingly removed from agriculture. UMORE Park has in some senses been a jewel hidden in plain site. But there is growing recognition by local communities of its unique natural and cultural resources.

At the Park, agricultural research occurs right next to urban/suburban development, allowing a unique opportunity to examine those issues. Here, part of the Agricultural Experiment Station’s beef herd enjoys pastureland, with a townhouse development in the background.

The University acquired the property from the U.S. Government in 1947, and part of the site still has architectural remnants from its use as an ordnance manufacturing facility during World War II. The Park also has a rich history of Native American and immigrant farmer relationships with the land. The site serves a major waterway connecting with the Vermillion River, and on its property is one of the few original forest groves still remaining in the area.

Varied Research Program

A large variety of research projects highlight the Park’s value to University research faculty members. The Park is a laboratory for students from non-farm areas to get hands-on learning in agricultural equipment and processes. Over 51 faculty research projects and many more student projects are ongoing at UMORE Park. There are extensive research programs in biological control of insects, weeds and pathogens affecting field and vegetable crops. For example, one study examines the use of soybeans to create a buffer zone around cabbage plots for biocontrol of crop pests. Several faculty members are researching solutions to the soybean aphid infestation, a hot spot in this area because of the urban/suburban spread of its over-wintering host, the buckthorn. The Park has over 100 irrigated acres dedicated to vegetable integrated pest management (IPM) research, and maintains two bee colonies for apiarian research.

Research focuses on animal production as well as field crops. UMORE Park has the only turkey field research site in Minnesota. Poultry research focuses on reproductive and nutrition systems. Collaborative work with the U of M’s College of Veterinary Medicine includes important work on turkey pneumovirus research, and research in animal pharmaceuticals such as antibody p roduction with goats. A beef cattle research project will in the future examine reproductive management and twinning.

Another major research thrust is carbon sequestration. USDA-ARS researchers are investigating the potential of agricultural practices to remedy the effects of global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Various agronomic practices such as reduced tillage, agro forestry and the use of cover crops are being studied for their ability to store carbon dioxide in the landscape. UMORE Park is one of 250 sites globally that are monitoring carbon dioxide, and this is one of the few in the world that is looking at the role of farming systems.

Land Use Issues Explored

Due to its location, UMORE Park is positioned to address the economic and environmental issues that arise wherever the needs of urban development and rural land use compete. The rolling hills of field and forest that UMORE Park resides within are part of the Vermillion River watershed, abutting a fast-growing urban area that needs to consider, for example, municipal water disposal. UMORE Park has had possibly the nation’s longest running study on the effects of spreading municipal sewage sludge on agricultural land. The study ran for 20 years through 1995, and the sections used for it continue to be monitored today.

Wetlands of the Vermillion River abut the forestland and cropland of UMORE Park.

UMORE Park has the potential of becoming a major regional research and educational site for surrounding communities. The goal is to develop a research program on best management practices for urban and suburban developments, especially under cold climate conditions. This includes soil disturbance/compaction in housing development as well as water quality issues. Research and outreach programs are focused on all audiences that are affected by urban runoff, from homeowners, to building professionals, to local administrators, urban planners and public policy decison makers at the local and state level.

Master Gardeners work with local Girl Scout troupes to establish plantings in the spring—part of the ongoing outreach efforts at the Park.

Outreach to the Community

The Park has an emerging role in identifying and supporting outreach with its local urban communities, and with small farm and horticultural producers as well as traditional agricultural audiences. The Park is forming partnerships with environmental and natural resource groups, K-12 programs and other local educational organizations. Emphasizing its role in the community, the Park has a Master Gardener led Suburban Field Day each summer to demonstrate its work to visitors. A Master Gardener research and display garden with gazebo has become a popular site for visitors summer and fall. In this area visitors can see newly introduced rose varieties developed by the University, as well as other woody varieties tested at the site.

The Park hosts an agricultural professional field school for crop consultants and farmers to learn about proper field scouting techniques and other current production practices. Reaching out to new immigrant farmers, a program focuses on developing their marketing skills, advising them on growing profitable vegetables and cut flowers based on market basket studies.

A garden designed by Dakota County Master Gardeners has become a landmark of UMORE Park.

An agricultural audience learns about the newest forage harvesting techniques and equipment at field school.

A New Trail Symbolizes New Directions

Taking full advantage of the special beauty of the Park’s landscape, Lone Rock Trail has recently been developed within the park for hikers and horseback riders. It spotlights a local landmark within UMORE Park’s boundaries—Lone Rock. Over 10 miles long, the trail winds around the Park—through woods, over ridges and wetlands, providing users a beautiful scenic view. The Lone Rock Trail also has marked two– and six–mile hiking trail and, under development, a cross-country ski trail.

Horseback riders enjoy Lone Rock Trail.

Long Range Plans

Other land stewardship ideas include plans to recreate an oak savannah that flourished in the area at one time. New research thrusts include taking advantage of the opportunity provided by a wastewater treatment facility at one end of the property to use the water for crop irrigation. This will allow irrigated and non-irrigated field research comparisons. Further in the future, the University’s College of Landscape Architecture has expressed interested in using some of the property in UMORE Park to develop a hydrogen-based real community—an energy self-sufficient community that would have both an educational and a research component. It’s becoming clear, as its name suggests, that UMORE park is in the process of becoming much, much more.

UMORE Park's Competitive Niches

• One of only 250 research sites in the world examining carbon sequestration
• Close to University of Minnesota, in a rapidly growing area for University–community connections
• Meeting space for community and outreach activities
• Lone Rock Trail and other visitor–accessible features
• Field site for turkey research
• Growing focus on land–use and water quality issues