The current state of the country has been unlike anything we've seen or experienced before. University leadership is providing us guidance and support as we navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. To protect the health and safety of our employees and the public, the WCROC is functioning under reduced operations. This means our office building and grounds are closed to the public, including the Horticulture Display Garden. Essential employees are tending to the needs of our livestock herds and our greenhouses. Upcoming events are currently on hold until we know more. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office at 320-589-1711.

Given the growing concern of COVID-19, the upcoming training session of PQA/TQA scheduled for March 18 has been canceled. All U of MN Extension in-person trainings are being postponed, canceled, or shifted to on-line formats in effort to put the health and safety of attendees first. Please contact Heidi Olson-Manska at 320-589-1711 ext 2130 for any questions.

Market weight of slaughter hogs has been increasing over the last 30 years. The USDA reports that slaughter weights have increased from 250 pounds in 1990 to 283 pounds in 2018, which could be due to genetics, nutrition, and housing systems. U of MN researchers have been evaluating the proper floor space allowance for pigs.

It is an energizing start to 2020 for the WCROC, who received a $5,000 Seed Grant from the Clean Energy Resource Teams to evaluate the feasibility of storing excess wind energy using a combined system of battery along with hydrogen and ammonia production.