West Central Research & Outreach Center | Morris, MN

Aerial view of WCROC
Grazing dairy cows
Low tunnel strawberry plot

Current Weather

Current Soil Temps

Events

Midwest Farm Energy Conference

June 16-17, 2026

Save the date for the 2026 Midwest Farm Energy Conference, which is scheduled for June 16-17, 2026. The theme of the conference is "The Age of Agricultural Intelligence: Ammonia, Agrivoltaics & Automation", and will cover topics such as green ammonia as a farm fuel, electrifying the farm with robots, grazing cows under solar panels, what can we do with all the data, and much more.  

Horticulture Night 2026

July 30 2026, 4pm-8pm

Horticulture Night features: 

  • Talks
  • Tours 
  • Demonstrations
  • "Small gardener" friendly activities
  • Vote for your favorite annual plant
  • Vendors and educational booths
  • Food trucks
  • Live music
  • Enter to win a Yeti cooler
  • And more!

News

Nationally recognized Morris Model demonstrates University of Minnesota’s sustainability leadership

April 8, 2026

University of Minnesota Morris and the West Central Research and Outreach Center recognized for the Morris Model, a county-wide partnership to produce energy locally and to eliminate the county's landfill waste by 2030.

WCROC 2025 Top Ten Annuals Featured on Kare 11's Grow with KARE

February 21, 2026

Grow with KARE is a short news feature that showcases tips and highlights of horticulture for Minnesota. The hosts, Laura Betker and Bobby Jensen, share information on the Top Ten annuals from the WCROC each winter. 

Give to the Max Day!

November 3, 2025

This fund will benefit the WCROC in Morris, MN. Specifically, it will allow the center to hire summer interns and offer outreach programs to ag producers in the area. The fund is created by the friends and family of Harley Hanke, a beloved faculty member and member of the Morris community.