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.

Minnesota may be known more for its long winter season, arctic temperatures and loads of snow, but it’s the short summer season that can often be taxing on the state’s pork production systems. U of MN researchers have been looking at different ways for cooling sows in the farrowing stage of production.

A unique, hands-on learning experience will be available in the Spring of 2020 for undergraduate students at the WCROC. A course entitled “Diversity of Agricultural Production Systems” has been developed with the primary objective of demonstrating to students the wide variety of agricultural production systems, and the opportunities for fulfilling, well-paying careers in the large number of disciplines related to agriculture.

The U of MN and WCROC lost an incredible faculty member last week. Dr. Rob Gardner passed away on October 23, 2019. An enthusiastic and passionate teacher, Rob was an Assistant Professor at the WCROC as well as with the U of MN Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering. His major area of research was utilizing the many properties of algae for production of biofuels and bioproducts.