News

The University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center is the first U of MN entity to achieve certification through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP).  Administered through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, this voluntary program allows farmers and landowners to demonstrate new practices which can positively impact water quality and conservation efforts that help protect our environment.

(Minnesota Alumni) U of M researchers are partnering with farmers to find new ways to cultivate the soil and raise animals - and help mitigate climate change.

(PBS Prairie Sportsman) Wait, no driver?!? Our robotic mower, dubbed the "Cowbot" takes to WCROC pastures to mow down weeds using GPS navigation.

(PBS) Check out the U of MN's role in helping to feed the world in this exciting segment, featured on PBS by NOVA. 

Pork producers and industry professionals have expressed the need to decrease pre-weaning mortality rates in piglets, and University of Minnesota researchers are uniquely poised to take on the challenge. 

(CleanTechnica) Minnesota is making quite a name for itself in the renewable energy field as it relates to sustainable farming, and the WCROC is at the cutting edge of developing and improving renewable systems for agriculture production.

Organic dairy farmers will soon have additional resources for improving management strategies from the University of Minnesota (U of MN) certified organic dairy program located at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), Morris, MN. Dr. Bradley Heins, Associate Professor of Dairy Science at the WCROC, was recently awarded three grants totaling $2.1 million through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to further research in the areas of disbudding alternatives for organic dairy calves, pre-weaned calf rearing options, and the effect of high-legume diets on milk quality.

(Legacy Magazine) About 250 crossbred dairy cows graze on grasses and cover crops at the WCROC. But the cows don't eat everything, and the weeds left behind will spread unless cut. That's when the cowbot goes to work.

Tail biting is a behavioral problem that involves both biters and victimized pigs. The biters are triggered by things such as genetics, physiology, or insufficient housing, nutrition or environmental enrichment needs. Yuzhi Li, Associate Professor of Swine Behavior, offers 3 tips for preventing tail biting.

(National Hog Farmer) Feed, water and air are the three most essential components required to achieve optimal pig performance and health, yet water has received the least amount of research attention throughout the years. Researchers from the U of MN set out to determine if the quality of water supplied to nursery pigs impacts health and performance.