Agronomy & Soil Science research at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) focuses on 1) conducting and cooperating in University-led applied research on plant and soil management systems that protect our environment and increase producer profitability, and 2) producing organic and conventional feedstuffs for WCROC organic and conventional livestock programs. Our primary trial crops are corn, small grains, and soybeans.
At the University of Minnesota, agronomy is based in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics.
Soil Management Systems
Scientists at the WCROC collaborate with Nutrient Management, as well as the Soil Testing Laboratory of the Department of Soil, Water and Climate, all at the University of Minnesota. One area of on-going study at the WCROC is on phosphorus soil and fertilizer management (PDF).
Organic Crops
At the WCROC, nearly 50% of our crop acres are on certified organic land, largely for the purpose of supplying feed to a portion of our dairy herd. We grow corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa.
- Growing winter camelina organically
- Cover crops play multiple, important roles within our crop rotation.
- Winter wheat and winter rye for forage, followed by corn or soybeans
- 2018 Organic corn performance trial
Cover Crops
A cover crop, also referred to as green manure, is a plant used in between rows, or may cover a field entirely in between crop rotations. Cover crops can slow soil erosion, improve soil health, add organic matter, enhance water availability, reduce soil compaction, use and store nitrogen, and aid in weed control. At the WCROC, we utilize cover crops in our fields, pastures, and our horticulture plots.
Resources
- MN Field Crop Trials are available on the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station website, which includes alfalfa, barley, oat, winter rye, canola and corn performance trial results.
- $9 corn and $21 soybeans (2016)
- Side-by-side tillage demonstration videos available from our Tillage and Technology Field Day.
- Chisel Plow: JD 2410 Tru-Depth (2 sets of shanks), Summers Disk Chisel (2 sets of shanks)
- Strip Till: ETS Soil Warrior, Twin Diamond Strip Cat (22"r), Twin Diamond Strip Cat (30"r), Orthman 1TRPR (22"r), Kuhn Krause Gladiator (30"r)
- Vertical Till: McFarlane 5000 Incite, Kuhn Krause Excelerator, Gates CD9048 w/DAL Control, Salford 2124 Switchblade