Around the ROCs: A selection of 2024 outreach
September 11, 2024
Each year, the CFANS Research and Outreach Centers across the state plan outreach events to connect with ag professionals, local producers, young learners and curious neighbors.
Bell Museum summer camps across Greater Minnesota
Throughout the summer, several ROCs hosted students in grades 1-5 for the Bell Museum Summer Camps. The pilot program initially started at the North Central ROC, and expanded this year to include the Northwest ROC in Crookston and the Southwest ROC in Lamberton. Campers spend anywhere from a single day to four days exploring topics in agriculture and natural sciences, while interacting with Bell Museum staff and ROC scientists. The curriculum of each camp included the local ROC’s research as well as regional agriculture and natural resources industries.
Read more about the statewide Bell Summer Camps.
A grand opening at Sand Plain Research Farm
In April, the Sand Plain Research Farm hosted a grand opening in a new building, thanks to a partnership with Xcel Energy and the University of Minnesota. The completion of this large pole shed opens a new chapter in the SPRF’s history, as they are finally moved entirely to their new site location after a 7-year transition period. By providing the new building as a lease-improvement at the new location, Xcel Energy has shown their commitment to the work of the Sand Plain Research Farm and the greater U of M research community.
Read more about the grand opening.
SROC Agronomy Field Day
Despite inclement weather forcing the event indoors, the Southern Research and Outreach Center welcomed more than 100 attendees to their field day in June. UMN experts discussed research in nutrient management, weed management, corn development, and pests like corn rootworm. Additionally, several researchers involved in the Long-Term Agricultural Research Network (LTARN) presented their ongoing research within the 3-ROC system.
WCROC Midwest Farm Energy Conference
In late June, the West Central Research and Outreach Center hosted the Midwest Farm Energy Conference to showcase new technologies and their potential uses in agriculture. Attendees heard from WCROC researchers who have been incorporating ‘green’ ammonia, electric tractors, portable solar arrays, and autonomous ‘weed terminators’ into agricultural production systems.
SWROC Cover Crop Field Day
The Southwest Research and Outreach Center’s Cover Crop Field Day in June brought together curious farmers, crop advisors, and SWCD employees to hear from UMN experts on cover crop techniques and practices. A rare sunny June morning allowed attendees to get out into the field to see research plots, planted the previous fall with a cover crop, and drilled with soybeans this spring. Participants also listened to Minnesota’s State Soil Health Specialist Anna Cates discuss healthy soils and the ways in which cover crops can be utilized to improve their soil health.
NWROC Crops & Soils Day
In July, the Northwest Research and Outreach Center welcomed over 100 producers and industry professionals to their location near Crookston, MN for the annual Crops & Soils Day. The event showcases recent research in two key areas that are important to the region: sugar beets and small grains.
Read more about the Crops & Soils Day.
NCROC Visitors Day
Members of the public and local agricultural professionals gathered at the North Central Research and Outreach Center in July for the annual Visitors Day. Staff and community groups provided a number of activities and learning opportunities for attendees to explore. Visitors were excited to tour NCROC’s diverse research sites such as the bog, the horticultural research plots, and the MN Hardy apple orchard.
Farmfest with WCROC and SROC
In early August, 30,000+ farmers, ranchers, ag professionals, government officials, ag researchers and more streamed into a small area south of Redwood Falls to attend Farmfest 2024. WCROC and SROC researchers explained and demonstrated renewable energy research in areas like liquid plasma, agrivoltaics, ‘green’ ammonia, and more.
CFC Open House
In late August, staff at the Cloquet Forestry Center welcomed members of the public to the CFC’s annual Open House. Attendees toured CFC’s managed forestry research plots and learned from researchers about the ongoing work happening at CFC.
Cover Crop Academy
This growing season, several ROCs partnered with Extension to offer a Cover Crop Academy to local farmers and crop advisors. In conjunction with field day events, kick-off sessions were held to introduce classmates to each other and discuss the format of the course. Over the course of the year, participants will connect via webinars on a variety of cover crop lessons. This fall, participants in the Cover Crop Academy designed small research projects which will be planted at the NWROC in Crookston, the SWROC in Lamberton, and the SROC in Waseca once harvest is completed.
