Northwest Research and Outreach Center

Since 2011, University Minnesota Extension has conducted a small grains pest and disease field survey in western Minnesota as part of a collaboration with North Dakota State University. This effort has been funded by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council through wheat check-off dollars to inform producers and the research community of the presence of disease and pests.

In late July, the reported weather data on NWROC’s website modernized thanks to a new weather station from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The NWROC joined several other ROCs in partnering with the MDA to join and collect data for the Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN). This project upgrades the ROCs’ current weather stations with advanced technology that is standardized across the MDA’s network and provides current weather updates every 15 minutes.

To help Minnesota soybean producers understand their risks and management options, the MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council is sponsoring the fall 2024 SCN Sampling Program, which will pay for the first 500 samples received.