News & Events

The Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC) recently joined the Minnesota Agricultural Weather Network (MAWN), a new initiative by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to provide Minnesotans - especially farmers - with reliable and current weather data. The new weather station was installed near NWROC’s North Farm, located about 1 mile north on Highway 75 N.

On July 17th, the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC) 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: sugarbeets and small grains. The faculty and staff at NWROC research a variety of questions related to the production of these main regional crops, as well as typical corn and soybean crops.

An update on Minnesota’s long-lasting drought came Thursday morning and the news is looking good! For the first time since 2020, the vast majority of Minnesota is no longer in a drought at all. That news came just before Gov. Tim Walz is to announce the air quality forecast for this summer at 2 p.m.

Research completed at the St. Paul campus and the Northwest Research and Outreach Center using innovative software and a field 'rover' brings insight to Minnesota small grains breeders and growers.

Sam Rude, PhD student at the UMN studying sugarbeet pathology, received the Alan Dexter Scholarship in recognition of her research into the causes of root rot in sugarbeet crops.

The University of Minnesota has released a new hard red spring wheat variety called ‘MN-Rothsay.’ MN-Rothsay features a good combination of yield, protein, and disease resistance and exceptional straw strength. 

The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) have published the 2021 Minnesota Field Crop Trials. Visit varietytrials.umn.edu/2021 to see variety trials for 10 different Minnesota crops.

The 2021 growing season has been one to be remembered in northwest Minnesota. Most of the region started the year with abnormally dry conditions that escalated to exceptional and extreme drought (the U.S. drought monitor’s worst drought categories) by mid-summer.

Some effects of this drought, like stunted crop development and a lack of water running through drainage ditches, are easy to see in farmer’s fields throughout the region. The impact of the drought on agricultural research at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center is more varied. Read on to see how NWROC research has been impacted by the drought.

Albert Sims, University of Minnesota Associate Professor and former Director of Operations at the NWROC, was the recipient of the Minnesota Wild Rice Council’s annual Outstanding Service Award. Sims was presented the award during the Council’s virtual Wild Rice Symposium in March. 

Maureen Aubol is now serving as NWROC Director of Operations. Aubol has worked in human resources, grants management, and administration at the NWROC for 11 years. 

“Maureen’s extensive experience in the administrative work of the NWROC makes her an excellent fit to take over as director of operations,” says Greg Cuomo, associate dean of CFANS.