Agricultural Experiment Station

Agricultural Experiment Station. . , 1. Harry Snyder, world-renowned cereal chemist, studied nutrition and flours from new wheat varieties , 2. Pitting plums at Excelsior Fruit Breeding Station, 1914 , 3. Locations of research and outreach centers , 4. Norman Borlaug in wheat plots, St. Paul, 1971 , 5. Researchers measuring wheat height and maturity, Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul, 1901 , 6. Potato plots and tour, Sand Plain Research Farm, Becker, 2008 , 7. T.L. Haecker (in black) instructs at the Dairy School, ca. 1900 , 8. [illegible] , 9. [illegible] , 10. Crossbreeding of dairy cattle and alternative energy research, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, 2007 , 11. Forestry and wildlife students at Cloquet Forestry Center, 2002, Improving Agriculture , The Morrill Land-Grand Act of 1862 created funding so that states could support higher education institutions in their teaching and research to improve agriculture. In 1882, the University of Minnesota bought land here in St. Paul to establish an experimental farm. By 1885, with legislative support and additional federal funding through the Hatch Act, the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station was in operation., Early Research , Research at the station grew quickly. The University soon established the nation's most diverse system of regional experiment stations to field-test crops and livestock across Minnesota's extreme range of soil types, precipitation, and temperatures. On campus, scientists began research in areas such as milling, forestry, veterinary medicine, food production, and home economics., Discoveries from researchers at the experiment station were adopted nationally and sometimes worldwide, including, - Corn and wheat breeding , - Forest management and conservation , - Meat science research , - Dairy cow feeding standards , - Soil analysis and fertility , - Flour and cereal technology , - Crop diseases, especially wheat, E. C. Stakman and his student Norman Borlaug developed disease-resistant grains. In 1970, Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize for helping alleviate hunger in developing nations., New Capabilities and Challenges , In technology-rich facilities such as the Cargill Center for Microbial and Plant Genomics and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University researchers explore, - Genetic factors in growth and reproduction , - Possibilities for the replacement of nonrenewable fossil fuels , - Agricultural sustainability (e.g., soil replacement, water conservation) , - Improved utilization of agricultural, forest, and native plant materials , - Rapid response to sudden outbreaks of disease in plants and animals , - Eradication of diseases that threaten plants and animals, In the 21st century, this research keeps the University of Minnesota a leader in agriculture, natural resources, and veterinary medicine.