“Triple-hitter crop” is the buzz around the Rosemount Research & Outreach Center. It connects agricultural research to Minnesota growers. It also shows urban citizens how much they depend on agriculture.
Rosemount Research & Outreach Center is one of ten University of Minnesota research centers. The centers enhance agricultural production. They also improve human health and renewable energy. The environment also benefits. This research extends to the public.
But the land has a deeper history. Long ago, the Mdewakanton Dakota Indians lived here. French astronomer Joseph Nicollet surveyed the land in 1838.
Farmers actively cultivated Dakota County by 1870. The U.S. government acquired the land in 1942. They built the Gopher Ordnance Works. This facility produced smokeless powder for the American military.
Interestingly, the war ended as the facility began production. In 1947, the U.S. government gave 7,686 acres to the University of Minnesota. For a modest sum of one dollar, 60 percent of the property would be deeded to the University.
Since then, diverse university departments have used the site. This includes aeronautical engineering and agricultural sciences. John Akerman, an aeronautical engineering professor, helped secure the land. He envisioned an aeronautical research lab. In 1948, the University took possession.
Akerman created the Rosemount Aeronautical Research Laboratory. It became the department’s primary research facility for fifteen years. The lab housed wind tunnels. One tunnel could reach Mach 11 with 3,000-degree Fahrenheit temperatures.
Researchers at Rosemount developed a total temperature sensor for the Navy. This led to the Rosemount Engineering Company. It became a major supplier of air data sensors.
Today, the Rosemount Research & Outreach Center spans 3,500 acres. Over 300 acres are used for research. The Vermillion Highlands, a 2,800-acre wildlife area, is also here.
Researchers study perennial flax. It provides food for pollinators. It also creates sustainable oilseed and fiber. Farmers can sell these as a cash crop.
The center also offers free sample analysis for soybean producers. This helps them understand their risks. It provides management options. Preliminary yield results from field crop variety trials are available.
The Rosemount Research & Outreach Center continues to evolve. It supports Minnesota agriculture. It promotes renewable energy. It enriches our understanding of the natural world. It truly is a treasure for the state.