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Sustainable Answer Acre (SAA) Research Farm

Near Lansing, Minnesota, the SAA Research Farm advances practical solutions that reduce nitrate movement and strengthen soil health while supporting productive crops.

Aerial view of SAA fields

Background

Established in 2018 by local partners, SAA is farmer-led and focused on actionable research with direct benefits to southern Minnesota producers. Its proximity to the Cedar River supports water-quality learning.

Supporting partners

  • Northern Country Cooperative; Mower County SWCD; Riverland; University of Minnesota; Nature Conservancy
  • Minnesota Corn Growers; Bayer Crop Sciences; NRCS; Compeer Financial; United Farmers Bank
  • Farmers: Tom Cotter, Jim Kellogg, Alan Slowinski
Partners working in the field

Research Focus

  • Nitrate-nitrogen rate and timing
  • Cover crops
  • Tillage vs. no-tillage
  • Soil health monitoring
  • Water quality
  • Crop yield and profitability
Nick Schiltz presenting at the farm

Student Involvement

Students apply classroom learning on site and build experience through internships.

  • AGSC-1020: Soil formation, classification, drainage, productivity
  • AGSC-1030: Conservation practices, soil sampling, analytics
  • AGSC-2010: Data extraction, yield analysis, precision tech

Internships with Northern Country Cooperative and Mower County SWCD provide real-world skills and networking.

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