About
The Arlington Agricultural Research Station is used by almost all disciplines in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The 2,000 acre complex is composed of 12 crop and livestock units. These include: Agronomy, Beef Cattle Nutrition, Beef Cattle Grazing, Emmons Blaine Dairy Cattle Research Center, Entomology, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Headquarters, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Sheep Research Unit, Soil Science, Swine Research and Teaching Center and the Wisconsin Foundation Seed Program . The Forest and Wildlife Ecology Department maintains approximately 55 acres of trees for research. Biological Systems Engineering researchers work with many of the units across the station.
There is no single focus to the station’s research; rather, the station supports a wide cross section of research.
Mission
The mission of the Arlington Agricultural Research Station is to support research, education, and outreach programs of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, leading to profitable and environmentally sound agricultural and resource management systems appropriate to Wisconsin.
Goals
Provide a Laboratory resource for testing questions that have agricultural and natural resource importance to the people of Wisconsin.
Support the development of new or improved cultivars/lines of plants and animals of potential benefit to Wisconsin.
Support research on cropping systems, pest management practices, animal production and health, conservation techniques, and related activities leading to profitable, environmentally sound resource management.
Provide educational opportunities which complement classroom experiences for students within specialized agricultural and life science areas.
Facilitate outreach programs for the citizens of Wisconsin through the timely dissemination of agricultural and natural resource information.
Enhance Wisconsin’s economic development by promoting profitable and sustainable agricultural and natural resource practices.
Services
- Field operation support to researchers
- Feed mixing and delivery to animal units and campus
- Trucking (Departments pay for gas and lodging)
- Routine repair and maintenance of farm equipment and vehicles**
- Fabrication and modification of research equipment**
- Repair, remodeling, and new construction for smaller projects**
** Researcher pays for parts, material, labor
History
The Arlington Research Station land was purchased between 1955 and 1963 to replace the Madison Hill Farms. Proceeds from the sale of the Hill Farms allowed the purchase of only a little over 2000 acres even through the original station plan estabished the need for 2500 acres.
Fourteen parcels of land were purchased to make up the station, with 113 acres located in Dane County and 1,912 in Columbia County.
A history of the first 15 years of the station and the Arlington area was prepared for the Dean Froker Memorial dedication in 1970.