PULLMAN, Wash. (RFD-TV) — Two new agricultural research facilities are opening to help farmers improve crop production and advance agricultural technology.
USDA’s research arm has teamed up with Washington State University to open a new 100,000-square-foot facility dedicated to plant research.
After several years of construction, the facility will bring together four federal research units studying wheat diseases, grain legumes and more sustainable farming practices. The work will also focus on improving crop resilience and productivity.
In Nebraska, CLAAS is taking a similar approach to agricultural technology and machinery with a new research facility at its Omaha campus.
Company leader Jan-Hendrik Mohr says the research begins with understanding what farmers need.
“In general, we are collecting a lot of market knowledge through product management, what means in a dialogue with farmers, and they tell us about their future demands, the crops they grow, the yields they might expect, the harvest conditions they are experiencing. Then we are answering here through technical innovation. That means that we tailor machines in particular here for the North American needs of farmers.”
The Omaha campus also includes manufacturing operations, U.S. and Canadian sales management and support for the company’s North American dealer network.
