AGREETT is a strategic partnership between the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), and agricultural, food, and natural resource (AFNR) industry leaders that aligns state investment with the needs of Minnesota’s farmers and rural communities. AGREETT funds directly support 35 faculty and extension educator positions to address the challenges facing Minnesota's AFNR industries.
Learn more about AGREETT expertise in these critical areas:
AGREETT faculty and educators lead research and outreach programs central to Minnesota’s AFNR economy. Their work spans soil health, water quality, climate resilience, livestock and crop productivity, agricultural technology, pest and disease threats, and microbial science to protect the long-term health and vitality of Minnesota's crops, animals, people, and environment.
In addition to the benefits to Minnesota's farms, forests and environment, AGREETT faculty secure competitive federal and private grants that bring outside dollars into Minnesota.
AGREETT in action across Minnesota
Dr. Angela Varnum helps sheep and goat owners build confidence and skills for springtime births
March 12, 2026AGREETT Extension veterinarian Dr. Angela Varnum, along with other Extension educators, led lambing and kidding workshops to help producers prepare for the busy spring season. To create a low-stress environment in which even difficult births end in learning rather than loss, the workshops utilized a lambing simulator, a life-sized fiberglass sheep with three lambs that can be placed inside to mimic the time of giving birth, to give participants hands-on learning opportunities.
Hultberg works with farmers to provide healthy and safe food for children
February 25, 2026AGREETT Extension educator Annalisa Hultberg works with Minnesota's fruit and vegetable producers to implement Good Agricultural Practices so their produce can be served to children in farm-to-school programs. Learn more about how Hultberg helps local growers.
New database offers manure nutrient test benchmarking
December 15, 2025AGREETT-funded faculty Melissa Wilson and Erin Cortus were part of the interdisciplinary team that developed a digital tool to bring together and standardize manure sample data from across the country into a first-of-its kind manure nutrient database called ManureDB.