K.S.U. Ag Research Center

The 1895 Kansas legislature declared, “The experience of the settlers of the settlers upon the plains of western Kansas has demonstrated conclusively that agriculture cannot be pursued with profit under existing natural conditions.”

The legislators saw the need for conducting research where it would be applied. So, in 1901, on land once part of the Fort Hays Military Reservation, the Center was established with a mission to conduct basic and applied research appropriate to western Kansas where rainfall is limited.

The Center is one of five branches of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Stations at Kansas State University. Its mission is to conduct basic and applied research appropriate to western Kansas where rainfall is limited. The Center currently owns or leases more than 6,100 acres and employs 10 full-time scientists and 35 support personnel. It is one of the largest dryland research centers in the world.

Out of six most widely accepted wheat varieties recently developed in Kansas, five were developed here. Researchers are currently working on a new hard white winter wheat variety. Over 50% of the total experiments developed in the area of feeding wheat to beef cattle in the United States have been done at this center.

If you wish to tour the Research Center, contact the staff in advance and they will be happy to provide a guided tour.

Admission: Free Admission
Hours: Free guided tours available by appointment.
Address: 1232 240th Ave
Phone: 785-625-3425
Website: http://www.wkarc.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=35