Welcome

The Eastern Agricultural Research Center is located just outside of Sidney, Montana. The station serves ten Montana counties as well as the bordering North Dakota region. With 120 acres of irrigated cropland, 40 additional dryland acres, and several off-station trials in neighboring counties, the EARC is focused on agricultural production in the region. Crops include winter and spring wheat, barley, durum, peas, lentils, chickpeas, soy and dry beans, canola and camelina.

In 2012 the research center completed a $2.8 million building improvement project including new offices, meeting rooms, laboratories and greenhouse spaces. The station is also furnished with field and laboratory research equipment, storage buildings and a seed processing lab. The facility also houses the Richland County Extension Center. In addition, the USDA ARS Norther Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory is located across the road and the two entities have had a rich history of collaborative research projects.

The EARC has an Agronomy Program headed by the superintendent and a Plant Pathology Program lead by another faculty member. Staff also includes farm operations manager, research scientist and support staff. A local advisory board made up of area producers and industry representatives from both Montana and North Dakota provides guidance on establishing EARC research priorities.