Still marching

By Edgar Olson
Executive Director

There's hardly an industry in the state or country that hasn't been affected by rapid technological advances. Agriculture is certainly numbered among the facets of our economy that have changed dramatically in recent years. Many of these advances have allowed farming to become more efficient, more precise and safer -- but much more effort is needed if rural communities are to survive and grow.

AURI is not immune to the rapid pace of change. Staff exert themselves to stay abreast or lead the way in agricultural innovation. State-of-the-art facilities such as the new meat lab in Marshall give the state's food processors access to the most updated training in areas like product development and food safety.

Technology can be intimidating, but in the case of the Internet, it can also put world class agricultural research and information at our fingertips. We are proud to have a presence on the World Wide Web. Our newly updated web site, at www.auri.org, provides information about AURI programs, people and clients. It also links to many premier ag web sites in Minnesota and the world, making access to valuable information easier than ever.