About the Agricultural Research Development and Education Center
ARDEC was founded in 1993 to support cooperative research and engagement on soil, crop and water resources as a facility offering integrated teaching and research under shared management. After early success, a second ARDEC was added in 1999, using the same multidisciplinary research format to include animal sciences. Now, we are a fully operational off-campus research and teaching farm, working livestock facility, and horticulture research center operating under the direction of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station. Our goals include:
- Coordinated and integrated scientific investigation on agricultural problems.
- Facilities designed to enhance multidisciplinary on-site work among faculty, staff, students, producers, processors, Ag-industry, government.
- Educational outreach and student involvement on new agricultural technologies and the value of sustaining U.S. agriculture.
Weather
Keep an eye on your project and the weather.
Colorado Climate Center – CoAgMET – CSU – ARDEC (colostate.edu)
DNT
Stay informed on the latest market shifts.
DTN – AES-ARDEC (colostate.edu)
Farm Logic
We use Farm Logic to manage our records and maintain efficient operations at ARDEC.
Customer Portal: Log In (farmlogic.com)
FarmLogic | Farm Management Software
Weather
Keep an eye on your project and the weather.
Colorado Climate Center – CoAgMET – CSU – ARDEC (colostate.edu)
DNT
Stay informed on the latest market shifts.
DTN – AES-ARDEC (colostate.edu)
Farm Logic
We use Farm Logic to manage our records and maintain efficient operations at ARDEC.
Customer Portal: Log In (farmlogic.com)
FarmLogic | Farm Management Software
What We Do
ARDEC supports multidisciplinary agricultural research, education, and outreach programs. Our programs enable campus-based faculty and students to work on real-world projects with multiple stakeholders, offering enriched hands-on experience. We currently engage with all college departments, as well as multiple government agencies including:
- Food Science and Human Nutrition
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Agricultural Research Service
Our Staff
We are a diverse group working toward our common goals. Learn more about who we are and what roles we play in the ARDEC.
Facilities
ARDEC
Stats
ACRES
FARMABLE & IRRIGATED ACRES
- ARDEC Conference Center
- CoBank Center for Agricultural Education
- General Purpose
- Staff Offices
- Conference Room
- Covered Picnic Area
- 34 Workrooms
- Drying
- Processing
- Scale Rooms
- Shop
- Foundation Seed
- Machine shed
- Pesticide storage and bulk storage
Livestock Unit
Cattle Stats
Resident ARDEC cow/calf herd – 100 head of purebred Hereford and Angus cows and replacement heifers.
FEED INTAKE UNIT CAPACITY
FEEDLOT CAPACITY
- Sheep barn
- Swine units
- Cow/calf barn
- Heifer and bull development center
- Metabolism barn with individual pens
- Feed intake unit
- Palpation chutes
- Feedlot pens
- Central mix area
- Temple Grandin designed working facility
ARDEC South
ACRES
FARMABLE IRRIGATED ACRES
certified organic acres.
Buildings
- Horticulture Field Research Center facility
- House/office area
- Machine shop
- Research building
- 1 greenhouses
- 7 hoop houses