Department of Soil, Water, & Climate | University of Minnesota

What Department of Soil, Water, & Climate | University of Minnesota does

The Department of Soil, Water, and Climate is a public academic unit within the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), located on the St. Paul campus in Borlaug Hall and the adjoining Soil Science Building. Established in 1913 as the Division of Soils and renamed to its current title in 1995, the department operates a three-pillar mission of research, teaching, and outreach focused on soil science, hydrology, climatology, and biogeochemistry. Its research infrastructure includes the Soil Testing Laboratory, Research Analytical Laboratory, St. Paul Campus Climate Observatory (65+ years of continuous data), and the Precision Agriculture Center.

The department's product surface spans educational programs (the Land and Atmospheric Science graduate program offering MS and PhD degrees, undergraduate minors in climatology, soil science, and water science, plus a Soil Judging team), research and extension centers (Minnesota Office for Soil Health, Water Resources Center, Minnesota State Climatology Office), and direct outreach services. Extension specialists covering soil health, nutrient management, irrigation, manure management, and climate science engage directly with Minnesota farmers through field days at the Waseca and Lamberton Research and Outreach Centers, while the Climate Adaptation Partnership serves community and government stakeholders. A collaborative SOIL 4511 Field Study of Soils course extends programming to tribal college partners including Fond du Lac, Leech Lake, and Red Lake Nation College.

The funding model combines state appropriations and university allocations, competitive federal grants (USDA, USDA-ARS, NSF, NOAA), private donations and endowments (including the William E. Larson Endowed Chair), and fee-for-service revenue from analytical labs. The department operates within a non-commercial framework: tuition is set by the UMN Registrar, extension services are provided free, and scholarships such as the Mulvehill-MacGregor Undergraduate Scholarship ($500-$1,000) are supported by endowments. Distribution runs through the university's academic infrastructure, regional extension centers, peer-reviewed publications, and direct field consultation.

Name

Department of Soil, Water, & Climate | University of Minnesota

Legal name

Regents of the University of Minnesota

Website

https://swac.umn.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Department of Soil, Water, and Climate is a University of Minnesota academic department (founded 1913) conducting research, graduate and undergraduate education, and extension outreach in soil science, hydrology, climatology, and precision agriculture for Minnesota farmers, students, and communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education and Earth System Science Research

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture, Environmental & Earth Sciences (EDAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soil Testing & Nutrient Analysis Services (AFACAKAA), Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI), Agriculture & Land-Use MRV (Soil carbon, livestock, forestry/REDD+) (EUAHADAI), Soil & Biomass Carbon Measurement (Soil Sampling, Forest Inventory, Blue Carbon) (EUABACAH)

Keywords

• Soil science education
• Agricultural research
• Climate science
• Water resources
• Extension outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. University Funding and State Appropriations: As a land-grant university department within the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), the department receives core funding through state appropriations and university budgets.
2. Research Grants and Contracts: Faculty and researchers secure competitive grant funding from federal agencies including USDA, USDA-ARS, NSF, NOAA, and other research sponsors to fund specific research projects and personnel.
3. Private Donations and Endowments: The department receives charitable contributions through the University of Minnesota Foundation, including endowed funds supporting scholarships, fellowships, visiting professors, and named chairs such as the William E. Larson Endowed Chair in Soil and Water Resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Department of Soil, Water, and Climate is an academic department within the University of Minnesota's CFANS that delivers interdisciplinary education (Land and Atmospheric Science graduate program, undergraduate minors, and SOIL/ESPM/LAAS courses), conducts basic and applied research in soil science, hydrology, and climatology, and provides extension outreach to Minnesota farmers and communities through dedicated centers and laboratories. Its sellable offerings include graduate degree programs, undergraduate minor programs, soil and analytical laboratory services, and extension programming in soil health, nutrient management, climate adaptation, and precision agriculture.

Product overview

The Department of Soil, Water, and Climate is an academic department at the University of Minnesota, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of educational programs (the LAAS Graduate Program, undergraduate minors in climatology/soil science/water science, and course offerings in SOIL/ESPM/LAAS), research centers (Precision Agriculture Center, Minnesota State Climatology Office, Water Resources Center), extension services (Soil Testing Laboratory, Research Analytical Laboratory, Minnesota Office for Soil Health, specialist services), academic events (Kuehnast and Larson Allmaras lecture series), and student programs (Soil Judging team). These components work together to fulfill the department's mission of advancing understanding of Earth system processes through research, teaching, and outreach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Land and Atmospheric Science (LAAS): Interdisciplinary graduate program focused on fundamentals of the Earth-atmosphere system offering MS and PhD degrees

Products and services

• Graduate Program in Land and Atmospheric Science (LAAS) Interdisciplinary graduate program offering Masters (MS) and Doctorate (PhD) degrees focused on the fundamentals of the Earth-atmosphere system, allowing students to design a curriculum addressing their interests within land and atmospheric science.
• Undergraduate Minors in Climatology, Soil Science, and Water Science Undergraduate minor programs for students in related majors such as Agricultural Communication and Marketing or Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management, providing foundational education in climatology, soil science, and water science.
• SOIL Course Series Undergraduate and graduate courses covering soil science topics including Basic Soil Science, Field Study of Soils, Soil Judging, Precision Agriculture, Vadose Zone Hydrology, Soil Genesis, Wetlands Soils, and Soil Biology & Fertility.
• ESPM Course Series Courses covering environmental policy, atmospheric composition, soil conservation, contaminant hydrology, waste management, and biometeorology within the Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management program.
• Soil Testing Laboratory Services Fee-for-service laboratory providing soil testing for farmers, researchers, and the public to analyze soil properties and guide crop management decisions.
• Research Analytical Laboratory Services Fee-for-service laboratory providing analytical testing services for soil, plant, and environmental samples for researchers and agricultural professionals.
• Minnesota State Climatology Office State climate office providing Minnesota-specific climate data, analysis, and expertise, co-located with the department.
• Precision Agriculture Center Research center focused on precision agriculture technologies, remote sensing, and information management for optimized crop management.
• Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH) Extension program dedicated to improving soil health in Minnesota by delivering soil education, promoting grower networks, and researching best practices for healthy farms and ecosystems.
• Extension Specialist Services Direct outreach and consultation by extension specialists covering soil health, nutrient management, water management, climate science, irrigation, and manure management for Minnesota farmers and stakeholders.
• Water Resources Center University-wide center addressing water resource issues through research and extension, coordinated with SWAC faculty in hydrology, water quality, and watershed research across Minnesota.
• Soil Judging Program Competitive collegiate soil judging team that provides hands-on field learning in soil morphology and classification, combining geology, chemistry, physics, and biology, and competes in national contests (6th place at 2025 National Collegiate Soils Contest).

Quantifiable outcome

• Rye cover crops reduced erosion to 540 lbs/acre compared to 3,400 lbs/acre for unplanted controls
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota State Climatology OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located office providing Minnesota-specific climate data, expertise, and outreach. The department's climatology faculty work closely with the state office, and the partnership enables coordinated climate monitoring and information delivery across Minnesota.
• Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coordination office dedicated to soil health education and outreach. SWAC faculty, including State Soil Health Specialist Anna Cates, lead this initiative to deliver soil education, promote grower networks, and research best practices for healthy farms and ecosystems.
• Minnesota Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on agricultural research, water quality initiatives, and nutrient management. MDA researchers co-located with SWAC work on shared priorities including soil health and water quality protection.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partnership supporting soil survey work, conservation practices, and farmer outreach. NRCS personnel collaborate on field research and provide technical expertise for soil and water conservation.
• USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research agency with shared faculty appointments and collaborative research programs. Multiple SWAC faculty hold adjunct appointments with USDA-ARS, enabling joint research projects on soil, water, and climate topics.
• US Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on soil science research and education, including Dave Morley's work on the Superior National Forest and support for the Field Study of Soils course with tribal colleges. Forest Service soil scientists participate in outreach and student mentorship.
• Fond du Lac Tribal and Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal college partner in the collaborative SOIL 4511 Field Study of Soils course. The Environmental Institute at FLTCC provides research coordination and hosts class sessions, expanding soil science education to tribal communities.
• Leech Lake Tribal CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal college partner in the collaborative SOIL 4511 Field Study of Soils course. Students from LLTC participate in field-based soil science education alongside UMN students, with plans to offer college credit through GEOL 210.
• Red Lake Nation CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew tribal college partner joining the collaborative field course in 2026, expanding the inter-tribal college soil science education initiative.
• Water Resources CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity-wide water research coordination center that SWAC researchers collaborate with on hydrology, water quality, and watershed research across Minnesota.
• Climate Adaptation PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity-based climate services program directed by SWAC faculty member Heidi Roop. Provides cutting-edge climate science and tailored resilience resources, serving as a model for similar programs nationwide.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cornell University Soil and Crop Sciences Section: Premier land-grant soil and crop sciences unit with extension, graduate, and undergraduate programs aligned to SWAC's structure. Directly competes for federal grant funding and graduate student recruitment.
• Colorado State University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences: Land-grant department combining soil science, crop science, and climate-related research with active extension programming. Comparable mission and grant-driven research model to SWAC.
• UC Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources: University of California agriculture and environmental sciences unit with strong overlap to SWAC's three-pillar (soil, water, climate) structure. Comparable in combining graduate education, research, and outreach.
• Iowa State University Department of Agronomy: One of the largest agronomy departments in the U.S., integrating soil, crop, and climate science with extension. Highly comparable peer competing for the same USDA, NSF, and Iowa/Midwest farmer-extension audience as SWAC.
• Oregon State University Department of Crop and Soil Science: Land-grant department with soil science, agronomy, and climate research programs plus extension services. Highly comparable peer for federal grant competition and extension program structure.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Crop Sciences: Midwest land-grant department combining crop, soil, and climate research with extension programming. Comparable scale, faculty structure, and grant-driven research model relative to SWAC.
• University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Soil Science: Peer land-grant soil science department with comparable teaching, research, and extension functions focused on soil physics, chemistry, and biology in the Upper Midwest. Directly comparable in mission, scope, and federal-grant competition with SWAC.
• Purdue University Department of Agronomy: Land-grant agronomy department with comparable soil, water, and climate research plus extension footprint. Direct peer competing for federal research dollars and industry partnerships in the Corn Belt.

Broad incumbents

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal agency partner that collaborates on soil survey work, conservation practices, and farmer outreach with SWAC. Operates broadly in the same conservation and soil-health space but at a national rather than academic scale.
• USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Federal research agency with shared faculty appointments and collaborative research programs with SWAC. Functions as a national-scale peer/partner operating in the same soil, water, and climate science domains.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCb_ImClu2xS0mgPbIDd3TTw
• Facebookfacebook.com/UMNSWAC
• Instagraminstagram.com/umnswac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umnswac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Soil, Water, & Climate | University of Minnesota