About the Red Rock Agricultural Center (RRAC)

The Red Rock Agricultural Center (RRAC) is located approximately 35 miles north of the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, Arizona. The RRAC is to be sited on 4,673 acres of state land administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences under an institutional lease from the Arizona State Land Department. The center is to be operated by the Campus Agricultural Center with three full-time employees to provide research support and generate commodity income for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The convenience of conducting large-scale field research projects within a half-hour's drive of the main campus is invaluable for research scientists based in Tucson. It provides an excellent site for research in plant breeding, weed control, plant pathology, insect management, fertility & nitrogen management, soil conservation, alternative crops, and other areas of agronomic interest. It will also provide a critical altitude niche for testing new plant materials that will be lost upon disposal of the current Marana property.

Immediate facilities to be built include: 160 acres of flood irrigated fields, 128 acres of pivot irrigated fields, irrigation infrastructure, an electrical distribution system, a domestic and irrigation water supply, septic system, two residences for supervisory personnel, a maintenance/office/ shop facility and support buildings.

Future facilities may include a 1500-animal dairy research center to replace current dairy operations at the Campus Agricultural Center.