MINOT (AP) - A longtime agronomist at the North Central Research Extension Center and a fixture in north central North Dakota's farming industry is leaving the center to start his own business.

Kent McKay is handing in his green and gold hat after 17 years to start a Berthold-based business called Vision Research Park LLC.

"I'll be the director of research there - I kind of like the word CEO - but anyway we're going to be a farmer-member, research-driven park," he said. "I'm so excited to work closer with growers and try and help them … more on a one-on-one basis."

McKay said he will miss his colleagues at the North Dakota State University research center on the south edge of Minot.

"We're a very close family here," he said.

During his time at the center, McKay has helped with research on everything from drought to crop diversification to scab disease.