Farms and Research Reports

Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy and Central Iowa Research Farms

This site was opened in 1964 when the Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Farms were relocated from South State Avenue in Story County. The Iowa Crops and Soils Research Association, a group of Iowa agricultural leaders with on-campus leadership by Professor H.D. Hughes, was instrumental in acquiring the farmland.

Allee Demonstration Farm

This farm was started in 1958 when George M. Allee bequeathed 160 acres to ISU.

Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm

The Wallace Foundation was formed in 1990 to enhance agricultural research and education for southwest Iowa. The Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm was established by a donation of 40 acres and the sale of 360 acres to the foundation by Gail and Glendale Armstrong in 1993.

BioCentury Research Farm

The BioCentury Research Farm (BCRF) is the first-in-the-nation integrated research and demonstration farm devoted to biomass production and processing. Since opening in 2009, the BCRF has promoted and supported advanced research in the areas of biomass production, harvest, storage, transport, preparation, processing and analysis.

Brayton Memorial Research Forest

The research forest was donated to ISU in 1949 by Emma L. Brayton. The university purchased an additional 10 acres in 1951.

Central Iowa Research and Demonstration Farms

Agricultural land owned by ISU and its affiliates provides room for future growth of research programs and the university’s infrastructure.

Horticulture Research Station

Horticultural field research has been active at Iowa State since the beginning of the institution. The work was moved to this site in 1967 from the former location at Sheldon and Knapp streets in Ames.

McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm

The farm was established by a donation of 480 acres in 1956 by Harry McNay and his sister, Winnie. Additional land acquisitions allowed researchers to broaden the scope of the research conducted.

Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm

The research farm was founded in 1935 on 63 acres leased from the Rock Island Railroad. In 1983, the association purchased 40 acres of this original tract and an additional 66 acres were added in 2002. In 2013, an adjacent 20 acres were acquired.

Neely-Kinyon Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm

The Wallace Foundation was formed in 1990 to enhance agricultural research and education for southwest Iowa. A donation of a 160-acre farm in Adair County by Wayne and Margaret Neely in 1994 established the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm.

Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm

The association established the farm in 1976. In 2009, the Borlaug Learning Center building opened. It houses ISU Extension and Outreach and farm staff.

Northern Research and Demonstration Farm

The North Iowa Experimental Association, the oldest in Iowa, was formed in 1930 and purchased 93 acres. The Clarion- Webster Experimental Association was formed in 1952 and purchased 80 acres. In 1995, the associations merged.

Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm

The association purchased two tracts, 37 acres in Lyon County and 75 acres in O’Brien County, in 1954. In 1989 and 1990, the organization purchased additional land, 60 acres in Lyon County and 152 acres in O’Brien County.

Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm

The association purchased the main farm in 1987. An adjacent tract was acquired in 2002.

Western Research and Demonstration Farm

The association purchased the farm in 1946. In 2002, an additional 40 acres was given to the farm.