Neely-Kinyon Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm
Location
Adair County
Directions:
Go 2 miles south of Greenfield on Highway 25, 1 mile east and a half mile north.
2557 Norfolk Ave.
Greenfield, IA 50849
Size
160 acres
Owners
Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development
History
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. The farm is managed as a satellite of the Armstrong Research Farm.
Soils
Gently to strongly sloping well-drained loess soils characterize the area. Predominant soils are:
Shelby:
9 to 30 percent slope, moderately well-drained glacial till derived soil, occurring on upland side slopes
Sharpsburg:
2 to 9 percent slope, moderately well-drained soils formed from loess.
Research and Demonstration
The farm researches and demonstrates alternative agricultural approaches that are environmentally sound and have a positive impact on the community.
Crops. A 17-acre block of 40 quarter-acre plots is dedicated to research. Plant, soil, pest, grain quality and economic performance of organic and conventional systems are studied. Sorghum is grown for information related to biomass production. Cover crops also are studied.
Soils. The topography of the area makes soil erosion, cropping rotation and tillage research important. Prairie strips are used to control water and nutrient movement in the fields. There is ongoing monitoring of soil quality for the crops research.
Facilities
In addition to the plots, the farm has a machinery storage building. An erosion control structure waterway and tile drainage was completed recently.