Agronomy Center for Research and Education Live Cam

The Founding and Evolution of the Agronomy Center for Research and Education

Established in 1962 on a sprawling 700‑acre tract in Tippecanoe County, the Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE) has steadily grown into one of the Midwest’s premier hubs for agricultural research and crop science innovation. Strategically located along U.S. Highway 52, the site was chosen for its gently rolling terrain, fertile silt loam soils, and proximity to Purdue University’s core campus in West Lafayette. Early field trials focused on corn hybrid selection and nitrogen fertility management, leveraging the region’s humid continental climate to test varietal performance under real‑world conditions.

Soil Science and Pedology: Unlocking the County’s Loam Heritage

Tippecanoe County sits atop glacial outwash and lacustrine deposits left by the Wisconsinan glaciation, resulting in well‑drained silt loams that rank among Indiana’s most productive agricultural soils. Upon arrival, soil scientists at ACRE conducted detailed pedological surveys, mapping the Alfisols and Mollisols that underlie the center’s fields. These surveys inform precision agriculture studies, as researchers tailor lime and phosphorus applications to micro‑zones within each plot, optimizing nutrient uptake while minimizing environmental runoff.

Historical Milestones in Crop Improvement

ACRE’s Contribution to Corn and Soybean Genetics: During the 1970s, collaborations with Purdue breeders led to the release of the ‘Purdue 345’ corn hybrid—a hardy, high‑yield variety resistant to Northern corn leaf blight. In the early 1990s, soybean breeding trials at ACRE introduced the first Purdue‑developed glyphosate‑tolerant lines, paving the way for widespread adoption of no‑till practices across Tippecanoe County and beyond.

Field Experimentation and Precision Agriculture Technologies

Advanced instrumentation and sensor networks now crisscross the center’s research plots, enabling real‑time monitoring of soil moisture, canopy temperature, and chlorophyll content. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with multispectral cameras collect high‑resolution imagery, facilitating early detection of nutrient deficiencies and pest stress. Geographic information system (GIS) software integrates these data layers, guiding variable‑rate seeding and fertilizer applications that exemplify modern sustainable agriculture.

Water Management and Irrigation Innovations

Tippecanoe County’s average annual rainfall of approximately 40 inches provides a solid foundation for rainfed agriculture, yet ACRE researchers recognized the need for supplemental irrigation during critical growth stages. The installation of sub‑surface drip irrigation systems allowed trials comparing water‑use efficiency across different crop rotations. By precisely delivering moisture to the root zone, farmers can now reduce evapotranspiration losses and conserve groundwater resources—a key component of Indiana’s integrated water resource management strategy.

Controlled Traffic Farming: Reducing Soil Compaction

First tested at ACRE in the mid‑2000s, controlled traffic farming (CTF) systems channel heavy machinery along permanent lanes, limiting soil compaction to designated corridors. Trials demonstrated that CTF improved root penetration depth by up to 25%, enhancing both nutrient uptake and drought resilience. These findings influenced Tippecanoe County growers to adopt smart guidance systems and machinery retrofits, leading to widespread improvements in soil health.

Surrounding Landscape: From Research Plots to Natural Wetlands

Bordering the research fields lie restored wetlands and riparian buffers that serve dual purposes: habitat conservation and water quality protection. These constructed wetlands filter tile drainage water, trapping sediment and assimilating excess nitrates before runoff enters nearby tributaries of the Wabash River. Ornithologists from Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources monitor migratory birds that nest in the cattail zones, using banding data to track population health and wetland ecosystem services.

Native Prairie Restoration and Pollinator Habitats

On the western edge of ACRE, a 25‑acre demonstration prairie showcases native grasses—Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, and Indiangrass—interplanted with forbs like Black‑eyed Susan and Butterfly Milkweed. These restorations provide critical forage for honeybees, bumblebees, and other pollinators essential to the pollination of adjacent canola and pumpkin trials. Graduate students study floral phenology and insect visitation rates, generating data that inform recommendations for on‑farm pollinator strips throughout Tippecanoe County.

Agroforestry Alley Cropping Trials

In parallel with annual crop research, ACRE has integrated alley cropping systems—rows of hybrid poplar and walnut trees alternating with strips of soybeans or winter wheat. This agroforestry model investigates carbon sequestration potential, microclimate moderation, and long‑term soil organic matter accumulation. Preliminary results indicate a 15% increase in soybean yield within tree alleys, attributed to improved water retention and wind shelter effects.

Educational Outreach and Industry Partnerships

The Agronomy Center for Research and Education serves as a living laboratory for undergraduate and graduate students from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture. Weekly field tours introduce students to experimental design, data collection protocols, and statistical analysis using mixed‑model frameworks. Industry partners—including seed companies, fertilizer manufacturers, and agtech firms—sponsor specialized trials, testing proprietary traits and inputs under Tippecanoe County’s specific agroecological conditions.

Field Days and Continuing Education Workshops

Each summer, ACRE hosts its annual “Agronomy Field Day,” drawing over 500 participants from Indiana and neighboring states. Attendees engage in hands‑on demonstrations of soil coring, remote sensing workflows, and cover crop interseeding techniques. Concurrently, extension specialists lead continuing education workshops on nutrient management planning, ensuring that local crop consultants and certified crop advisers stay abreast of evolving best practices for sustainable agriculture.

Collaborative Research with State and Federal Agencies

ACRE’s long‑standing partnership with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) facilitates large‑scale studies on cover cropping, tile drainage optimization, and precision nutrient toolkits. Federal grants support investigations into climate‑smart agriculture, quantifying greenhouse gas mitigation potential from no‑till and conservation tillage systems—a priority for Tippecanoe County’s climate adaptation plans.

Laboratories and Controlled Environment Facilities

Beyond the outdoor plots, the ACRE complex houses several state‑of‑the‑art research buildings. The Soil Chemistry Lab employs ion chromatographs and mass spectrometers to profile soil nutrient dynamics, while the Plant Pathology Facility maintains growth chambers for disease resistance screening. In the controlled environment greenhouses, researchers evaluate drought tolerance by applying precisely calibrated water stress regimes, measuring physiological responses such as stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence.

Genomics and Phenotyping Platforms

In collaboration with Purdue’s Bindley Bioscience Center, the center features high‑throughput phenotyping rigs that capture digital traits—canopy height, leaf angle, and biomass accumulation—across large germplasm collections. DNA sequencers analyze single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to yield, pest resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance. This integration of phenomics and genomics accelerates marker‑assisted selection and genomic prediction models tailored for Indiana’s corn and soybean belt.

Seed Processing and Sample Storage

A dedicated Seed Processing Facility cleans, dries, and stores thousands of kilogram‑scale seed lots under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Cryopreservation protocols preserve recalcitrant seeds and vegetative shoot tips, safeguarding genetic diversity from historic Purdue breeding lines and landrace varieties. Researchers can access this genebank to reintroduce traits lost to modern selection, ensuring long‑term resilience in Tippecanoe County cropping systems.

Surrounding Educational and Community Highlights

Just a few miles south, the city of Lafayette offers cultural attractions that complement the agronomy center’s scientific pursuits. The Tippecanoe Battlefield Park commemorates the 1811 conflict between U.S. forces and Native American confederations, providing layers of local history beyond agricultural innovation. Museums and interpretive centers chart early settlement patterns, illustrating how land use evolved from tribal hunting grounds to pioneer farms and, eventually, to high‑tech research facilities like ACRE.

Local Agribusiness and Farm Supply Networks

Tippecanoe County’s robust agribusiness ecosystem includes seed distributors, custom applicators, and precision equipment dealers. Along State Road 38, farm supply stores stock everything from micronutrient blends to GPS guidance retrofit kits. Custom applicators operate high‑capacity sprayers for variable‑rate nutrient delivery, closely coordinating with ACRE researchers to validate new fertilizer formulations under county‑specific soil conditions.

Farm-to-Table Dining and Agritourism

Chefs in West Lafayette craft menus celebrating local grains, such as heritage wheat and hull‑less oats, grown on demonstration plots at ACRE. Seasonal “Ag Dinner Series” events pair research plots with plate presentations, featuring farm‑raised lamb, heirloom apple cider reductions, and forage‑fed pork. Agritourism ventures—like corn maze and pumpkin patch attractions—collaborate with the center, hosting weekend tours that educate visitors on crop rotations, soil conservation, and the genetics behind modern produce varieties.

New Tip: When visiting the Agronomy Center for Research and Education, plan your trip in late May during the maize phenology peak—walk the fields to observe tasseling stages and compare hybrid performance firsthand.

Interesting Fact: The Agronomy Center’s original test plots from 1962 are still maintained today for long‑term soil health studies, making ACRE one of the few research sites nationwide with over six decades of continuous agronomic data under uniform management conditions.