Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm

Location

Lewis, Pottawattamie County

Directions: 11 miles southwest of Atlantic on Highway 6, .5 mile south on M53 and .75 mile east on gravel.

Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm
53020 Hitchcock Avenue
Lewis, IA 51544

click here for a map view

Size

400 acres

Owners

Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development

Association President

Tom Pollock
3416 Rains Avenue
Malvern, IA 51551
712-624-9161

History

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. The Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm and the Lauren Christian Swine Research and Demonstration Farm are managed as satellites of this farm. The Wallace Learning Center building was completed in 1997 and houses office staff for ISU Southwest Area Extension, the farm and Precision Beef Alliance.

Superintendent

Bernie Havlovic
(712) 769-2402 office

Agro-Climatic Zone

Southwest Iowa

Soils

Gently to strongly sloping well-drained loess soils characterize the Armstrong farm area. Predominant soils are:

Marshall:
2-14 percent slope, very well drained, occurs on upland ridges and side slopes, loess soil

Sharpsburg:
0-18 percent slope, well to moderately well drained loess soils, occurs on upland ridges and side slopes

Research

Crops. Row crop and forage management studies focus on corn and soybean row spacing, strip-cropping, insecticide and herbicide trials, planting dates and populations, and weed managment.

Soil. Agronomists study potassium and phosphorus application rates and placement and their effect on soil fertility and crop yields. They also study timing and rates of nitrogen, lime and manure on row crops. The topography of the area makes soil erosion and tillage work important.

Livestock. Researchers study sustainable livestock production methods. Animal scientists conduct beef nutrition, health and management studies. Beef cattle are in rotational grazing and forage utilization trials. An alternate deep-bedded breed-to-wean swine production system is studied at the farm.

Facilities

A cattle-feeding research unit was completed in 1995. Pastures and forage feeding equipment support rotational grazing studies. The 9,500 square foot Wallace Learning Center features an Iowa Communication Network classroom and meeting place for up to 150 people.