Northwest Research and Demomstration Farms

Location

Sutherland, O'Brien County; Doon, Lyon County

Directions: 11 miles north of Cherokee on U.S. Highway 59 and a quarter mile east on County Road B-62.

Northwest Research Farm
6320 500th Street
Sutherland, IA 51058

Size

329 acres

Owner

Northwest Iowa Experimental Association

Association President

Jim Hultgren
162 560 th Street
Alta, IA 51002
712-284-2248

History

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, 152 acres in O'Brien County and 60 acres in Lyon County. The original tracts have been sold.

Superintendent

Dave Haden
(712) 446-2526 office and FAX

Agro-Climatic Zone

Northwest Iowa

Soils

Terrain is nearly level to gently rolling and is well drained. The soils are loess derived. Predominant soils are:

Galva:
2-5 percent slope, well drained, occurs on uplands and gentle slopes

Primghar:
1-3 percent slope, moderately well to moderately poorly drained, occurs on broad ridges

Sac:
2-5 percent slope, well drained, occurs on side slopes

Moody:
2-5 percent slope, well drained, occurs in extreme Northwest Iowa

Research

Crops. Scientists study fertilizer requirements of corn and soybeans in different crop rotations. They study corn yields under various planting and fertilization rates and moisture conditions. Herbicides are evaluated and new varieties of oats, soybeans, barley and grain sorghum are tested.

Tillage. Researchers compare ridge-till, no-till and conventional tillage methods to determine the effects on crop yield, pest control and soil compaction. A fertilizer point-injector that was designed by an ISU agricultural engineer and tested at the farm is used to study the effects of exact placement of fertilizer on crop growth, yields and water quality in reduced tillage systems.

Soils. Researchers study soil fertility and soil management systems. Agronomists study nutrient requirements of area crops and apply nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and lime to observe crop yield response to the nutrients.