By Andi Anderson
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is developing an innovative agricultural research project known as the Alma Mater Plots. Located a few miles south of the university’s main campus, the project features 64 individually tile-drained one-acre plots, making it the largest experiment of its kind in the world.
The goal of the Alma Mater Plots is to create valuable research that benefits Illinois and Midwest agriculture for many years. Unlike many research projects where scientists decide the focus independently, this initiative is actively seeking input from farmers and agricultural stakeholders before finalizing long-term research treatments.
To encourage participation, the public has been invited to tour the Alma Mater Plots on August 11 and share ideas about important agricultural challenges and opportunities. Researchers believe that involving farmers in the planning process will help ensure the research reflects real-world farming needs.
Andrew Margenot, director of the Alma Mater Plots, the Morrow Plots, and professor in the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U. of I., explained the importance of listening to local agricultural communities. He said, “I was trained in an international ag development context in eastern Africa and South America, where we’d roll up to a region and spend a week or more acclimating. During that time, we’d just shut up and listen to understand what people perceive as problems. I thought, we do this a lot in international ag development, but why not here? In my opinion, you just do better science if you listen to the people who work the land.”
This philosophy has guided the project from the beginning. Over the past year, the research team has organized more than a dozen focus groups across Illinois, gathering insights from over 140 farmers. The team also established a diverse advisory board and plans to continue collecting feedback from farmers, industry representatives, and policy stakeholders through the end of 2026.
Sanjay Sofat, environmental policy director for the Illinois Farm Bureau, supports the farmer-centered approach. He said, “There’s a huge disconnect around the realities of farming. People make comments like, ‘Hey, farmers should do xyz,’ without really understanding what it entails to adopt new practices. Farmers have to worry about and assess risk around financing new equipment, weather constraints, and so many other issues. By designing this experiment based on farmers' input, we hope farmers will feel more comfortable adopting practices that benefit the land and their bottom lines.”
The Alma Mater Plots also continue the legacy of the historic Morrow Plots, which will celebrate 150 years in 2026 and remain one of the world's oldest continuously running agricultural experiments. Through collaboration and innovation, the new project aims to support the future of farming for generations to come.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-nes
Categories: Illinois, Sustainable Agriculture