The Dixon Springs Agricultural Center was established in 1934 on about 5,100 acres of unglaciated Ozark Uplift land (primarily Fraguidalfs and Fluventic Haplaquepts) near Simpson in Pope County. It is the largest experiment station of its kind east of the Mississippi River. DSAC links the laboratories and classrooms of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and USDA with the farms in southern Illinois. Researchers at DSAC coordinate their programs to meet the needs of area farmers.

Beef cattle research focuses on grazing management, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, and pest management.Join us for the Dixon Spring Agricultural Center Beef Field Day. If you have any questions about upcoming programs or questions about your farm, please reach out to Teresa Steckler.

Research has always been a high priority to University of Illinois Extension, and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has been part of making research history since the university’s establishment. Read more on current findings or view our research areas to learn about current, groundbreaking research.