URBANA, Ill. — A couple of miles south of the main quad at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a remarkable agricultural experiment is taking shape. The so-called Alma Mater Plots are unique in their setup — with 64 one-acre plots, each individually tile-drained, it’s the largest experiment of its kind anywhere. And, to maximize the value of the experiment to Illinois and Midwest agriculture, scientists are teaming up with farmers in deciding what, exactly, to study.
On Aug. 11, the public is invited to tour the Alma Mater Plots and provide input.
“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,” said 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.
Margenot’s philosophy explains why the plots have been laid out for two years, but long-term experimental treatments have not yet been finalized.
The research team has spent the last year assembling a diverse advisory board and seeking input directly from Illinois agriculturalists. Ping-ponging across the state, they’ve conducted over a dozen focus groups to date — attended by over 140 farmers — and they’re still going.
Margenot has plans to gather feedback from farmers, as well as industry and policy stakeholders, through the end of 2026.
Sanjay Sofat, environmental policy director for the Illinois Farm Bureau, is on the advisory board for the Alma Mater Plots. He appreciates Margenot’s thorough approach to information gathering from farmers.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Morrow Plots 2.0
The Alma Mater Plots are designed to carry the tradition of the historic Morrow Plots forward for future generations. Celebrating their 150th year in 2026, U. of I.’s Morrow Plots are the second-oldest continuously running agricultural experiment in the world.
Read the full article from the College of ACES.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.