Pinney Purdue Agricultural Center (PPAC)

Size and Topography

  • 664 acres on the Porter-LaPorte county line, with about 560 tillable acres to serve the agricultural research needs of northwestern Indiana
  • Three distinct soil types: Tracy sandy loam, which can be irrigated during dry periods for horticultural research; highly organic muck; and Sebewa loam used for corn and soybean studies
  • Approximately 45 acres of woodland
  • Ten acres in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program
  • Pond
  • Warm- and cool-season grasses native to the area

Heritage

The original 486-acre property was a gift in 1919 from William Pinney and his daughter Myra Pinney Clark. Over the years Purdue has acquired an additional 178 acres of adjacent cropland.​

Contact Us

Jon Leuck
Director, Purdue Agricultural Centers, and Project Coordinator
615 Mitch Daniels Blvd.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053
Phone: (765) 494-8368
Email: leuckj@purdue.edu​

Alex Helms
Assistant Director, Purdue Agricultural Centers 
615 Mitch Daniels Blvd
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053
Phone: (765) 494-8367
Email: helms0@purdue.edu

Stephen Boyer
Superintendent, Pinney-Purdue Agricultural Center 
11402 South County Line Road
Wanatah, IN 46390
Phone: (219) 733-2379
Email: ​​sboyer@purdue.edu​

Resources

  • Main building with meeting space for up to 50 and farm shop for equipment upgrades and repairs
  • GPS/RTK technology
  • Storage and drying facilities
  • 30-foot by 48-foot greenhouse; two rolling high tunnels for organic research and conventional vegetables
  • Linear move irrigation systems covering nearly 100 acres of tillable land
  • Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP) Testing
  • Two weather stations, for the National Weather Service and for Purdue climatologist
  • Fall woodland management workshop

current Research

Research capitalizes on resources unique to this part of the state—a sandier soil and abundant water supply. Irrigation is prevalent among vegetable producers. Research at PPAC focuses on agronomic, vegetable, and specialty crops.

Researchers in the Departments of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Botany and Plant Pathology, Agronomy, Entomology, and Forestry and Natural Resources currently conduct research at PPAC.

PPAC M​aps

Various maps are used to identify different areas of PPAC and the Rice Farm. Boundaries, field names, soil types etc. are shown on the maps below. 

  • August 21, 2024 Field Day (PDF)
  • August 21, 2024 Field Day - Twilight (PDF)
  • September 5, 2024 Crop Diagnostic Training (PDF)
  • For more information contact Stephen Boyer at 219-733-2379 or sboyer@purdue.edu

Can-Am & Purdue University College of Agriculture Partnership

PAC Events

PAC Events

farmers on edge of field during training day
2024 Field Days & Training Events

The Purdue Agricultural Centers (PACS) will be offering public field days, workshops, and other events in 2024. These events provide educational opportunities for commodity producers, crop/livestock advisers, and others seeking knowledge in crop...

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