Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC)

Size and Topography

  • Largest of the PACs, with 2,430 acres located six miles east of North Vernon in Jennings County
  • A timber base of approximately 1,600 acres
  • A variety of soil types but primarily silt loam soils common in southeastern Indiana—hard to manage, poorly drained, low organic matter
  • Highly erosive soils with no-till farming practices used on most of the cropland

Heritage

SEPAC was established in 1977, when the state of Indiana transferred 830 acres from the Department of Mental Health’s Muscatatuck State School to Purdue University. In 2005, the Department of Natural Resources transferred an additional 1,600 acres to Purdue. The center is distinctive i​n its history of conservation tillage, including no-till.​

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

Joel Wahlman
Superintendent, Southeast-Purdue Agricultural Center 
4425 East 350 North
Butlerville, IN 47223
Phone: (812) 458-6977
Email: ​​jwahlman@purdue.edu​

Resources

  • 1,100-square-foot conference room for education and training
  • Shop
  • Soil drainage and water quality stations
  • Modern field machinery
  • Pesticide-handling facility
  • Equipment storage buildings
  • Grain bins
  • Crop sample dryers
  • Walk-in cooler
  • Annual hunting permits and public access for hikers, bird-watchers, mushroom hunters, etc.
  • Public tours highlighting farming techniques and agriculture
  • Purdue Extension Wildlife Specialist based at SEPAC

Current Research

SEPAC hosts practical agronomic and forestry research concentrated in pest management, nutrient management, variety performance, precision farming, soil conservation, soil drainage, water quality, forest management, and wildlife management.

Researchers from the Departments of Agronomy, Botany and Plant Pathology, Entomology, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Forestry and Natural Resources conduct studies at SEPAC. Approximately 50 research projects involving more than 30 professors, graduate students, and technicians are ongoing at SEPAC at any one time.

Additional information, resource documents, and links related to:

 

Hunting and Access Policy: SEPAC

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

Links

 Resources

  • March 9, 2024 | Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center - Lean-N-Burn Woodland RX Fire Workshop (PDF) - for more information call 812-458-6977 or jwahlman@purdue.edu 
  • April 3, 2024 | Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center - Cover Crop Field Day (PDF) - for more information call 812-458-6977 or jwahlman@purdue.edu 
  • August 27, 2024 | Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center - Field Day - for more information call 812-458-6977 or jwahlman@purdue.edu 
  • For more information contact Joel Wahlman at (812) 458-6977 or jwahlman@purdue.edu

Indiana map with pacs location

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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