Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center (SIPAC)

Size and Topography

  • The second-largest PAC, with 1,320 acres in Dubois County near the Patoka Reservoir
  • Rolling ground (hilly), shallow soils, natural hard pan, not well drained, rocky outcroppings
  • Difficult-to-manage sandstone and shale soils typical of southern Indiana
  • Roughly 530 acres of open pastureland and 630 acres of managed woodlands

Heritage

SIPAC grew from a true grassroots effort by the people of southern Indiana in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Local farmers felt their environment and soil differed so greatly from farmland near West Lafayette that their counties’ leadership raised funds to purchase the original parcel of farmland as well as some additional acreage. They donated the land, which was roughly half wooded and half pasture, to Purdue University as the Southern Indiana Forage Farm. The facility became SIPAC in 1965.​

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: leuckj@purdue.edu​

Jason Tower
Superintendent, Southern Indiana-Purdue Agricultural Center 
11371 East Purdue Farm Road
Dubois, IN 47527
Phone: (812) 678-4427
Email: ​​towerj@purdue.edu

Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

Grant N. Burcham, DVM, PhD, Diplomat ACVP
Southern Indiana-Purdue Agricultural Center 
11371 East Purdue Farm Road
Dubois, IN 47527
Phone: (812) 678-3401
Email: ​​gburcham@purdue.edu

Ron Rathfon
Extension Forester, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources
Southern Indiana-Purdue Agricultural Center 
11371 East Purdue Farm Road
Dubois, IN 47527
Phone: (812) 678-5049
Email: ​​ronr@purdue.edu

Resources

  • Conference space for 200 with high-speed Internet, kitchen facilities
  • Beef herd (170), goat herd (50 females) and hair sheep (100 females)
  • Different varieties of permanent pasture
  • Fence and water systems for rotational grazing
  • Barns and traditional feedlot
  • Dennis H. Heeke Southern Indiana Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which serves the poultry and livestock industries in southern Indiana
  • Approximately 20 built ponds for erosion control and livestock
  • Extension forester based at SIPAC
  • Approximately 600 acres of timber is in research protocols

current Research

SIPAC is a forage-based operation. Current research focuses on beef cattle, hair sheep and meat goat management, livestock grazing trials, forage production, forest management, and aquaculture.

Purdue Agriculture departments currently conducting research at SIPAC include Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Entomology, Animal Sciences, Forestry and Natural Resources​

Learn More About PAC's

Aquaculture

Articles

  • March 25, 2023| Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center - Learn-n-Burn Prescribed Fire Workshop - Flyer (PDF)
  • June 9 - 10, 2023 | Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center - Grazing School - Flyer (PDF)
  • September 9, 2023 | Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center - Invasive Species Control for the Woodland Owner Workshop
  • September 29, 2023 | Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center - Stockmanship for Beef Producers - Flyer (PDF)
  • September 30, 2023 | Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center - Stockmanship for Sheep/Goat Producers - Flyer (PDF)
  • For more information contact Jason Tower at 812-678-4427 towerj@purdue.edu

 Appearance of Field Before Goats Began Grazing

 Goats Being Moved to the New Patch for Grazing

                      Appearance of Field After Goats Had Been Grazing for 10 Days

WJTS TV Station Takes a Tour with SIPAC Superintendent Jason Tower

Pictures from SIPAC

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Cows Grazing on Turnips

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Dairy Heifers

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Lake View

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Sleeping Kids

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Cows in the Fog

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Snow - March 2013

Researchers Resources

Indiana's map with PACs location

Contact Us

PAC Events

PAC Events

farmers on edge of field during training day
2023 Field Days & Training Events

Field Days. The Purdue Agricultural Centers (PACS) will be offering public field days, workshops, and other events in 2023. These events provide educational opportunities for commodity producers, crop/livestock advisers, and others seeking...

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