Celebrating 150 Years of the Morrow Plots
Established in 1876, the Morrow Plots are the world’s oldest continuous agricultural experiment. For more than 150 years, this one-acre research site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has helped scientists better understand crops, soils, and agricultural systems. Explore the history of the Morrow Plots and discover how generations of research continue to inform agriculture today.
Latest News
Meet the ACES alum behind a gift to revitalize the Morrow Plots
Bayer gift launches Morrow Plots revitalization for 150th anniversary
ACES marks 150 Years of the Morrow Plots, our nation’s oldest research field
Take Home a Piece of History
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Morrow Plots with a limited-edition commemorative snow globe. Available through the ACES Alumni Association while supplies last.
Mark Your Calendar
Celebrate 150 years of the Morrow Plots with special events throughout the sesquicentennial year. There’s something for alumni, friends, and the community to enjoy.
Morrow Plots Data Drives Discoveries
Explore how 150 years of research at the Morrow Plots have shaped modern agriculture and continue to drive discovery for the future.
The Morrow Plots reflect the very best of our land-grant mission — a tremendous legacy of discovery in service to agriculture and society. We are not simply beneficiaries; we are entrusted to carry this living resource forward so it may continue to serve generations to come.
Germán Bollero
Professor and Dean, Robert A. Easter ChairCollege of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
Experience the Legacy of the Morrow Plots
Explore photographs, documents, and historical materials that capture the people, research, and discoveries that have shaped the Morrow Plots across generations.
The Morrow Plots will be completing their 150th harvest this season. What will be the challenges facing agriculture in the next 150 harvests? While we cannot anticipate the nature and extent of these challenges, we can design a long-term experiment that builds on the knowledge gained from the Morrow Plots and flexibly addresses the challenges to come.
Andrew Margenot
Professor of Crop SciencesDirector of the Morrow Plots and Alma Mater Plots