The Clarion-Webster Experimental Association was formed in 1952 and purchased 80 acres. In 1995, the two associations merged. Northcentral Iowa Soils Terrain is gently sloping, broken by a rectangular gridwork of roads and fields. Much of the land is drained by tile systems and open ditches because the land has poor natural drainage. The farm is a site for small grains variety tests, corn and specialty soybean breeding, studies of nitrogen fertilization rates and timing on corn and for breeding soybeans with resistance to soybean cyst nematode.
Researchers conduct extensive tests on corn and soybean herbicides.
Soils Researchers study soil fertility and soil management systems. Agronomists study nutrient requirements of area crops and apply nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and lime to observe crop yield response to the nutrients. The farm has an extensive system of tile lines. A home garden for vegetable production is used for demonstrations and a weed garden helps teach producers to identify and control weeds common to the area.