Associations and affiliates lease the research farms to the Experiment Station. Income from farm product sales is used to offset research costs. The Experiment Station assumes the remaining costs of operating the farms. The Experiment Station is also active in partnerships with the ISU Extension Service, USDA National Resource and Conservation Service, USDA National Soil Tilth Laboratory and several Iowa community colleges. Interaction Area producers suggest local problems that need to be studied and often offer suggestions for improving research at the farms.
Producers make their suggestions as members of local advisory committees.
These committees meet at least once each year with county and area extension staff and ISU researchers. The committee members also are liaisons between the university and other producers. The Experiment Station publishes research results in annual reports. Extension specialists use the reports in meetings, pamphlets, news stories and broadcasts. Local farmers can observe experiments firsthand and learn about the latest findings at field days that are held at the farms.