The ARDC is a major research and education facility of the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). It serves as the primary site for field-based research involving 90 faculty and 150 graduate students in nine IANR departments.
The ARDC consists of approximately 9,500 acres (3,846 hectares) of which 5,000 acres (2,024 hectares) are in row crops. Forty percent of the row crops is irrigated. The balance of the 9,500 acres is predominately in cool and warm season pasture. Over 5,000 domestic farm animals used for research and teaching reside on the ARDC.