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Unique 36-acre Experimental Farm Tested Crops,
Animals
For 15 years the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) managed a
unique, 36-acre experimental farm for the U.S. Department of Energy and
its predecessor agencies.
Construction of the farm began in 1964 in Area 15 of the Nevada Test
Site. The land was cleared of desert vegetation, a 5,400-foot water well
was rehabilitated, a one-million-gallon reservoir was built, and the
first crops were planted.
During the next two years, dairy facilities were added: several large
open paddocks, individual shaded stalls, and a combination milking
barn/main laboratory building.
Extensive plant and soil studies evaluated the uptake of pollutants in
farm-grown vegetables and forage the diary herd of some 30 Holstein
cows. Scientists also studied horses, pigs, goats, and chickens.
EPA also managed a herd of 100 Hereford beef cattle. Four of the animals
gained fame as "fistulated steers" (animals with surgical openings in
their sides). The steers were part of a special research project and
served as biological samplers of the forage consumed by the rest of the
herd as it ranged over the northeast corner of the Test Site.
The farm was closed in 1981, because no more useful data was being
obtained. The researchers found no disease or tissue damage in the
cattle due to radiation exposure. Radiation levels that were detected in
the tissue samples were well within excepted Federal standards.
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