Despite recent vandalism, University of Illinois researchers are still able to harvest and obtain adequate data from the Morrow Plots.

Since the 25-foot crop circle was at the intersection of four subplots, adjustments were made to stay out of the affected area, said Robert Dunker, a University agronomist in crop sciences who heads research and harvesting of the plots.

"We had to use different techniques and move the harvest data slightly off of the two rows we would have normally taken," Dunker said.

Although valuable data was not lost, researchers did lose time and effort by having to physically handpick every ear of corn off of the stalks that were stomped down, he said.

"Primarily the damage is more of a vandalism thing, than it was losing valuable data," he said.

As a measure to prevent future vandalism, a 24-hour surveillance camera will be mounted on Mumford Hall and signs will be posted, Dunker said. There is an active Web camera that is on during the day now, but turned off at night, he said.

"What (the vandals) may see as a simple prank … as something fun, could have actually had some severe implications if there would have been the loss of 12 years of data," Dunker said.

Since the three plots are only planted with all corn every six years, a 12-year gap would have occurred if the data was lost for this year's harvest, he said.

Emerson Nafziger, professor of agronomic extension, said he believes people need to understand the historical significance of the Morrow Plots. The researchers are thankful that there was no permanent damage and they hope it is a one-time occurrence, he said.

"As well as being an active research plot, the Morrow Plots are one of the few places in the world that we can still study soil quality and continuous cropping," Dunker said.

The University of Illinois is a land grant university founded on agriculture and the Morrow Plots are part of this historical tradition, he said.

Authorities do not have any suspects at this time, University Police Capt. Kris Fitzpatrick said. The case has been assigned for a follow-up investigation and if anyone has any information about the vandalism, they should contact the University Police or crime stoppers at 217-373-TIPS, she said.