2018 Utah State University PDP Project

View the project final report

Commodities

• Fruits: apples, apricots, berries (brambles), cherries, grapes, peaches, pears, plums
• Nuts: walnuts
• Vegetables: asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cucurbits, garlic, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), leeks, onions, peppers, sweet corn, tomatoes
• Additional Plants: trees

Practices

• Crop Production: cover crops, crop rotation, high tunnels or hoop houses, pollinator habitat
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
• Pest Management: biological control, biorational pesticides, botanical pesticides, cultural control, field monitoring/scouting, integrated pest management, prevention, row covers (for pests), sanitation, trap crops, traps

Unique characteristics of Utah’s geography and population base create critical needs for the development and adaptation of sustainable agriculture technologies. Utah is the 8th most urbanized state in the country, where more than 9 of every 10 Utahns live on just 1.1% of the state’s total area. The state is also the second-driest in the country, where most of its arable lands are at elevations of 2,500-6,000 ft., and depend on irrigation water derived from mountain snowmelt. Due to these challenges, the protection of natural resources and human safety demands the implementation of thoughtful and sustainable management approaches, and the Utah WSARE PDP Program is committed to fulfilling the professional development goals of SARE, particularly within specialty crops and forage and rangeland systems. Utah grows over 13,600 acres of fruits and vegetables, valued at $33 million, the majority of which (62%) are grown on farms less than 15 acres. Hay production (alfalfa and grass) comprises approximately 710,000 acres while range lands cover the majority of “wild” lands in the State (21.8 million acres). Forage and range lands systems are conducive to sustainable strategies (e.g., reduced tillage, cover crops, insect, disease, and weed issues, biological control opportunities). Professional training efforts and scholarships have helped Utah producers and ranchers overcome these challenges and implement sustainable agriculture practices.

There were three objectives for this proposal:

• Deliver training opportunities in sustainable agriculture.
• Provide opportunities for further training of agricultural professionals by awarding travel and event hosting scholarships.
• Promote WSARE grants and SARE publications and services.