USU organic farm opening
It is a new idea and the project is just beginning, but the USU organic farm is going to be a place for students to learn about crops, research and to work together, said Daniel Drost, Utah’s extension vegetable specialist. Drost’s initial plan was to have three things happen, he said. First, he wanted to hire someone with a background in organic farming he said. Jennifer Reeve was hired and brought on the USU faculty. Reeve is teaching a class this semester about the fundamentals of organic farming. Reeve received her bachelor’s in ecology from the U.K. University of Sheffield. She then received her master’s and doctorate in soil sciences from Washington State University. Teaching at USU is her first faculty position.
Second, Drost said there needed to be land for organic farming and research. In response to his request, the university provided a 5-acre plot of its research land.The plot is located in North Logan. One of the first goals is to certify the land so it becomes an organic plot.
Lastly, Drost said, there needs to be instruction and learning.
“What we envision is having the students participate in the planning and production process. I could sit down and do it myself, but I don’t think that’s a good way to learn,” he said. “We want student input. We want to search out students who want to be involved.”
Students need to learn how to prepare the field, he said. Students will decide on rotation rates and plots. Getting the youth involved through school is key, he said
“If we ever want to see a change happen, we need the youth to care,” Drost said. “They need to care about conservation, maintaining agriculture, organics and supporting the local farmer.” Reeve said she envisions the organic farm becoming a self-sustaining project. She said hopefully it will eventually make enough money to allow them to offer a full-credit internship and create a space for research and thesis projects. Also, she said ideally the produce will be sold in a type of student farmers market and perhaps to the different food services on campus.
Some day, Drost said they hope to see a full-functioning facility on the farm, a building where students can come to work and learn. He said he hopes it will become a place to not only learn and instruct but also to have fun and socialize. The biggest challenge at this point is going to be funding, he said. Students are enthusiastic, but the dollars aren’t there to do everything wanted right now, Drost said. He said he would like to have a facility and be able to have everything to make it a fully functioning operation.
Together, Drost and Reeve hope to educate students interested in organic farming.
Research will include things such as compost amount and exchange rates, crop conversion strategies and cover crop strategies. Anyone interested in volunteering and becoming a part of USU’s organic farm can attend a meeting at 2 p.m. Friday in the Agricultural Science building in Room 315.
-n.drue.t@aggiemail.usu.edu