We focus on the economic viability and environmental sustainability of urban and small farms in Utah, though much of our work can be applied outside of the state. Our goal is to share science-based information to promote long-term production and environmental stewardship, and meet our greatest farming challenges.
Associate Professor / Urban & Small Farms Extension Specialist
Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate Utah State University
Hi, I’m Dr. Melanie Stock, soil scientist and urban homesteader. My work focuses on high-value crops and resource-use efficiency to improve the environmental sustainability and economic viability of small farms. Here in my lab, we believe in the future of small farms through farm diversification and bringing simplicity, yet precision, management approaches. We conduct research and extension to help growers do their best work.
PhD, Soil Science, (Minor: Geological Engineering), 2018, University of Wisconsin - Madison.
MS, Soil Science, 2013, University of Wisconsin - Madison.
BA, Botany, Zoology, and Conservation Biology, 2008, University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Editor’s Choice Article Award, 2023, Horticulturae
Innovator Award, 2023, Utah State University Extension
Kenneth Post Award, 2022, Graduate research paper, American Society of Horticultural Science
Chair, 2020-21, SERA 45: Crop Diversification to Enhance the Viability of Small Farms, (Vice Chair 2019-20)
Research Chair, 2019 - Present, Utah Cut Flower Farm Association (UCFFA)
Invited Speaker, 2020 & 2023, Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG)
Invited Representative, 2019-20, Tenure Academy, Utah State University
DC Faculty Fellows, 2019, Utah State University
Nick is an MS student, who studies season extension, cultivars, and all other things production when it comes to delphinium and larkspur, while also working on USU’s IPM team. He’s also applying his expertise in production and extension to coproduce The Utah Cut Flower Production Guidebook!
Cambry is an MS student, who studies water management of dahlia to determine crop coefficients and response to deficit irrigation to provide water conservation recommendations for Utah’s most popular - and demanding - cut flower.
Olive came to our lab in late 2021 and we are so thankful! She was a leader from the start, from assisting grad students to running her own trials and overseeing farm maintenance…all as an undergraduate.
Theresa initially helped us in a pinch last fall with late stem and tuber harvests. She’s now training under Olive, to assist with our greenhouse, high tunnel, and field farm operation and crop management.
Amanda is our graphic designer and satellite technician, who develops imagery for fact sheets and runs our dahlia research in Salt Lake. She also own A Lavender Garden and has expertise in landscape design.
Ali is a flower farmer through and through, with a strong specialty in floral design for events - and now she’s also our technical writer for developing cut flower fact sheets! We love her industry perspective, endless tips and tricks, and encyclopedic knowledge of all things cuts.
Kellie is our lab editor and manages our project that creates The Utah Cut Flower Production Guidebook. She owns North Ogden Flower Farm and is starting her 5th year growing cut flowers. Her farm and family are her biggest joys. She has 13 years experience in Publishing and a MBA in Entrepreneurship.
Samikshya Pyakurel, 2023
Sami researched day vs. night sprinkler irrigation efficiency with a rigorous field water balance approach. Her results are shaking up our conservation recommendations.
Shannon Rauter, 2022
Shannon trialed anemone and ranunculus across high tunnel and field systems and evaluated pre-sprouting, planting dates, cultivars, and insulation with temperature dynamics that resulted in 3 academic articles and 8 Extension fact sheets!
Eli Oliver,
2022
Eli lead our dahlia fertility trial for nitrogen management and the urban soil sampling study for contaminants. After graduating with his MS in Soil Science in August 2022, he began his PhD at Clemson.
Melissa Chelinski, 2022
Melissa studied remediation of contaminated urban soils under Dr. Paul Grossl and we all teamed up as she led our fact sheets on management of trace elements and PAHs in the soil.
Maegen Lewis, 2021
Maegen’s passion for cut flowers helped establish the research program at USU. She trialed peony and snapdragon and graduated with her M.S. in Plant Science in 2021. She’s now USU Extension Faculty of Wasatch & Summit Counties!
Isaiah Williams, 2023
Ashley Betony, 2023
Heather Warner, 2023
Fatima Delagado, 2022
Anna Collins, 2021-22
Amelia Neumiller, 2020-21
Vivien Hansen, 2021
Kasey Battson, 2020-21
Tegan Durfee, 2019-20
Andelin Beishline, 2019
Maegen Lewis, 2019
Trevor Christensen, 2018-20
Interested in graduate school? We have excellent opportunities for self-motivated and dedicated students with a passion for plant and soil sciences. Research topics include cut flower crop production; season extension techniques; and the local management of nutrients, soil, water, and pests. Small Farms students also gain experience in Cooperative Extension by learning to transfer scientific findings into unbiased information that addresses critical and emerging challenges.
Qualifications include a BS relating to agriculture, previous research experience, and the ability to work both independently and within an interdisciplinary team.
