In Utah, the minimum acreage for urban farms is now just one acre. To sustainably farm at that scale, growers must target premium high-value crops that are locally adapted and use focused management to maximize returns. We emphasize crops that optimize net returns per square foot and resource-use efficiency to tighten the bottom line and help small farms - and the environment - thrive.
Cut flowers are one of the highest-value crops and exceptionally profitable with minimal land investment. However, Utah’s high-elevation, semi-arid climate, soil quality, and water quantity add unique challenges. Our research investigates every aspect of outdoor production - from the basics (planting dates, cultivar selection, nutrient management, and irrigation) to advanced approaches (timing bloom, extending harvest, protected cultivation), and market data for enterprise budgets. We also work closely with the USU Plant Pathology Lab on pest and disease ID and research.
Minimalism meets farming. Focused management of resources maximizes returns and helps protect the environment. To bring precision agriculture to urban and small farms, we study all things nutrients and water. Our research includes the timing of irrigation scheduling, defining and refining irrigation rates, soil fertility evaluation, and water conservation approaches for less traditional and high-impact crops. We also incorporate animal agriculture when possible to support closed-system farming.
Urban agriculture is undergoing a renaissance, but farmers and gardeners face significant challenges - particularly growing food on marginalized, urban land that has a (often unknown) history of contamination. We conduct soil surveys to determine key risks and develop urban soil test packages that are straightforward for Utahns to request, understand, and use to implement change. Read our open-access paper here and browse our soil fact sheets for recommendations to the public.
Winter squash have a long storage life that can increase access to nutrient dense food in fall and winter. In 2020 - 2023, we teamed up with Louisiana State University, the Ohio State University, Purdue, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, and West Virginia University to test kabocha, other C. maxima, and acorn varieties across states and determine yield and long-term storability.
Dahlia: irrigation
Dahlias are one of the most sought-after local flowers, but appear to have a high water demand (rates are not known). Harvest also tends to be delayed when there’s not enough water. To find the sweet spot, we are conducting a water balance to determine ET, crop coefficients, and yield response to restricted irrigation. New for 2023.
Larkspur + Delphinium: protected cultivation
We are testing production of both crops in high tunnels and open-field systems, with and without the use of shade, and across planting dates and cultivars. New for 2023.
Warm-season annuals: drought restriction
These 6, potentially low-water crops are put to the test: Statice, Dianthus, Cosmos, Gomphrena, Strawflower, and Centaurea. We limited irrigation to <1.5” per week in our high tunnels and field to assess planting timing, cultivars, shade, and wool mulch on yield with restricted water. New for 2023.
Dahlia: fertility + disease
We develop nutrient management recommendations for cut flowers. Starting with dahlia, we conducted trials across the Wasatch Front. In the process, we teamed up with Dr. Nischwitz, USU’s Plant Pathologist, to also work on disease.
Urban soil contamination
Urban farming is important to the Wasatch Front, but can occur on lands with a legacy of trace element and hydrocarbon contamination. We partnered with urban farms and community gardens to conduct in-depth soil surveys of contaminants and develop recommendations.
Peony: predict + extend bloom
Locally-produced peonies are high-demand and premium-priced, but bloom naturally occurs after key spring holiday markets in Utah. We tested six methods to advance and stagger bloom, and manipulate response to air and soil temperature.
Ranunculus:
overwintering
We found traditional recommendations didn’t fit the needs - or limits - of Northern Utah, through testing winter and spring plantings, pre-sprouted vs direct-planted corms, high and low tunnels, winter insulation, and shade techniques.
Anemone: high-elevation timing, yield, and quality
This research extends the narrow window of optimal temperatures in Northern Utah by investigating pre-sprouting, planting dates, cultivars, and protected cultivation methods.
Snapdragon: timing + tunnels
We pushed transplant dates with group numbers in high tunnel and field production systems, with pruning and spacing techniques to optimize yield and quality at high-elevation.
High tunnel soil temperature
Soil temperature in high tunnels is a complex topic, from differences in natural microclimate, to heating efficiency, to wintertime dynamics. The Production Horticulture Team is pooling our perennial crop trials together to monitor and model the underlying soil properties and processes that drive our season extension practices. In preparation.
Urban irrigation timing
We put nighttime irrigation to the test to determine if it, indeed, was more efficient than daytime irrigation. We used a water-energy balance approach and quantified the biophysical mechanisms that control day versus night irrigation efficiency. In preparation.
Multi-state collaborations
Each year, we team up with other universities across the U.S. that are dedicated to small farm diversification and production. This year we tested ten varieties of kabocha squash and measured yield and storability. In preparation.
My applied research program targets premium high-value crop production and resource use efficiency to improve the economic viability and environmental sustainability of small farms, and advance science. Through this, cut flowers are a premium, high-value crop (net returns are up to 18 times greater than traditional high-value crops, like tomatoes), but production information is lacking at every level for both local and national needs. Therefore, I merged my background in soil science with new interdisciplinary collaborations to develop a comprehensive research program that benefits urban and small farms.
