Desert Farming Initiative

The mission of the Desert Farming Initiative is to strengthen sustainable agriculture and food systems in Nevada while researching and demonstrating best practices that can be replicated in other high desert climates. The Initiative is a part of the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources and is funded by College’s Experiment Station. Learn more at the Desert Farming Initiative’s website.

The Initiative, located at the Experiment Station’s Valley Road Field Lab in Reno, relies on community support to maintain and expand our services. Gifts to the Desert Farming Initiative will help us fund our current priorities:

Applied learning opportunities – support student employment and internships, as well as AmeriCorps positions.

Farm equipment – help the Initiative update equipment so that the farm can further demonstrate cutting edge sustainable agricultural practices.

Food security – fund an increase in fresh organic produce deliveries to food pantries on campus and in greater Reno, a particularly important endeavor given the economic impacts associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic.

For more information on this fund or giving to the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, please contact Christina Sarman, Executive Director of Development at (775)784-6009 or christinas@unr.edu.

Thank you for considering making a charitable gift. We have a $5,000 limit per credit card transaction as we strive to keep our fees low in order to realize the full charitable gift for the program. If you wish to make a larger gift, please consider setting up an EFT, utilizing a wire transfer or mailing a check so that the program can realize the entire amount of your gift.