University Farm or University Agricultural Laboratory (UAL)

The 1000 acre (405 hectare) university farm (UAL) is an integral part of teaching and research in the Department of Plant Science. Located on the university campus, the farm consists of 80 acres (32 ha) of vegetables, 250 acres (100 ha) of field crops, 200 acres (80 ha) orchard, 150 acres (60 ha) of vineyard along with a commercially-bonded winery, a greenhouse and nursery facility, a separate unit for organic agriculture, and animal production facilities. A wide range of crops are grown on the UAL, reflecting the diversity of California Agriculture: these include most stone fruits, nuts, citrus, vegetables, grains, cotton, forages, and nursery and ornamental plants. In addition to teaching activities on the farm, faculty and graduate student research is conducted on the UAL. The department also has close ties to local farms in the San Joaquin Valley and some thesis research projects are conducted on these commercial farms, or in research plots belonging to the University of California Kearney Agricultural Center or the USDA-ARS research unit, both located 30-40 minutes from the Fresno State campus.