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Supporting the Lake and the Land – A Deseret News Article

The health of the Great Salt Lake and the vitality of Utah’s agricultural community are inextricably linked, and we are using solutions that support both.


Recent studies that single out agriculture — particularly alfalfa farming — as the primary cause of the Great Salt Lake’s decline are counterproductive, as they create a false dichotomy, pitting the lake against agriculture. This approach ignores the reality that farmers are essential partners in finding sustainable solutions, and their water and land stewardship are vital to a thriving environment.

When the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan was developed, it kept in mind all water users and everyone who is impacted by the lake. That includes every Utahn in some way. That means it will require participation from every Utahn to help save the lake. It cannot fall on one industry, agency, business or person. Protecting and preserving the lake is a tall order and requires us to come together for solutions.

Read full article here.


A Utah Specialty Crop Grant Recipient

Amita Kaundel, a 2023 Utah Specialty Crop Grant recipient and professor at Utah State University, along with her team, is conducting research to improve the health of native plants and promote water-efficient farming and landscaping.

In this project, Amita and her team are working to isolate nitrogen-fixing actinobacteria, Frankia, from the root nodules of two native plants: Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus) and Shepherdia utahensis ‘Torrey’ (hybrid buffaloberry). These plants are not only ideal for water-efficient landscaping but also provide a sustainable solution by fixing nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Through their research, the team has been isolating Frankia from the nodules using innovative techniques like filtration and ultracentrifugation. While Frankia is challenging to culture due to its slow growth and specific nutrient needs, they’re refining their methods and testing new media to identify the best strains for these plants.

Learn more about the Utah Specialty Crop Block Grant program: https://ag.utah.gov/specialty-crop-block-grant-program/


UDAF Appoints New State Veterinarian

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is announcing the  appointment of a new state veterinarian, Dr. Amanda Price, effective immediately.


“Dr. Price has been a great asset to UDAF and the agriculture producers in the state of Utah for  the last five years as assistant state veterinarian, and we are excited for her to take on the  responsibilities of the state veterinarian moving forward.” said Craig Buttars, UDAF Commissioner.

Dr. Price received her BS of animal science, MS of animal science, and Doctor of Vet Medicine  from UC Davis with her focus being in studying food animals. Before working for the  department, Dr. Price worked for the largest food animal vet clinic in the United States, Lander  Veterinary Clinic in Turlock, CA for 13 years. She has brought that knowledge and experience to  UDAF as she has worked as assistant state veterinarian.


“I look forward to continuing to work with the agriculture producers in Utah,” said Dr. Price. “I have found that the most important part of this job is not only to protect the animals, but to build relationships with the farmers and ranchers and earn their trust so we can better serve them and the agriculture and food industry as a whole.”

Dr. Price intends to focus on disease outbreak preparedness and response, outreach and  education, and streamlining paperwork and registrations required by the department. 

For more information on the role of the state veterinarian, visit the Animal Health Program page on the UDAF website.


UDAF Announces Business Builder Award Grants

UPDATE: Utah Business Builder Grant application date has been extended through February 26, 2025!


The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food in collaboration with Utah State University Extension is pleased to announce the availability of $600,000 in Business Builder Award grants available through the Southwest Regional Food Business Center. Applications are being accepted now through February 26, 2025.


“The Business Builder Award grants are a great opportunity for Utah’s food business entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and we are excited to help facilitate these grants.” said Craig Buttars, UDAF Commissioner.

The purpose of the Business Builder Award grants is to strengthen the resilience, diversity, and competitiveness of local and regional food systems by expanding opportunities for food businesses throughout Utah. This program will award $600,000 in competitive awards and $80,000 in technical-assistance-linked direct support awards between 2025-2027.


“We’re excited to partner with the Southwest Regional Food Business Center to provide this funding opportunity and hope it allows Utah food and farm businesses to experience real growth.” said Dr. Karin Allen, Extension Food Quality and Entrepreneurship Specialist at Utah State University.

Priority areas of focus have been identified to ensure the needs of Utah’s food supply chain are met through these grants. Projects with the following criteria will be given priority:

  •  Projects related to the production of value-added agricultural products, especially those that diversify current business practices. This includes, but is not limited to, expanding agritourism opportunities, new or expanded processing capacities (e.g. bottling of fruits and acidified foods), and meat processing (e.g. frozen meats and jerky).

  • Projects increasing the availability of storage, especially cold storage facilities, for fresh produce and refrigerated processed foods.

  • Projects that are located in or directly benefit:

The application deadline for the Business Builder grants is February 14, 2025. For more information contact Kaylan Burns at [email protected]. To access the online application, visit swfoodbiz.org/business-builder-ut.


Agricultural Water Optimization Applications Now Open

The Agricultural Water Optimization Program is pleased to announce that the FY2025 application period is now open through February 28, 2025, at 5:00 pm MST.  The Agricultural Water Optimization Program provides grants to help agricultural producers optimize their water use to create water resiliency in Utah.

This will be a $30,000,000 funding opportunity and it is anticipated that $15,000,000 will be awarded to On-Farm projects and $15,000,000 will be awarded to Canal/Irrigation Company projects.  All applicants interested in grant funds must complete a pre-consultation with the Utah Division of Water Rights to determine if the proposed project may have saved water.

For more information or to apply for funding please click here.

If you have questions please send an email to [email protected]


Learn more about the Agricultural Water Optimization program here: