To plan, implement, and conduct research and outreach programs to address the needs of Western Colorado agriculture. The Fruita site is an 80 acre property 15 miles northwest of Grand Junction. Site elevation is 4510 feet, average precipitation is slightly more than 8 inches, with an annual frost-free growing season of up to 175 days. The primary soil types are Billings silty clay loam and Youngston clay loams.
Irrigation is by way of gated pipe and furrows with ditch water from the Colorado River.
A comprehensive range of agronomic equipment is based at the site. It lies at an elevation of 4,750 feet with Mesa clay loam and Hinman clay loam soil types. While the frost-free growing season averages 182 days, spring frost damage is frequent enough to be a production problem. Irrigation is by mini-sprinkler and gated pipe systems supplied by ditch water from the Colorado River. Facilities at the Orchard Mesa Center include an office-laboratory building with separate labs for entomology, plant pathology and horticulture research.