DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire has been ranked No. 12 in a rating of the best college farms in the nation. The ranking by College Rank evaluated college farms on student integration with sustainability factors, community programming, and courses available at the university or college farm, not just in the classroom.

“Farming in America provides nearly 10 percent of jobs in the United States. University farming and agricultural programs allow students to gain invaluable experience before leaving to start their careers,” said Monica Dennis of College Rank. “Hands-on learning offers students the opportunity to learn how large functioning farms work, both in agriculture and animal management and care.”

In particular, UNH was noted for providing students a real-world setting to learn about dairy farming, horticulture, agronomy, and greenhouse production. UNH has two horticulture and agronomy farms, a New England Holstein dairy, an organic dairy farm, and greenhouses. All facilities are centered on research, teaching, and outreach, and are part of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, UNH’s first research center founded in 1887.

“The quality of our facilities, and the underlying dedication of our farm and greenhouse staff to our faculty, students, and stakeholders is tremendous,” said Jon Wraith, director of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station and dean of the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. “Our research farms and greenhouses provide experiential learning opportunities to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students every year. They also offer our faculty and students the necessary capacity to conduct research that has a positive impact on the bottom line for the agriculture, forest products, and related natural resources industries, and to relay that information to our stakeholders.”

Founded in 1887, the NH Agricultural Experiment Station at the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is UNH’s original research center and an elemental component of New Hampshire's land-grant university heritage and mission.