The Farmington Agricultural Science Center is within a semi-arid environment.

Of the 254 acres comprising the Agricultural Science Center, 170 acres are under cultivation. Over 100 crops have been grown on the Center, since its inception in 1966. Many crops, which produce well in northwestern New Mexico, are not grown in the area because of market prices at the time of harvest, high distribution costs, personnel unfamiliar with production practices, and other factors. Currently, the research plots are irrigated via center pivots, solid set, side roll, and surface drip irrigation systems. Historically, irrigation systems also included flood but it was impractical for the Center’s sandy soils.