Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
The New Mexico State Development Program will provide training in sustainable agriculture concepts geared towards production and IPM-based pest management in our arid environment, information on new crops and management strategies to expand markets and economic opportunities, increase clientele success and sustainability, an engage community participants towards enriching the quality of life for New Mexicans. Educational trainings will be provided through the annual NM Sustainable Agriculture Conferences and support of existing trainings and workshops based on relevant topics of sustainable practices such as increased agronomic production and crop quality, soil health and stability, improved water usage and natural resource stewardship, forage varieties and selection, rangeland livestock and sustainable land management practices, and IPM-based pest management and identification practices to name a few. Training and workshop locations will be chosen based on nearby proximity to outside in-person hands-on training opportunities for participants such as NMSU ag science centers, producer/rancher properties, public and tribal lands or facilities. In addition to the annual NM Sustainable Agriculture Conference this program will help to support existing conferences focused on trainings and education in sustainable agriculture programs and practices to further enhance the impacts, inclusivity, and reach of essential educational programming for New Mexicans.
Project objectives from proposal:
The objective of this project is to present training modules in key sustainable agriculture and range topics critical for producers, farmers, ranchers, and land managers in New Mexico including:
-Measuring and building healthy soil in arid climates / field demonstrations in taking soil samples, measuring soil quality, cover crop options, and soil amendment options.
-Options for maximizing irrigation efficiency in arid land agriculture / field overview and demonstrations of improved irrigation technology and usage in a limiting semi-arid environmental capacity as a limited resource.
-Improved integrated pest management limiting chemical inputs / field demonstrations of weed, disease, and insect pest identification, how to identify insect and weed pests as well as diagnose diseases and disorders in situ.
-Improved crop varieties to expand marketing opportunities and enhance quality of life for local and underserved producers / field tour of developing varieties and specialty crop demonstrations in production at local producer farms and fields as well as NMSU Agriculture Science Centers.
-Options for improved forage varieties and land usage / field demonstrations of better management practices, irrigation procedures and conservation, and application of land conservation systems such as crop rotations and reduced tillage.