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Impact Report

For plan Agriculture as Economic Development (Bernalillo County)
Date October 14, 2008, 8:57 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Activities Major activities included in this long-term major program include assisting, networking with, and participating in numerous groups involved in agricultural preservation throughout Bernalillo County. Agent is a member of the Mid-region Council of Governments Agricultural Collaborative and interacts regularly with local farmer’s market leadership, government officials, non-profit groups, and producers to help promote and preserve agriculture in the region. Presented to over 50 attendees a program showcasing New Mexico’s work on the new eXtension system. Worked as a planning committee member and help produce the first Food and Farm Festival that took place at the historic Hubell House in the South Valley. Work is currently in progress on developing a comprehensive agricultural mailing list in cooperation with the Mid-region Council of Governments. Agent is a member of the Governing Board of the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council. The council has been successful in developing policies that benefit both producers and consumers across the state. Examples include assessing New Mexico’s food gap; limiting the amount of "junk food" available to schoolchildren and replacing it with healthy alternatives; the Seniors Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program; the NM Tribal Extension Initiative and many others. Work is on going to implement some while others will require more time. Agent is coordinating a group of NMSU Faculty and community members that is investigating agricultural alternatives to urban development in the South Valley. This multi-year effort is design to allow key representatives of the community to develop their own set of priorities which will allow the planning process to begin. About 2 ˝ years ago Senator Linda Lopez of Albuquerque appropriated approximately $1millon over 2 years to NMSU to begin the project and purchase land to conduct programs. Work is on going to purchase and develop a Small Scale Agriculture Education Center in the South Valley of Bernalillo County. Planned and conducted two open houses to present the results of the discovery conferences that were conducted in the fall of 2007 by Rossana Alverez-Diemer. The conferences were conducted to gather data and prioritize goals of the South Valley community as they pertain to agriculture. The information is being used by the community to focus their efforts and it also resulted in a master’s thesis for one of Dr. Alverez-Diemer’s students. Consulted with Leeann DeMouche and Rhonda Skaggs and was included as a Co-PI on an USDA NRI grant proposal entitled “Improving Agricultural Water Conservation and Economic Returns in a Rapidly Growing, Peri-Urban, Multicultural, Traditional Farming Community” If funded the research will focus on water and agricultural issues in the SV. Results The Food and Farm Festival was a great success. Over 700 attendees learned from three extension educators and others about local food production, food preparation and safety, growing fruit and vegetables, and the important history of agriculture in the SV. As a result of the efforts described above Senator Lopez decided (on her own) that the Bernalillo County Extension Office should have more money to conduct programs in the SV. She appropriated $25,000.00 dollars to be used for that purpose. One benefit of the efforts described in these paragraphs that is very real but difficult to measure is the increased visibility and credibility of NMSU and the Bernalillo County Extension Service in the SV. People are realizing that Extension must be a part of any successful agricultural program. The following two projects are a direct result of our increased recognition. Was asked to be a cooperator on a grant application by the American Friends Network to USDA. If funded it will help three SV farmers develop hoop house systems that will enable them to provide salad greens year around to the Albuquerque Public Schools. Co-authored a grant proposal in cooperation with the Rio Grande Community Farm to the New Mexico Commission on Volunteerism for an Americorps/ Vista volunteer to conduct a needs assessment on labor and other needs of small scale farmers in Bernalillo County. The position was funded for a year and work begins in October of 2008.