Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Impact Report

For plan Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Otero County)
Date October 23, 2009, 8:44 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Otero County CES Advisory Committee The Otero County Agricultural Agent, along with the County 4-H, and 4-H Home Economist/County Director met with our 17 member (8 agricultural members) Advisory Committee. After introductions and sharing of general information that would be of value to all members, we broke into groups according to our County appointments. After a brief update of the Agricultural Agents work of the past year, members discussed with one another and gave their suggestions to the Agricultural Agent on issues they perceived were not being addressed or could be improved upon. An advisory Committee member, and local cattle grower felt there was a great need for the education of people moving into the area from urban locations who are having extreme difficulty with basic livestock issues like fencing, predators, feeding, worming and vaccination programs, etc.; basic gardening; fruit and nut trees, and growing of pasture and forage. He thought it necessary and prudent that the County Agricultural Agent set up some educational programs for these people. In response, the county agricultural agent: 1) in conjunction with the Lincoln County Agricultural Agent, NMSU specialists, and Otero Master Gardeners presented a six hour “High Altitude Gardening” program at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Capitan. 2) presented a “Gardening in Otero County” program to the Sertoma Club. 3) Informed and encouraged local cattle growers and all interested persons to attend the “Bovine Trichomoniasis” program presented by Woods Houghton, John Wenzel, and others in Hope, NM. 4) advertised and presented the Pecan Growers Field Day, 5) advertized and presented the Pistachio Growers Workshop 6) Gave out packets of NMSU publications on gardening, watering, fertilizing, starting home poultry flocks, edible Native Plant ornamentals, etc. to visitors to the extension office saying they were new to the state and wanted information on growing, or livestock, or poultry, etc. Another advisory member, local cattle grower, fair board member, and businessman felt the Agricultural Agent needed to better advertise the services available from the County Extension Service office through radio, newspaper advertisement, information website, and newsletter. In response, the agricultural agent provided a live interview in late June informing the public of the services available at the Otero Cooperative Extension office from the Home Economics program, the ICAN program, the 4-H program, and the Agricultural program going into detail about the upcoming Farmer’s Market, Master Gardener’s classes, Pecan Growers Field Day, Pistachio Growers Workshop, and the vast amount of free information available at the Cooperative Extension Office. In addition Otero Master Gardener Bev Eckman-Onyshow is a free lance journalist and wrote several articles publicizing the Otero CES services in general, the Master Gardener’s program, the Farmer’s Market, and various 4-H and Home Economics programs. Farmers’ Market growers had just been told (before our last advisory committee meeting) by the Environmental Department that they could not sell prepared foods without those foods being prepared in a certified inspected kitchen and their possession of a license that accompanied that certification. Advisory Committee member growers therefore were interested in the possibilities of acquiring a grant to build a community kitchen for the use of those people selling prepared foods at Farmers’ Market. In response, the Agricultural Agent spoke with NMSU Foods Specialist Nancy Flores, the Environmental Department, the New Mexico Farmers Market, and the Otero County Director on the feasibility, benefits, and drawbacks associated with a community kitchen. The agent reported back to the members that such an endeavor would require a group or individuals willing to take on the administration of the kitchen. As of yet such a group has not been identified. However, the recent rule change by the Environment Department was happily received by our growers and should hopefully take care of this issue.