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 | Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development (Sandoval County) |
| Date | September 27, 2007, 2:49 pm |
| For Objective | Short-term Show short-term objectives |
| Impact Report | ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE - ISSUE Alfalfa or grass hay is produced on more than 70% of the irrigated agricultural lands in Sandoval County. The lack of alternative crops limits producers options when hay prices fall or rain damage occurs. This situation is compounded by costs to purchase property. Because the wine industry is a fast growing industry, Sandoval County producers and many wanting to do something with non agricultural lands attended a workshop held in Bernalillo. 78 residents attended the workshop on how to grow grapes, how marketing contracts work and soil fertility issues. There has been an increase of approximately 100 acres planted in grapes this past year. This is a 40 percent increase over the previous year. Retail value of wine produced is predicted at over $300,000 from this increase in vineyards. With the assistance of the fruit specialist at New Mexico State University and publications by extension, we have seen an increase in raspberry and blackberry production. One producer has gone on to produce an organic value added jam that is sold nationally. |