Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development

ALFALFA VARIETY TRIALS

The purpose of this project is to determine which Alfalfa varieties will produce the most tonnage per acre and also have less problems with diseases. Several Indian forage producers are testing two varities each as part of agricultural research project. Soil tests were done and will be repeated in the next growing season to check for any differences. Agent provided information on variety selection, seeding rates and irrigation requirements.

IRRIGATED PASTURES
Presentation on irrigated pastures to 10 Native American's in Jemez Pueblo. They were looking to get rid of Alfalfa crops due to lack of irrigation water but wanted an alternative crop to reduce feed costs and also to keep animals close to home. At present they graze in allotments without water so they felt with fuel prices being what they are they could reduce costs of transporting water for livestock.

SAN FELIPE HOOP HOUSE CONSTRUCTION
30 residents attended and participated in the construction of a hoop ohouse at San Felipe Pueblo. The purpose of the project was to provide a list of materials needed, estimated costs and to show the case of construction. Attendants were impressed with how the work was done and expressed to agent that they felt comfortable going home and building the same prototype.

PRUNING
Demonstrations on pruning are always in demand. there are many new residents that have started small orchards and want the knowledge to maintain their new trees.

CORRALES VEGETABLE LECTURE
Agent conducted a program on how to grow vegetables to 25 residents of Corrales. They have a good farmers market and many felt they could look for a crop that would have the potential for a niche crop they could sell.

AG BUSINESS COMMITTEE
Agent is a member of the middle Rio Grande Council of Governments AG Business Committee. Meetings are held every second Wednesday of the month. The purpose is to help establish markets for local grown food, food products and preservation of farm land.

Sandra Key Barraza has signed on to support Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development within Chaves County.

A new project undertaken in 2008 was to collect rainfall amounts and forage production data for the entire county. This agent was asked by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee to assist the Natural Resource Conservation Service in developing a better means of assessing the health of Roosevelt County grazing lands. This data will be used by the FSA County Committee to assist producers with grazing losses occurred during a given year. This agent feels this opportunity will greatly benefit county clientele and establish a useful database for future use.
The undertaking of this program has also allowed for the collaboration with the Water Resource Specialist based in Las Cruces to collect rainfall data for use with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) system. Data from our county will not only help Roosevelt County residents but also people across the southwestern U.S. This has allowed for a great deal of one on one communication with producers in the county to stay current on issues happening around the county.

This agent attends the monthly meetings held by the two Soil and Water Conservation Boards that are represented here in the county. By participating in these meetings this agent is more aware of other agency activity in the county as well as discussing current topics with county clientele. This agent also uses this opportunity to inform producers of upcoming Extension activities. This agent was asked to participate in a county work group day for 2008 by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). This basically serves as the advisory group that helps decide what issues are priorities and how monies should be allocated for Roosevelt County’s allotments from the farm bill. This was an outstanding opportunity for this agent to gain understanding of how the NRCS system works and to network with multiple agencies and county clientele.

Determining the needs of clientele is always challenging and can present numerous opportunities. This agent was provided the opportunity to add a GPS guidance system program to the 2008 Ag Expo. Guidance systems are becoming more popular with farmers and provide greater potential for resource management. This program was well received and this agent received numerous comments that the program was timely and provided relevant information to those in attendance.