Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development

Several wheat producers were assisted with consultation from Extension Agronomist for identifying freeze damage in their wheat fields. All were able to gain knowledge needed to make effective decisions for their wheat crop.

Crazy About Corn program was presented to all fourth grade students at the Clovis Kids, Kows and More program over a two day period. 1081 youth, teachers and volunteers from Curry, Roosevelt and Parmer County Texas were provided an educational program on the history, growing maize crops and a fun game identifying products using corn based products. Near 100% of participants gained a valuable appreciation for where their food comes from, and a knowledge of the large base of products using corn grown by local producers. Participants could confidently identify products containing corn after completion.

1070 Crop Production
San Juan County has 144,510 acres of irrigated crop land on 641 farms with total gross receipts of 43,633,000 per year. Alfalfa is the largest crop acreage in the county followed by corn, wheat, oats, irrigated pasture and vegetable crops. Profitability from these important crops can be increased through the adoption of good production and management practices which enhance both yield and quantity. It is important that producers use sound environmentally safe production techniques to insure a safe food supply.
The following educational seminars, demonstration projects and activities were conducted in order to meet the goals of adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
Alfalfa Market News
Alfalfa Market News is a bi-weekly publication put out by the NMSU Extension Service and is mailed to subscribers in the Western United States. Bi-weekly reports were submitted during the growing season for the Alfalfa Market News. This was done by polling area producers for information on price, quality, quantity, insect damage, and market activity.

Four (4) San Juan Agricultural Newsletters were written and mailed to over 650 area producers. These Newsletters were used to inform producers of educational activities, cost share programs and educational materials available to producers in San Juan County.

Four Corner’s Weed Symposium
Eighty-five area producers and weed managers attended the all-day Four Corner’s Weed Symposium on March 8, 2007. The Program consisted of the following topics and agenda:
8:30 Registration
9:00 Tamarisk & Russian Olive Control (One Applicator Credit-Category 103- Agriculture Weed Control)—Gary Hathorn
10:00 Break
10:15 Comparison of Traditional and Alternative Methods to Control Noxious Weeds (One Applicator Credit-Category 111- Research and Demonstration)—Dr. Beth LaShell
11:15 Update on Changes for Private Pesticide Applicators (History Implementation and the WPS) —Matthew Lopez- Steve Baca
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Pesticides and Environmental Protection (One Core Applicator Credit for Environmental Protection)—Dr. Sandra K. McDoanld
1:30 Pesticides and Applicator Safety (One Core Applicator Credit for Applicator Safety)—Dr. Sandra K. McDonald
2:00 New Chemicals for Rangeland and Pasture with Milestone Update (One Applicator Credit for Category 107—Rangeland Pest Control)—Dr. Scott Nissen
3:00 Evaluations

Bureau of Land Management Pesticide Applicator Training

Sixteen commercial applicators attended a three-hour training on Weed I.D. and Management to enable them to apply chemical on the over 1,000,000 acres of BLM Land in the County,

Agenda

9:00 Introduction & Update on Weed Programs in San Juan Basin
Russian Olive/Salt Cedar Coalition, SJSWCD, Cooperative Extension
Program with SJ Farm & Ranch Improvement Board

9:15 Weed ID & Management (Eddy Williams)
Thistles (Musk, Scotch, Bull, Canada)
Black Henbane
Hoary Cress, Perennial Pepperweed
Leafy Spurge
Halogeton

10:15 Weed ID & Management (Gary Hathorn)
Knapweeds (Russian, Spotted, Diffuse)
Camelthorn
Yellow & Dalmation Toadflax
Yellow Starthistle
Russian Olive/Salt Cedar
Others- Malta Starthistle, African Rue, Oxeye Daisy etc.

11:30 Question & Answer Session

San Juan County Field Crop Variety and Fertilization Recommendations publication written by this Agent was revised in order to provide the latest and most up-to-date information for producers. This publication is an eleven-page publication containing crop and variety seeding rates, planting dates, and fertilization and herbicide recommendations. This information is updated each year to present a current research-based information source to the public. These are distributed through San Juan County Extension Service, five area feed stores, and three farm equipment centers.

Pesticide Safety and the Use of Chemicals Interventions
Three years ago a survey was completed on the Shiprock Agency dealing with Agricultural Injuries where 197 producers were surveyed. These surveys were tallied and results presented to a stakeholder group made up of producers and agriculture leaders in the community. From these results the stakeholder group identified three main thrusts that needed interventions for agriculture injury. These were Chemicals and Their Uses, Livestock Handling Safety, and Canal Safety.
Pesticide safety and the use of chemicals for pest management on the Navajo Nation were selected for in-depth evaluation of programs.
From this work a grant was written entitled Model Farmer Dissemination to further this work. This grant was written in Partnership with the University of New Mexico Medical Research and was funded for 5 years for $1,000,000.00. The Proposal is through the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and was ranked number one in the Nation for funding after its review.

No progress was made toward this POW during this first year.

*The agent worked with the local NRCS and Farm Service Agency to host a Crop Producers workshop in March, 2007. The agent relied on the expertise of area and state-wide Extension professionals to educate producers in a variety of crop production suject matter including: Weed Control in Alfalfa, Gopher Control in Irrigated Pastures, Aphid Control in Alfalfa and Other Irrigated Crops, Water Management, Hay Transportation Regulations and Alternative Cropping. 39 individuals attended the local seminar. All program evaluations indicated an increase in knowledge by all participants regarding suject matter discussed. Participants were offered Pesticide Applicators CEU's if needed.
*The agent compiled two seasonal Producers Agriculture Producer newsletters that were sent out to County producers in March and in August. The crop producer list is cross-referenced with the livestock producer list, since many are one in the same. Subject matter included educational information on soil testing and preparation for spring planting and work, pertinent wheat and alfalfa trials, Managing last cuts in Alfalfa, etc. 15% of the total mailing clientele who the agent has visited with have found the newsletters interesting and the information of useful.