Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development

Networking with Agencies

The monthly meetings of two Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the county are attended by the agent. Participating in these meetings gives the agent the opportunity to interact with county clientele that are on the board and be aware of producer activities and other agency events. The agent also participated in the Natural Resource Conservation Service work day to assist in prioritizing conservation practices to determine how federal money from the Farm Bill should be allocated for Chaves County. These activities further the impacts of the Extension Service by allowing networking with area agencies and individuals.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is a nationally sponsored hands-on learning activity to help youth in rural communities gain exposure to the potential dangers found in and around agriculture. This activity is targeted toward third grade students from Curry, Quay, Roosevelt, New Mexico and Parmer County, Texas and is held on an annual basis in the fall. Progressive Ag Safety Day is an outstanding demonstration of how multiple agencies come together in a region to plan and implement a program that has great educational and safety implications. Participating agencies are local Cooperative Extension Offices, Eastern New Mexico Rural Telephone Cooperative, Home Health Care Agencies, Local Fire and Police Departments, Curry County Farm and Livestock Bureau, New Mexico State Parks Department, McDonald’s, Farmer’s Electric, and the Curry County Health Department.

The safety day is designed with learning stations based on a variety of real life scenarios so that students can gain the knowledge of how to deal with a situation if it arises. Students are exposed to learning stations about fire safety, ATV safety, chemical look-a-likes, electrical safety, lawnmower safety, grain entrapment, water safety, firearm safety, and using 911. This agent is now a co-coordinator for this program and is responsible for overall program implementation and management. Typically 1,500 students, teachers, volunteers, and instructors participate in this two day event. The program has actually received national attention from other safety day coordinators because of its format. The Curry/Roosevelt Camp has the largest single day attendance of any program in the country. This is a major undertaking that would not be possible without cooperation and teamwork. Students that leave this program are aware of the potential dangers connected with agriculture and are better prepared to make intelligent decisions when emergencies arrive.

Although the majority of agriculture is forage related products, a large component of Valencia County’s agronomic profile is small farm or backyard gardening (less than 1 acre). Although often considered non-commercial producers, many of these individuals are beginning to sell their excess produce at local farmers markets, generating supplemental income from agriculture. Subsequently, information related to reducing risk, improving crop production and subsequent economic returns on small farm fruit and vegetable operations is increasingly requested, and handled by the agriculture agent on an individual basis. These topics include business planning, resource allocation, and effective cultural practices including but not limited to variety selection, crop diversification, disease and pest control, high-value crops, planting and harvesting dates, soil testing and amending, and effective irrigation.

In addition to small acreage produce farming, the extension agriculture agent has been involved in the development, feasibility, and implementation of high-value, low acreage alternative crops in the county. Technical assistance, field visits, NMSU lab services, and assistance in allocating grant funding were demonstrated at a local commercial hop farm, which experienced a successful harvest and significant success. A crop not known to be commericially grown in the state of New Mexico.

Personal contact from small farm fruit and vegetable producers accounts for approximately 10% of extension agent incoming phone calls, and clientele field and office visits.

When applied correctly the application of restricted use pesticides provides a reliable and cost-effective method of weed and pest control for agricultural producers. In 2009, Valencia CES Agriculture Programs provided CEU training required for license renewal to 24 local agricultural producers.

Valencia County agriculture is predominantly small farm (less than 50 acres) forage crop production. This results in a variety of plant and soil related questions, as well as requests for continuing education units required for NMDA private pesticide applicator license renewal. Forage crop educational programs, clientele interaction including field and office visits, phone calls, workshops, and weed, pest, and disease services account for approximately 20% of the extension agriculture agent’s work load. Additionally, 33 soil tests, 15 weed identifications, and 2 disease identifications were conducted over the past year.
As a result, a large program designated to meet the educational demands of local forage and irrigated pasture producers and managers was developed. In July 2009, over 70 producers attended the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop. The majority of attendees pleased with the quality of information provided, and reported high level (95%) of knowledge gained in agronomy that would be applied to improve their forage crop and/or irrigated pasture operation in Valencia County. Speakers included specialists from NMSU-CES, NMDA, and USDA-NRCS. Workshop evaluation indicated an overall strong desire for the continuation and/or development of similar programs in the County.
*Over 70% of the producers attending the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop on crop and pasture improvement reported they agreed (43%) or strongly agreed (47%) they gained an awareness of NMSU program and services offered through their county office.
* Approximately 93% of the producers attending the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop on crop and pasture improvement reported they agreed (45%) or strongly agreed (49%) they gained knowledge in the latest permanent pasture management and improvement practices and techniques.
* Roughly 88% of the producers attending the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop on crop and pasture improvement reported they agreed (41%) or strongly agreed (47%) they gained knowledge of annual forage crop production best suited for Valencia County by attending the session.
* At least 87% of the producers attending the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop on crop and pasture improvement reported they agreed (43%) or strongly agreed (44%) they gained knowledge of integrated pest management (IPM), beneficial insects, and proper pest management best suited for forage crops/irrigated pasture production in Valencia County by attending the session.
* Over 95% of the producers attending the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop on crop and pasture improvement reported they agreed (27%) or strongly agreed (68%) they gained knowledge in weed identification and control in forage crops/pasture production by attending the session.
* Over 79% of the producers attending the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop on crop and pasture improvement reported they agreed (37%) or strongly agreed (42%) they gained awareness of USDA conservation programs available to small farm producers and landowners.
* Approximately 95% of the producers attending the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop on crop and pasture improvement reported they agreed (46%) or strongly agreed (49%) they gained an awareness and knowledge of effective irrigation management in forage crops/pasture production
* Over 95% of attendees also reported gaining valuable knowledge in water conservation specific to flood irrigation and proper soil management by participating in the 1st Annual Valencia County Forage Workshop