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.
Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development (San Juan County)
Plan Goals
Improve the sustainability and production potential of agronomic crops and improved pastures in order to improve the soil tilth, yield capability, crop or forage quality as well as the economic and environmental benefits to the land users.
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Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development
Impact Reports
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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.
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.
Gary Hathorn has signed on to support Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development within San Juan County.
Long term objective:
• The long term objective is to improve the life style and structure of the producer and his family by providing more efficient means of creating income and sustainability on specific farm sites.
• Collect information on sustainability for various regions of New Mexico to help both small as well as large and medium sized operations to fit into the economic future of the state.
• To introduce new technology for ease and economics to the producer by showing how simple soil and water testing can optimize his operational needs to provide a better lifestyle for his family and himself.
• To work as a change agent in offering alternatives to current operations that are struggling with sustainability by seeking a better fit enterprise or method to farming and ranching that will help in minimizing input costs and optimizing gains in economics, soil tilth, operational efficiency and time spent in running the whole farm operation.
• The long term objective is to improve the life style and structure of the producer and his family by providing more efficient means of creating income and sustainability on specific farm sites.
• Collect information on sustainability for various regions of New Mexico to help both small as well as large and medium sized operations to fit into the economic future of the state.
• To introduce new technology for ease and economics to the producer by showing how simple soil and water testing can optimize his operational needs to provide a better lifestyle for his family and himself.
• To work as a change agent in offering alternatives to current operations that are struggling with sustainability by seeking a better fit enterprise or method to farming and ranching that will help in minimizing input costs and optimizing gains in economics, soil tilth, operational efficiency and time spent in running the whole farm operation.
Medium term objective:
* After participation in the whole farm programming within this objective, the producer should be able to identify not only improvements in his operation, but also how rotations over multiple years can benefit the sustainability of his operations.
• Pasture improvement programming will insure less New Mexican land is erodible to wind damage and thus will improve the soil tilth by maintaining better water holding capacity, using nutrients more efficiently and choosing better fitted crops and pasture forages for the site.
• By working with clients over a season, the producers understanding of the use of total cropping inputs and cost-benefits will be increased by 20% and the appreciation of soil improvements will increase by 40%.
* After participation in the whole farm programming within this objective, the producer should be able to identify not only improvements in his operation, but also how rotations over multiple years can benefit the sustainability of his operations.
• Pasture improvement programming will insure less New Mexican land is erodible to wind damage and thus will improve the soil tilth by maintaining better water holding capacity, using nutrients more efficiently and choosing better fitted crops and pasture forages for the site.
• By working with clients over a season, the producers understanding of the use of total cropping inputs and cost-benefits will be increased by 20% and the appreciation of soil improvements will increase by 40%.
Short term objective:
• To facilitate a better working relationship with clients in the state by fulfilling the need to provide educational and innovative information to the client.
• To help in constructing a better whole farm operation in order to improve the client’s lifestyle and sustainability of his land.
• To determine the best fit operations and varieties to utilize in various regions of the state and counties.
• To improve overall cost constraints so that the farming operation or pasture enterprise will fulfill the needs of the client and his family and operation.
• To facilitate a better working relationship with clients in the state by fulfilling the need to provide educational and innovative information to the client.
• To help in constructing a better whole farm operation in order to improve the client’s lifestyle and sustainability of his land.
• To determine the best fit operations and varieties to utilize in various regions of the state and counties.
• To improve overall cost constraints so that the farming operation or pasture enterprise will fulfill the needs of the client and his family and operation.
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