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Crop Production Improvement and Water Conservation in Eastern New Mexico (Curry County)

Plan Goal

To identify improved forage production systems for dairy silage operations that reduce water consumption, while maintaining milk profitability.

Situation Statement

Agriculture is the foundation for economic stability on the High Plains of eastern New Mexico. While comprising only 30% of the state’s total land area, the counties of Chaves, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Guadalupe, Harding, Lea, Quay, Roosevelt, and Union account for over $1.2 billion annually (60% of all agricultural cash receipts; New Mexico Agricultural Statistics, 2002; 1997 Census of Agriculture). Curry County alone accounted for over $270 million in cash receipts of farm commodities in 2002. Eastern New Mexico is considered semi-arid and precipitation is limited and quite variable. Average annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 20 inches and rainfall during the growing season often is not enough for profitable crop production. Evaporation exceeds precipitation by greater than 5 times in many areas. Subsequently, agricultural production and the maintenance of rural economies in the region depend largely on irrigation from groundwater supplied from the Ogallala Aquifer. Water is extracted from the aquifer in large amounts each year to irrigate such crops as grain sorghum, grain and forage corn, cotton, wheat, peanuts, and alfalfa. About 70% of the water depletions in New Mexico are attributed to irrigated agriculture (New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, 2000). In Curry and Roosevelt Counties, almost 95% (> 340,000 acre-feet) of the water taken from the Ogallala Aquifer is used for irrigation purposes. There is a general concern that the water in the aquifer, which is extracted at much higher rates than the amounts returned through recharge, is in danger of being depleted and that we will lose this natural resource forever. Because water levels in the aquifer are not uniformly distributed, some areas have experienced drying of wells and have been forced to convert from irrigated crop production to dryland endeavors. Increasing costs of fuel and pumping expenses have contributed to the difficulty of extracting water for irrigation. In short, prevailing agricultural practices and water use are not sustainable, neither resourcefully nor economically. Statistics and projections concerning water quantity indicate the urgency of water use conservation and improved management practices in the Southern High Plains region. Many anticipate that the majority of water usage will shift from agriculture to municipal consumption as human populations increase, particularly in the dry areas of the western U.S. With reduced amounts of irrigation water available to producers, it is imperative that maximum water-use efficiency be achieved and water-use efficient crops be grown in order for farmers to maintain a level of productivity necessary for continued feed and food supply. There is a great need for alternative, water-conserving crops in the area and for information on the management of these crops for maximum efficiency and profitability. Corn (Zea mays L.) is the predominant silage of choice for dairies in the region, however corn production consumes large amounts of water annually. It has been documented that forage sorghums [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] have the potential to produce as much, and in some cases more, dry matter than corn when grown with the same amount of water. Although dependent upon many environmental and management conditions, productivity of forage sorghum, if managed properly, can be as productive and nutritious as corn. Just as widely accepted is the assertion that, in general, sorghums are more water-use efficient than corn and require less water to produce a certain amount of dry matter. What is uncertain is whether or not forage sorghums can be grown as efficiently as corn under the unique climatic conditions and currently utilized irrigation practices that exist in the region. If it can be shown that sorghum will produce adequate yields and nutritious forage with limited amounts of water, acceptance of this crop may increase among growers and the ever-expanding dairy industry on the High Plains.

Target Audience and Actions

The target audience is composed of all agricultural producers in the eastern New Mexico and West Texas areas, especially Curry County. Also included will be local, urban and rural community citizens who are unfamiliar with agricultural practices of the region and how agriculture impacts their communities. Actions will attempt to educate all parties on conserving irrigation water through alternative cropping strategies; these actions will be based on research results from existing projects on station and from colleagues in nearby regions conducting similar research.

Short-Term Objectives

After demonstrations (field days, seminars, publications) of research involving corn and sorghum silage production, regional farmers and dairymen will gain knowledge of improved, water-use efficient cropping strategies that may benefit their own operations immediately. Initial visualization of these strategies by producers is critical to the success of this program. A small group of farmers (>5%) will report significant water and money savings by implementing water-conserving crops and practices.

Medium-Term Objectives

After gaining knowledge of water-use efficient systems, more growers will begin to implement (accept) these practices as part of their own operations and will be able to recognize the benefits with time. Word of mouth from other growers will help convey messages of savings. Determine to what extent growers are adopting new practices. Continue to educate clientele as updated practices emerge to complement previous systems. More than 10% of all farmers will have adopted new water-conserving practices.

Long-Term Objectives

Significant numbers of producers and dairies (>30%) will have accepted some form of alternative practice and will have realized benefits of such efficient systems. Water usage in Curry County for silage crop production will be reduced and new systems will contribute significantly to water conservation efforts in the region.

Evaluation Plan

Short term evaluation:
• use of meeting evaluations or post meeting group quiz activities to determine information gain and understanding
• after assembling the information for a system plan, use of five to ten key priorities for sustainability of operations will be used to evaluate the potential for improvement of a cropping or pasture situation including pest control options.
• by use of priority needs described by the producer or land owner, targeted areas of improvement will be decided upon and these priorities dealt with first as the producer requests. If only a pest control recommendation is requested, then this system development profile will be addressed with the client. On the other hand, if more improvement is desired, a priority list of practices to address can be devised and worked on to accomplish the goals needed by both the client and the county agent in Curry County.
• By use of a check list of items that other programs have developed in the sustainable, environmental and economic arenas that were also used as group programming for farm operations through the use of advisors to whole farm operations, a listing of priorities to possibly address can be derived for the producer to look at and determine if he wants additional information or help in these areas.
• Use of soil and water testing as well as soil type determination, altitude, growing season length and growing degree days expected as well as general field conditions can create a preliminary evaluation of whole operation needs and priorities for the program and to limit losses to pest problems.

Medium term evaluation:
• In order to determine if the information taken to the producer was utilized, a follow up visit by the county agent will allow a quick reevaluation of the practices implemented and continued over time on the operation and how effective these suggestions were to the operation.
• with an increase in revenue and a decrease of 10% of inputs normally wasted or misused, the program evaluation for optimizing whole farm operations can be evaluated or tailored to new needs of the producer as corrections are made and priorities change with season and demands and climate.
• This dynamic programming technique will allow a continual programming input from the county agent by tailoring his programming to that desired by the client. With time, anticipation of changes in the farm enterprise or new goals or needs by the client can create a new programming strategy and information with specialist input as needed on specific problems or pests.
• The client(s) will be able to run a self-assessment on their proposed farm operation plans and determine through the use of the whole farm planning sheets, the information they need to choose varieties, determine nutrient input, find out current soil nutrient status, predict irrigation and pest control needs while working within equipment, time and seasonal limitations.

Long term evaluation:
• Effectiveness of the programming will be evaluated by review of changes made and implemented on each farm with each producer either with both the agent and the specialist or through the county agent working with the operation.
• By revealing alternative means of operation through the use of demonstrations and information, a long term evaluation will be to see if the practices suggested are not only implemented by the producer but continuing to be part of the operation with continued improvements in management and environmental sustainability.
• Continued use of Extension information and input to the producer will show effectiveness of the program on a farm by farm basis.
• Continued offers to work with the county agent and/or specialist on demonstration and other programming will show effectiveness of the educational efforts made.
• By use of production and economic gains reported through the New Mexico Agricultural Statistical Service across crops and producer regions in the state.