New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program recruiting new group

Over the last 14 years the NM Ag Leadership (NMAL) program has served New Mexico by identifying and providing leadership development opportunities to more than 90 men and women in the food, agriculture and natural resource industries so they could become stronger and more effective in their industries and communities. Be one of New Mexico’s strongest leaders by joining NMAL.They are presently recruiting participants for the 11th class scheduled to begin in November 2015. Download the application packet at http://aces.nmsu.edu/nmal/application.html and submit it via email or regular mail by Aug. 20.

Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Begins June 15

Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Begins June 15 06/08/2015 10:35 AM EDT Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Begins June 15 WASHINGTON, June 8, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees begins on Monday, June 15, 2015. “Through the county committees, farmers and ranchers have a voice. Their opinions and ideas get to be heard on federal farm programs,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It is important for county committees to reflect America's diversity, so I encourage all eligible farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers, to get involved in this year's elections. We’ve seen an increase in the number of nominations for qualified candidates, especially among women and minorities, and I hope that trend continues.” To be eligible to serve on a FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where they are nominated. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2015 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 3, 2015. FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 9, 2015. Ballots will be due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 7, 2015. Newly elected committee members and alternates will take office on Jan. 1, 2016. While FSA county committees do not approve or deny farm ownership or operating loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

COW/CALF CORNER

COW/CALF CORNER The Newsletter From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service June 8, 2015 In this Issue: Latest meat trade data encouraging Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist What to do with the bull after the breeding season? Glenn Selk; Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist Latest meat trade data encouraging Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist The latest trade data for April generally showed relative improvement in meat trade despite a variety of continuing challenges. The strong U.S. dollar continues to work against U.S. meat exports and support increased imports. The avian influenza outbreak continues to grow and impact poultry trade; while high prices and limited supplies are the biggest challenges for the beef sector. Despite bans or restrictions in most markets for U.S. poultry, broiler exports in April were fractionally higher than year ago levels holding year to date broiler exports to a decrease of 8.4 percent compared to last year. Most importantly among broiler export markets is Mexico, which was up 1.5 percent year over year in April and is up 4.8 percent for the year to date. Mexico is by far the largest broiler export market, accounting for 21 percent of total 2014 broiler exports. Year to date broiler exports to China and South Korea are down over 90 percent along with zero exports to Russia (banned in 2014 prior to avian influenza). Turkey exports were down 27.2 percent in April contributing to an 11.4 percent year to date decline compared to last year. Pork exports were up 10.9 percent in April, cutting the year to year date pork export decrease to 7.4 percent. This is the first year over year increase in monthly pork exports in 2015. Increased pork supplies and lower pork prices are overcoming the negative impacts of the strong U.S. dollar to boost pork exports. Among major pork export markets, year over year April exports were stronger to Japan (up 16.2 percent) and Mexico (up 15.2 percent), China (up 1.4 percent), and South Korea (up 43.2 percent) while Canada was down 13.9 percent. April U.S. beef exports were down 3.6 percent year over year, the smallest monthly decrease so far this year. Year to date beef exports are down 8.4 percent compared to 2014. Increased year over year April exports to Japan (up 4.8 percent) and South Korea (up 21.7 percent) contributed to year to date increases in U.S. beef exports to both countries. However, North American beef trade is more troubling with April decreases to Canada (down 10.4 percent) and Mexico (down 25.2 percent) contributing to year to date decreases in beef exports to both countries. The looming threat of tariffs related to Country of Origin Labeling adds to the prospects for weaker exports to Canada and Mexico in the coming months. April U.S. beef imports were up 27.5 percent compared to one year ago, the smallest monthly increase year over year so far this year. Year to date beef imports are up 40.9 percent compared to one year ago. Australia (up 36.7 percent) and New Zealand (up 28.2 percent) were the leading sources of beef imports in April along with Canada (up 4.6 percent) and Mexico (up 61.4 percent) compared to April, 2014. Beef imports from Brazil, though less than 4 percent of total beef imports in April, were up 95 percent year over year and are up 135 percent for the year to date compared to last year. What to do with the bull after the breeding season? Glenn Selk; Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist Maintaining a 60 to 75 day breeding and calving season can be one of the most important management tools for cow calf producers. A uniform, heavier, and more valuable calf crop is one key reason for keeping the breeding season short. Plus, more efficient cow supplementation and cow herd health programs are a product of a short breeding season. However, many small producers lose all of these money-making advantages, just because they do not have a pen or trap that will hold the bull away from cows and heifers for 9 to 10 months of the year. In an effort to learn what others do to overcome this obstacle, we had an email conversation with a Clemson University beef cattle specialist who passed along the method of fencing that they use to separate bulls from their cows. They use a minimum of 2 acres per bull for their bull pasture. Well fertilized introduced pastures (such as bermudagrass) in Eastern Oklahoma (with adequate rainfall) can stand this stocking density. However, native grass situations will require more acreages per bull unless the producer wants to feed a great deal of hay and supplement during much of the year. They use a five strand, high tensile fence with the strands spaced at 10 inches apart. High tensile wire is a heavy gauge, smooth wire that can be made as a permanent system with in-line wire stretchers The first strand is 10 inches above the ground. The end result is a fence that is 50 inches tall. The fence, of course, must be electrically charged. A GOOD high voltage, low amperage fence energizer or charger provides the energy source. The Clemson design uses the 2nd , 3rd, and 5th wire as charged wires, with the first and the 4th wire attached to grounds. See diagram below. The grounds will be most effective if they are set deep into the soil. This will allow for good “grounding” even when summer droughts cause top soil to become quite dry. Different designs may fit different situations. Some designs electrify the first wire (from the bottom) and make the second wire a ground. Talking to a commercial representative from a reputable fencing supply company can be very helpful. Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. References within this publication to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

New Mexico 4-H Leaderline newsletter

Hello Everyone, The July – August – September 2015 issue of the New Mexico 4-H Leaderline newsletter is now online. To read the new issue of Leaderline, go to http://aces.nmsu.edu/4h/documents/leaderline_july-august-september-2015_web_copy.pdf. To read past issues, go to: http://aces.nmsu.edu/4h/newsletters.html and select a newsletter. For more information about the New Mexico 4-H Youth Development Program, including how to join, call the County Extension Office in your area at http://aces.nmsu.edu/county/. Sue Miller Graphic Designer Member of Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) (since 2007) 4-H Youth Development Program, MSC 3AE New Mexico State University PO Box 30003 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 sumiller@nmsu.edu Office: 575-646-5774 Fax: 575-646-3027 Website: http://nm4h.nmsu.edu Facebook: http://facebook.com/NMSU4H

New specialist at NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute hails from migrant worker family

New specialist at NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute hails from migrant worker family DATE: 06/03/2015 WRITER: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Adan Delval, 575-646-3028, cpi@nmsu.edu Adan Delval is the newest program specialist at New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from NMSU and, as an undergraduate student, took part in an agricultural research project sponsored by the National Science Foundation. He’s also from a migrant farm worker family. “I saw my parents struggle working in the fields,” he said. “I decided it wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life so I worked to pursue an education.” Born in Chihuahua, Delval’s family eventually moved to Columbus, New Mexico. There, he became familiar with NMSU, making several class trips to the university while in high school. After graduation, Delval followed some friends to NMSU to study government and Spanish. In 2008, he applied for and was accepted into the Chile Pepper Institute’s Agricultural Science Summer Undergraduate Research and Education Development, or ASSURED, program. It was designed to help students from migrant families learn how to conduct research and guide them toward careers in agricultural science. The program ran from 2003-2011 and paired college freshmen and sophomores from migrant farm families with NMSU faculty mentors for nine weeks each summer to design and complete a research project and report their findings in a research paper, poster and public seminar. “I’m proud that of the 90 students that went through the summer program, 99 percent of them graduated from college,” said Paul Bosland, director of the Chile Pepper Institute and principal investigator for the ASSURED program. Delval credits the program with exposing him to science and research experimentation. He spent a summer as an intern with Ryan Goss, an NMSU associate professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, studying grasses and which kinds of fertilizer help them grow best in the Southwest. In his 2008 end-of-program essay Delval wrote, “I knew there were career opportunities out there, but ASSURED helped me to discover how a college education helps a person attain them.” Delval earned his bachelor’s in 2012 and later earned his master’s in public administration in 2014. Now, back at NMSU, he will work with the Chile Pepper Institute’s retail operation and assist with the calls that come in from around the world seeking information on chile peppers. “I’m looking forward to learning, and relearning, more about chile peppers,” he said. “I was born in Mexico, so with my family, we always eat everything with chile. There’s a passion for chile there. I’m also looking forward to speaking with people and answering their questions.” The Chile Pepper Institute is housed in NMSU’s Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 265. You can visit them online at chilepepperinstitute.org. - 30 -

MALTA STAR-THISTLE INVASION

MALTA STAR-THISTLE INVASION Malta star-thistle (Centaurea melitensis L.) was first found in Eddy County around 2003 or so along the truck by pass in Carlsbad. I carry a hoe in the truck for such occurrence and have rouged out a number of new invasive weed when I see them. I was too late for this one I did rouge out a patch only to find 20 or more down the highway. Since that time this weed has been the target of the Eddy County weed management group who have done their very best to stop this weed. But like the Russian thistle (tumble weed) it can now be found in the just about everywhere in the county and is moving from disturbed site such as road sides into fields and landscapes. It is a winter annual with a spiny yellow flowered head that reaches about 3 feet higher but under good growing condition can reach 4 feet. The spins are less than an 1.5 inches, which distinguishes it from its cousin yellow star-thistle. It reproduces by seed and can produce 1-60 seeds per flowering head. The leaves are withered usually by flowering time. This is a tricky weed though. It germinates in the fall, like the mustard, as soon as it has two true leaves it bolt and send up one flower that will have 1-5 seed in all less than 3 inches tall. So it is difficult to mow this flower off and it a guaranteed species survival for another year. There have been six biological control insects released for yellow star thistle. These insects feed on the seed thus reducing seed production. It is a wait and see if they will also help with Malta. Chemical control if applied at the right time of year works well. The systemic herbicides clopyralid or picloram work well when applied between December and April. Once the flower is set, chemical application don’t do the job. In alfalfa fields the use of the mustard herbicides when there are mustard weed present may help. Sheep and goat like to graze this weed until it get the spiny flower. It has no toxic effect but once the spine form they can lodge in the mouth and tong causing problems; however most animals will not try it. This weed is almost imposable to control by mechanical methods. So here it is the first part of June, the weed has set seed and the leaves are withered so they will not absorb herbicide. All you can do is hoe of cut the tops off catching the seed head and disposing them in a dumpster. Because of the flooding last year there is a lot of seed in the field and if you did not spry for mustard there is nothing you can do now. The seed will not germinate until late fall. Then you can control the mustard and this weed too hopefully. Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

binar to Assist Potential Applicants for Conservation Funding

Webinar to Assist Potential Applicants for Conservation Funding Regional Conservation Partnership Program to make $235 Million Available to Partners WASHINGTON, June 2, 2015 – An upcoming webinar on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) will help potential applicants as they seek available funding. During the current round, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest up to $235 million to improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural production. Partners will match the Federal investment. "This webinar is a great opportunity to directly engage with our partners," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Our goal is to leverage available Federal funding and produce more high-performing on-the-ground conservation solutions." USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will host the webinar, open to both conservation partners and the general public, on Thursday, June 4, 2015 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. To join the webinar, visit https://usdanrcs.adobeconnect.com/r75qxphcya9/ . Login to Adobe Connect using the Guest option and enter your name. NRCS recently simplified the application process by creating new online tools: a pre-proposal fillable form, RCPP pre-application data entry tool and pre-proposal data entry tool instructions. These tools support partners as they fill out and submit their pre-proposal application. RCPP empowers local leaders to work with multiple partners — such as private companies, local and tribal governments, universities, non-profit groups and other non-government partners — along with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to design solutions that work best for their region. Local partners and the federal government both invest funding and manpower to projects to maximize their impact. USDA is now accepting pre-proposals for RCPP. Pre-proposals are due July 8, 2015. For more information on applying, visit the RCPP website. #