EPA Opens Public Comment Period on the First of Four Preliminary Risk Assessments for Insecticides Potentially Harmful to Bees

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened the 60-day public comment period for its preliminary pollinator risk assessment for imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, in a Federal Register notice published today. After the comment period ends, the EPA may revise the pollinator assessment based on comments received and, if necessary, take action to reduce risks from the insecticide. The preliminary risk assessment identified a residue level for imidacloprid of 25 ppb, above which effects on pollinator hives are likely to be seen and below which effects are unlikely. These effects may include reduction in numbers of pollinators as well as the amount of honey produced. The imidacloprid assessment is the first of four preliminary pollinator risk assessments for the neonicotinoid insecticides. Preliminary pollinator risk assessments for three other neonicotinoids, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran, are scheduled to be released for public comment in December 2016. A preliminary risk assessment for all ecological effects for imidacloprid, including a revised pollinator assessment and impacts on other species such as aquatic and terrestrial animals and plants will also be released in December 2016. EPA encourages stakeholders and interested members of the public to visit the imidacloprid docket, review the risk assessment and related documents, and submit comments. All comments submitted will be accounted for in our final risk assessment. The risk assessment and other supporting documents are available in the docket at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketBrowser;rpp=25;so=DESC;sb=postedDate;po=0;dct=SR;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0844. EPA is also planning to hold a webinar on the imidacloprid assessment in early February. The times and details

NM HAY

Wednesday, January 13th 1 – 5 pm - Exhibit Setup 5:00 pm – NMHA Board of Directors Meeting, Lodge at Sierra Blanca Hotel Lobby 6:30 pm – Premier Sponsor Appreciation/Board of Directors Dinner, Texas Club Steakhouse Thursday Morning, January 14th 8:00 am - Trade Show Floor Opens – Coffee and Donuts available 8:00 am – Registration Opens 9:20 am – Welcome Joel Klein, NMHA President – Opening Remarks – Mark Marsalis, NMSU Ext. Forage Specialist 9:30 am – Rodent Control in Alfalfa – Dr. Sam Smallidge, NMSU 10:15 am – Organic Hay Production & Marketing – Ramon Alvarez, Organic Producer, Las Cruces, NM 10:45 am – Alfalfa-Corn Rotation Considerations – Dr. Earl Creech, Utah State Univ. 11:15 am – Roundup Ready Alfalfa: Weed Resistance – Dr. Leslie Beck, NMSU 12:00 noon - Buffet Lunch Thursday Afternoon, January 14th 1:00 pm – Legislative Update – Zach Riley, Farm Bureau of NM 1:30 pm – Alfalfa Planting Dates – Leonard Lauriault, NMSU-Tucumcari 2:00 pm – Industry Updates 2:20 pm – Coffee Break / Booth Visitation 2:45 pm – Workers’ Comp/OSHA Regulation Update – Erica Moncayo, New Mexico Mutual 3:15 pm – Panel: Agricultural Water Use in New Mexico – David Gensler – Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District - Gary Esslinger – Elephant Butte Irrigation District - Aron Balok – Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District 4:30 pm – New Mexico Hay Assn. Annual Business Meeting – Joel Klein, Justin Boswell, and Cassie Sterrett - Caucus to nominate new directors - Other Annual Business and Discussion Business Meeting Recess 5:00 pm – Social Hour 6:00 pm – Dinner 6:45 pm – After Dinner Entertainment Dr. Charles Petty, Humorous Motivational Speaker 8:00 pm – Music & Dance Friday, January 15th 8:00 am – Trade Show Floor Opens – Coffee and Donuts Available 8:30 am – Registration Re-opens 8:30 am – Livestock & Hay Markets – Jessica Sampson, Livestock Marketing Information Center 9:15 am - Sugarcane Aphid: A New Pest in New Mexico – Dr. Pat Porter, Texas AgriLife Extension 10:00 am – Coffee Break / Booth Visitation 10:15 am – Industry Updates cont. 10:45 am – Entomology Update – Dr. Jane Pierce, NMSU-Artesia 11:30 am – Opportunities to Improve Alfalfa's Drought Resilience – Dr. Ian Ray, NMSU 12:00 pm – Adjourn / CEUs Awarded 12:30 pm – NMHA Annual Business Meeting Reconvenes – Joel Klein, Justin Boswell, and Cassie Sterrett *********************************** 5 NM Pesticide Applicator CEUs have been approved for this meeting. *********************************** 2016 Southwest Hay & Forage Conference

Exploring Policy Alternatives for Controlling Nitrate Pollution from New Mexico’s Dairies

Exploring Policy Alternatives for Controlling Nitrate Pollution from New Mexico’s Dairies by Jingjing Wang and Janak Raj Joshi, University of New Mexico New Mexico has ranked at the top in the average stocking density of large dairy farms (with 500 or more milk cows) since 2002 and the state’s average stocking density was up to 3,000 milk cows per farm in 2012. However, this significantly large average fails to reflect the magnitude of the mega-farms in the highly concentrated industry, subject to economies of scale. For example, in 2012, the average stocking density on dairy farms that accounted for 10% of total milk sales in New Mexico was 10,200 milk cows, and the average stocking density on dairy farms that accounted for 25% of total milk sales in New Mexico was 5,410 milk cows. Another characteristic of the dairy sector in New Mexico is that most cows are spatially concentrated in a small agricultural area. The dairy sector has been an economic development driver in parts of eastern and southern New Mexico and has a significant economic impact on the rural economies of these regions. However, large dairy farms in New Mexico lead to challenges in proper manure management. In this study, we used a combination of life-cycle assessment (LCA), cost-benefit analysis (CBA), and sensitivity analysis to investigate policies for controlling nitrogen pollution from large dairy farms in New Mexico. We first constructed an integrated farm-level model that is suitable to investigate alternative policies for controlling nitrate pollution from a stylized, typical large dairy farm in New Mexico. Based on this typical dairy farm, we then conducted the LCA and CBA analyses of dairy manure management under three cases: direct land application of dairy manure (DLA), anaerobic digestion of dairy manure (AD), and anaerobic digestion of dairy manure coupled with microalgae cultivation (ADMC). Four environmental impacts (energy balance, water balance, eutrophication potential, and global warming potential) of the alternative manure management cases are assessed in the LCA analysis and net benefits of each case were evaluated in the CBA analysis under a baseline scenario and different incentive-based policy scenarios. We also conducted sensitivity analysis of cropland availability, rangeland availability, and policy strength to check the robustness of our results. Our results suggest that nutrients (especially nitrogen) in dairy manure on large dairy farms of New Mexico can potentially be converted into various valuable products (e.g., nutrient supplement and renewable energy) while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. We recommend incentive-based policies including subsidies, tax credits, nutrient credits, and carbon credits for controlling nitrate pollution from large dairy farms in order to achieve the lowest environmental-compliance cost to the dairy industry in New Mexico. Education and outreach programs on alternative best manure management practices are also recommended. Given the ongoing consolidation in the dairy industry both within and beyond New Mexico’s borders, our results can inform local, state, and federal policymakers working on water quality management programs. A comprehensive summary report of this NM WRRI funded project has been published as Technical Completion Report No. 369 and can be viewed in its entirety by clicking here. Project funding was made available by the New Mexico State Legislature in 2014.

Water Bank Workshop Summarized

Water Bank Workshop Summarized An Executive Summary of the November 12, 2015 workshop held in Las Cruces entitled, Workshop on Water Banking in the Lower Rio Grande, Southern New Mexico is posted on the NM WRRI website at: http://waterbank.nmsu.edu/executive_summary/. The workshop was sponsored by several Lower Rio Grande water user groups and brought together over 100 participants to discuss the benefits, limitations, best practices, implementation methods, and future development needs related to the potential establishment of a water bank in the Lower Rio Grande.

Gold King Mine Spill and Other Mine Waste Issues to Highlight May 2016 Conference

Gold King Mine Spill and Other Mine Waste Issues to Highlight May 2016 Conference by Catherine Ortega Klett, Program Manager The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) will host a three-day conference in May 2016 at San Juan College in Farmington, NM to facilitate the exchange of data and ideas among four states, two Tribes, and numerous local and municipal agencies and public water systems. The conference will bring together an estimated 200 participants to gain a better understanding of the theme of the conference, Environmental Conditions of the Animas and San Juan Watersheds with Emphasis on Gold King Mine and other Mine Waste Issues. Sponsors include: NM WRRI, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, New Mexico Tech, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, City of Farmington, San Juan County, City of Aztec, San Juan Soil & Water Conservation District, and the San Juan Watershed Group. The goal of the conference is to disseminate information and results from monitoring and research efforts in the Animas and San Juan watersheds. The conference will support the activities outlined in the Long-Term Monitoring Plan: Evaluating the Effects of the Gold King Mine Wastewater Spill in Northern New Mexico, prepared by the State of New Mexico’s Long-Term Impact Review Team. The draft report was issued on October 20, 2015 and can be viewed here. The conference will bring together academics, agencies, representatives, and community members and provide a forum for addressing concerns and questions over the Gold King Mine spill and the continuing monitoring efforts.

Cattlemen should check animals carefully for cold injury following blizzard Jan 5, 2016 Kay Ledbetter, Texas AgriLife

As the snow melts away from Winter Storm Goliath and cattle are gathered back into pens and pastures, cow-calf producers should continue to watch their animals for after-effects, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist. “There is some potential for latent effects of the sustained low windchill temperatures during the recent blizzard conditions,” said Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo. McCollum said the bitter cold may have frozen the ears and tails of cattle and other animals, so partial loss may occur over the next few weeks. “This may present some concern to the owners, but it is not a threat to the long-term wellbeing of the cattle,” he said. The wind and low temperatures also could have resulted in frozen teats and sensitive udders, McCollum said. The udders of cows nursing calves may be sensitive, which could affect milk consumption by the calf for a few days. If the teats were impaired by frostbite, then there may be some mastitis and/or partial loss of udder function, he said, advising those tending to the cattle to watch the calves and check the udders. “Also, cows that will be calving later this year could have been affected, but the effects may not be apparent until calving time and lactation,” McCollum said. “Again, observe the calves and the udders after calving.” He said the extreme temperatures and frozen surfaces could have impaired the prepuce and penis of the bulls as well as the scrotum and testicular function. Bulls should undergo a full breeding-soundness examination well in advance of the time they are expected to service cows. Bulls that are with fall-calving cows now should be checked immediately, McCollum said. The breeding soundness exam will not only check for damage to the organs but also evaluate semen production and quality. Fall-calving cows that are currently with bulls may have delayed pregnancy, he said. The extreme cold may have caused the cows to go into anestrus. Estrus activity will return to normal in a week to two weeks, barring any other insults. “It is the producer’s decision, but extending the breeding season a couple of weeks might be a consideration,” McCollum said. He advised that cow body condition continually be monitored. “The extreme cold during the blizzard and the lack of significant warm-up since was a tax on body energy reserves,” McCollum said. “It may be necessary to increase supplemental feed for the remainder of the pregnancy period to offset the loss in body condition. And, winter is not over yet.”

Volunteers brave harsh winter conditions to round-up neighbors’ cattle Jan 4, 2016 Ron Smith and Shelia Grissom | Southwest Farm Press

Woods note: This story is true with every agriculture community including EDDY County Agriculture has to be one of the most unpredictable occupations in the country. Things happen. Markets fluctuate; diseases strike crops and livestock; drought destroys production; hail wipes out a year’s work in a matter of minutes. Accidents cause serious injury to farmers and ranchers. And much of the uncertainty that’s endemic to agriculture is beyond human control. No one expected, for instance, that a late December blizzard would dump nearly a foot of snow on the Texas High Plains and scatter cattle across the region. Some estimates put wandering cattle numbers in the thousands of head. Many perished in the harsh winter weather. But not nearly as many died as would have had it not been for one thing that is as predictable among farm and ranch families as the certainty of tomorrow’s sunrise. When word got out that cattle were missing folks saddled up, literally saddled up, and started looking for strays, rounding them up and moving them to safe pens until they could be returned to their owners. Those of us who work with farmers and ranchers on a regular basis are not the least bit surprised. It’s part of the culture. When a farmer is sick or injured at harvest time, his neighbors bring in the crop. When the cows are out, they round them up and bring them home. When people need a hand, hands are available. hey don’t it for praise; they don’t do it to build up favors; they certainly don’t do it in hopes of getting paid. They do it because it’s right. It’s who they are. My good friend Shelia Grissom, Seminole, Texas, posted a few photos on Facebook recently, and explained how her daughter Chloe and several other friends and neighbors saw some cattle that had strayed near their home. So they saddled their horses and began a cattle drive that lasted several days, is likely still in process in some areas. She shared these photos and her description of what happened over the next week. “Ron, these were not even our cattle,” Shelia says. “We were fortunate that ours stayed in. We found about 30 head across the street from our house at the shop. We started trying to find out who they belonged to. From there it just got larger and larger. Chloe has been helping every day on horseback. Most of these days it has not gotten above freezing. They have been relentless looking for these cattle. Ages of the riders range from the teens on up. “People who did not know each other banded together to search and rescue someone else's cattle. It has been a week today (Monday). They have been in the saddle from sunup to past dark. Many of these days we had no sun. Wind chills are almost unbearable with freezing fog, snow and drizzle. They have ridden through snow drifts 3 to 4 feet high. Horses have fallen through the snow into gopher holes, coming up injured and bleeding. They go on.” She says cattle probably scattered because of damage from “the relentless storm. Fences gave way, snow drifts got high. The cattle instinct is to seek shelter. The volunteers have rounded up cattle all over Gaines County. “At one time there were six or seven different bunches on horseback. People were so generous to open their pens to hold cattle. They would bring these cattle down the county roads, meet up with another bunch and take them to a holding pen. At one time the Sheriff’s Department assisted while they gathered some from Gaines County Park.” Shelia says she, her husband Jimbo, and son Jeramie helped by blocking county roads so they could move cattle. “Dogs would chase them and the cattle would take off and they would start over. “We brought riders coffee, donuts and kaloches. The food would be cold by the time we got to them, but they did not care. They were so, so cold and so thankful. Many days they went without anything until day’s end. “We had reports that one man was missing 2,000 head and another 4,000. One day I believe they rounded up 60—one day about 200 and another day about 700.” She says one neighbor had many strays and found seven “leaned up against a cotton module frozen. Day before yesterday they brought in a helicopter to search. “I guess if there is anything I could share having witnessed this and being an American farmer is that this is the story of America's backbone that is never heard. Farmers, dairy farmers and ranchers are being forced out of business at alarming speeds and there is no one to tell these stories. These are the people who feed and clothe the very ones who are either taking us down or ridiculing us. They are just not getting it! I know I am not telling you anything you don't already know.”