NMSU publication on water consumption of beef cattle in NM.

There is great interest within New Mexico to know the water intake for lactating range beef cows. It is important to note that there is a considerable range of natural variability in wa - ter intake and limited science supporting cur - rent water use estimates for grazing beef cattle. While a single number is sometimes offered, we hesitated to provide such a number for its po - tential to be misinterpreted. With careful con - sideration of the variables, however, producers may use the formula in this guide to estimate water use for their specific situation. http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B231.pdf

NMSU researcher develops method for cloning pecan rootstock

NMSU researcher develops method for cloning pecan rootstock DATE: 04/05/2016 WRITER: Kristie Garcia, 575-646-4211, kmgarcia@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Jennifer Randall, 575-646-2920, jrandall@nmsu.edu A newly developed method for cloning pecan rootstock may result in more successful yields for growers in the future. Jennifer Randall, a research associate professor in the New Mexico State University Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, is thrilled with this breakthrough, as pecan can be challenging. “Pecan can be difficult to work with, and before I started, I was told that pecan cloning was impossible,” Randall said. “I’m excited, especially with the potential that it can mean to the industry and for research.” Pecan trees, grown in commercial orchards, have two main parts that are grafted together. The top part of the tree produces nuts and is genetically the same as other treetops in an orchard. The bottom part is called the rootstock, and each rootstock is genetically different. The research process, which began in late 2012, involves cloning rootstocks to make them genetically the same. The Randall Lab has cloned nearly 300 different pecan genotypes, or genetically different trees. Randall, who has a doctorate in molecular biology from NMSU, said she and her team are trying to find the best genetic tree for specific environmental needs. “When we find one, having everything genetically uniform can make a lot of differences in an orchard,” Randall said. What that means for growers is that rootstock best suited for a specific orchard area could be cloned for ideal growing conditions. The challenge in the Southwest is that the soil contains a large amount of salt. Randall said determining rootstocks that are able to grow in high salinity soils is advantageous, as the pecan tree can better survive and produce. Identifying salinity tolerant and disease resistant rootstocks would be advantageous to pecan tree growers in the Southwest, as such trees may lead to more productive yields. However, the process is still in the research stage, so rootstock cloning is not yet commercially available. The next step is to conduct field trials. “Next, we’ll perform a field study to see how they do in a real world environment, not just a laboratory in a greenhouse,” Randall said. “And now that we have this method, we can clone potentially any pecan.” It takes seven to 30 years for a pecan tree to flower, but now that cloning is available, the flowering process can be expedited, as researchers are moving toward using genetic markers for pecan breeding. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews

USDA Invests $103 Million in Vital Watershed Projects

USDA Invests $103 Million in Vital Watershed Projects Programs to Protect Public Safety, Improve Critical Infrastructure in 19 States WASHINGTON, March 31, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $103 million in post-disaster recovery and the rehabilitation of aging dams in 19 States. "The Emergency Watershed Protection program is vital to communities repairing damage and making improvements to reduce future damage from natural disasters," Vilsack said. "Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $647 million to help local governments restore watersheds and protect communities from the aftermath of devastating natural disasters like Hurricanes Irene and Sandy and fires and flooding in the Southwestern United States." Funding through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), was announced by Assistant Chief Kirk Hanlin at an event in Mother Neff State Park outside Temple, Texas. In 2015, excessive rains overwhelmed the drainage systems of many communities and threatened, damaged or destroyed culverts, bridges and roads. NRCS will invest more than $21 million to help Texas communities remove debris and stabilize streambanks to better protect drainage canals, utilities and roads from future damage. Overall, NRCS will invest $93 million in Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program assistance to help state and local governments carry out much needed recovery projects to address damage caused by floods, hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. Approximately $59 million will be used in recovery projects in some of the hardest hit areas in Texas, Mississippi and Utah. About $34 million will assist projects in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming. A summary of projects by state is available on the EWP website. Today's announcement also includes $10.4 million in Watershed Rehabilitation Program funding to help communities rehabilitate aging dams that protect lives, property and infrastructure like drinking water in rural communities downstream. Of this, $4.8 million will be used in Texas to complete the design and construction of four watershed rehabilitation projects in Ellis and Williamson counties, and $3.7 will be used in Utah for the construction of a dam project in Gillespie County. About $500,000 will be used to assess up to 25 aging dams nationwide this year. USDA watershed projects provide an estimated $2.2 billion in benefits annually to local communities nationwide. Since 1948, USDA has helped local governments construct nearly 12,000 dams in 47 states and Puerto Rico to help prevent flooding and erosion damage, provide recreation opportunities, improve water supplies for drinking and irrigation, and create habitat for wildlife. Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $29 billion to help producers make conservation improvements, working with as many as 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect more than 400 million acres nationwide, boosting soil and air quality, cleaning and conserving water and enhancing wildlife habitat. For an interactive look at USDA's work in conservation and forestry over the course of this Administration, visit https://medium.com/usda-results. #

EPA Seeks Comment on Proposed Decision to Register Dicamba for Use on Genetically-Engineered Crops

EPA Seeks Comment on Proposed Decision to Register Dicamba for Use on Genetically-Engineered Crops The EPA is proposing to register dicamba to control weeds in cotton and soybean genetically engineered (GE) to tolerate dicamba. Weeds that are becoming increasingly resistant to glyphosate-based herbicides are posing a problem for farmers. If finalized, EPA’s action will provide an additional tool to reduce the spread of glyphosate resistant weeds. To ensure that dicamba successfully manages weed resistance problems, the proposed decision outlines a Herbicide Resistance Management Plan which includes robust monitoring and reporting any suspected resistance to EPA, grower education and remediation. Additionally, EPA is proposing to limit the registration to 5 years, which would further provide protections if resistance to dicamba develops. EPA is soliciting public comment for 30 days. Comments on the EPA’s proposed regulatory decision must be submitted no later than April 30, 2016. Comments may be submitted to the EPA docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0187 at www.regulations.gov. After the comment period closes, EPA will review all of the comments and reach a final decision, which the Agency expects to issue in late summer or early fall 2016. Questions and Answers about this proposal are available.

USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for April 2016

USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for April 2016 04/01/2016 10:00 AM EDT WASHINGTON, April 1, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for April 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for April is 0.625 percent, up from 0.500 percent in March.

USDA Announces over $90 Million Available to Support Local Food Systems, Specialty Crop Producers

USDA Announces over $90 Million Available to Support Local Food Systems, Specialty Crop Producers WASHINGTON, April 1, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of more than $90 million in competitive grants to help strengthen local and regional food systems, develop new market opportunities for producers, and support farmers growing fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, flowers and nursery crops (known collectively as specialty crops). These grants programs are administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and include the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program. "Over the past seven years, USDA has strengthened local and regional food systems by investing in projects that recruit and train farmers, expand economic opportunities for small businesses and increase access to healthy foods," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "These grant programs make a real difference to farmers, ranchers, and businesses in communities across the country, revitalizing rural economies while also increasing access to fresh, healthy food." More than $62 million is allocated in grants to U.S. states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for projects supporting specialty crop growers through research and programs to increase demand. Interested applicants should apply directly through their state departments of agriculture, which administer a competitive grant process. A listing of the SCBGP's state contacts, and how to apply with state application due dates, can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp. State departments of agriculture must submit their applications to AMS by July 6, 2016. The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program provides a combined total of more than $26 million in competitive grants, divided equally between the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). FMPP grants support direct producer-to-consumer marketing projects such as farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, roadside stands, and agritourism. LFPP funding goes to projects that develop, improve, and expand local and regional food business intermediary supply chain activities, including processing, distribution, aggregation, and storage of locally- or regionally-produced food products. The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) provides nearly $1 million in matching funds to state departments of agriculture, state colleges and universities, and other appropriate state agencies for research projects that address challenges and opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing U.S. agricultural products domestically and internationally. USDA data show that specialty crop sales exceed $83 billion per year. Since 2009, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has supported these growers by investing nearly $393 million into more than 5,400 projects. USDA's investments in farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer local food marketing activities through FMPP have provided $60 million in assistance for over 900 projects nationwide since 2009. LFPP has funded over 350 projects totaling nearly $25 million since it launched in 2014. Grant applications must be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov. Applicants should start the Grants.gov registration process as soon as possible to ensure that they meet the deadline. Applications for FSMIP, FMPP and LFPP are due by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on May 12, 2016. Grant writing workshops will be held through the Agricultural Marketing Service Technical Assistance (AMSTA) Project. Please visit www.amsta.net to see if training is scheduled in your area. For more information about these grant programs, including program background, visit the AMS grants website: www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants. The website also contains a link "What AMS Grant is Right for Me?" under which applicants can use a grants decision tree to determine which AMS grant fits their project best. These programs are key elements of USDA's Know Your Food, Know Your Farmer initiative, which coordinates the Department's support for local and regional food systems. The Secretary has identified local and regional food systems as one of the four pillars of rural economic development. #

Trich meeting and Radio call in program

On Wednesday May 4th KCCC radio 930 am 12:00-1:00 community forum with John Whenzel DVM, Sammy and Woods. You can call in and ask questions. Discussion on what Trich is , who should be involved, how the rules work. Call in questions available. This will be promoted via newspaper articles, electronic newsletter, face book Producers Face to face meeting 3:00 to 4:30 Eddy County Extension Office.