Weekly Water and Climate Update

Weekly Water and Climate Update November 3, 2016 The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S. High-elevation snowpack has begun to accumulate in the mountains of the West. The map of the western U.S. modeled snow depth is from the National Weather Service, National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center. The northern Cascades and northern Rocky Mountains have over two feet of snow in the higher elevations, whereas the Sierra Nevada snowpack is over one foot at the highest peaks. The central and southern Rockies have been warm and dry and are reporting a few inches of snow depth in the south to nearly two feet farther north in the Teton Mountains of western Wyoming. http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/drought/dmrpt-20161103.pdf

Solid and hazadrous waste managment in Rural area.

Woods note: a number of years ago there was a exemption for rural areas that allowed on farm landfills. That is changing. This is a good publication produced by NMSU Extension. It was adopted from another state so there are a few things that do not apply. We don't thank we have municipality in NM that has an incinerator. Two key steps to minimizing the pollution potential on your property from farm,household and shed wastes are to minimize the amount of wastes and recycle when possible.Some hazardous materials, such as lubricating oils or solvents for cleaning metal parts, are an unavoidable part of farm life. Take some time, though, to examine your activities that involve use of hazardous materials, to make sure that you really need all the products you are using. Keep in mind that hazardous waste generated from farm business activities must be managed in accordance with state and federal rules. When you are certain that you are purchasing and using only essential products, carefully consider how to use the products safely, recycle or reuse them when possible, and dispose of remaining products in a way that will not pose a risk to your drinking water. A few simple management principles apply in every situation: • Use hazardous products away from your well (150 feet or more), even when all your spills and drips will be contained. • Return excess product, spills or drips to the original activity. For example, reuse filtered waste antifreeze as water in other radiators; contain oil or grease drips and use for future lubrication needs; dispose of pesticide con- tainer rinse water by spreading on fields at the proper application rate for the pesticide. • Contain any unusable wastes, spills and drips for appropriate disposal. For more information see NMSU Farm A Syst # 5 at https://www.env.nm.gov/aqb/projects/openburn/FarmASyst5fact.pdf

Saluting Our Veterans

Saluting Our Veterans On Friday, November 11, show your appreciation for our nation’s veterans and service members by volunteering this Veterans Day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a variety of ways to serve and educate others on the importance of Veterans Day, including: • Contact the VA Voluntary Service to Volunteer or Donate. • Volunteer at a local VA Medical Center. • Students can gain experience and training with the Student Volunteer Program. • Bring the Veterans Day celebration into the classroom with the Veterans Day Teachers and Students resources. I am in the process of refurbishing a 1962 ford 631 tractor Air Force Tug, I hope to have it in the Veterans day parade.

Change Your Clock, Check Your Smoke Alarm

Change Your Clock, Check Your Smoke Alarm Is your smoke alarm still working? A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all. On Sunday, November 6 when resetting your clocks for Daylight Saving Time, make sure your smoke alarms work and replace the batteries, if necessary. Take care of your smoke alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and follow these tips from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA): Smoke alarm powered by a nine-volt battery • Test the alarm monthly. • Replace the batteries at least once every year. • Replace the entire smoke alarm every 10 years. Smoke alarm powered by a 10-year lithium (or “long-life”) battery • Test the alarm monthly. • Since you cannot (and should not) replace the lithium battery, replace the entire smoke alarm according to the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke alarm that is hardwired into your home's electrical system • Test the alarm monthly. • Replace the backup battery at least once every year. • Replace the entire smoke alarm every 10 years. For more information on Smoke Alarms, visit the USFA Smoke Alarm page.

FSA County Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of Nov. 7

FSA County Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of Nov. 7 Release No. 0174.16 Contact: Isabel Benemelis (202) 720-7809 WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2016 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2016 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 5, 2016, to ensure that their vote is counted. “Producers elected to FSA county committees play a vital role in local agricultural decisions,” said Dolcini. “Their contributions are essential to the daily operation of nearly 2,200 offices across the country. It is a valued partnership that helps us better understand the needs of the farmers and ranchers we serve.” Nearly 7,700 FSA County Committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility. Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Approximately 1.5 million producers are currently eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers will begin receiving their ballots the week of Nov. 7. Ballots include the names of candidates running for the local committee election. FSA has modified the ballot, making it easily identifiable and less likely to be overlooked. Voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week can pick one up at their local FSA offices. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 5, 2016. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2017. For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. You may also contact your local USDA Service Center or FSA office. Visit http://offices.usda.gov/ to find an FSA office near you. USDA works to strengthen and support American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 American jobs, provides American consumers with more than 80 percent of the food we consume, ensures that Americans spend less of their paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports markets for homegrown renewable energy and materials. Since 2009, USDA has provided $5.6 billion in disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; expanded risk management tools with products like Whole Farm Revenue Protection; and helped farm businesses grow with $36 billion in farm credit. The Department has engaged its resources to support a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building new markets and market opportunities; and extending new conservation opportunities. USDA has developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,700 biobased products through USDA's BioPreferred program; and invested $64 billion in infrastructure and community facilities to help improve the quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.

WHY ARE MY PECANS NOT FILLED?

WHY ARE MY PECANS NOT FILLED? Why are my Pecan nuts not filled? Is a common question I receive at this time of the year? Pecan nut growth is has two phases. The first phase is nut growth; this determines the size of the nuts. The second phase is nut fill. We are going to discuss the later phase in this article. Around mid-August the nuts will quit growing and start filling. The embryo, (kernel tissue) will reach full size about the third part of September. The nut will continue to fill while conditions permit; the shuck is green and temperature is warm. The storage materials are translocated into the nuts from nearby leaves during the last 6 weeks of filling. A high quality kernel will contain 73% oil, 14% protein, 3-5% water and 1.5% other minerals. The degree to which nuts are filled or how well the kernels are developed at harvest is determined by a number a factors. (1) The size of the crop in relation to the foliage. If there are a lot of nuts but the leaves are small and sparse due to lack of nitrogen or zinc the nuts will not fill. (2)The size of the nuts, if the nuts are large (phase I) it will take more to fill them. (3) Condition of the leaves. In order for the leaves to produce the nutrients to fill the nuts they need to large and in good condition. High aphid or poor tree health will reduce the ability of the leaves to produce nutrients. (4) The size of the preceding crop will affect filling. If the prior crop was large this year crop may be smaller and not as well filled. (5) Weather condition greatly effect filling. If it is hot and dry it is difficult no matter how much water is put on the ground for the trees to translocate enough water to cool them and produce and transport nutrients. The late rain this year may cause nuts not to fill as well. Also we did not have a very large August nut drop so more nuts stayed on the tree. If the water has any salt in it, which ours does, it make this even more difficult. Rain during the growing season leaches salts and enables all plants to better move water and nutrients. (6) Last but not least is what the pollen source was. All pecans are a result of cross pollination, if the pollen source was from a small nut variety the nuts may not fill as well as if the pollen was from a large nut variety. Example is a Burkett pollen on to the Western Schley ovum. The specific effect of unfavorable growing condition on nut development is determined by the time at which the unfavorable condition occurred. Poor growing condition in the early season will result in a smaller number of nuts as well as a smaller nut itself. If they occur in the late season nuts may not be poorly filled. Home owner and producers need to practice cultural management that will provide maximum leaf surface in the spring and early summer. Nitrogen fertilization and irrigation around mid-March before bud break, followed by applications of Zinc will help shoot growth and leaf development. Sufficient moisture, insect control and fertilization will help carbohydrates to be manufactured and stored in late summer increasing quality, and quantity of nuts. For more information Contact your Local County Extension office. 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.

Effect of moisture and storage condition of cotton fiber in a modual.

By Woods Houghton Eddy County Agriculture Agent From Cotton Production Manual University of California Extension publication 3352` I was asked some question on module building today and thought there may be other out there with the same question. Several variables influence fiber quality in a module Moisture content is the most important of these variables. Other variables include length of storage amount of high moisture foreign material, (weeds, regrowth)and initial temperature of the seed-cotton, temperature ot the seed-cotton in storage an d days in storage. See Graft 1. Color was the only fiber quality adversely affected by storing the seed-cotton at elevated moisture levels. Fiber yellowness increased sharply above 13% moisture. Seed-cotton stored for 45 days at 16%moisture increased yellowness by61 to 78%. What it come down to is seed-cotton moisture should be monitored during the picking process either to prevent the production of modules with excessive moisture or else to identify those modules so the can be ginned before the quality is lost. Increased in module temperature is an after-the-fact indicator of an excessive moisture condition that could have been avoided. Internal module temperature should be checked on a daily basis for the first 5 to 7 days, then every 3 to 4 days. a rapid continuing rise in temperature of 15 to 20 F or more during this period generally signifies high moisture, the module should be ginned as soon as possible. If the temperature of 120F is reached, the module should be ginned immediately to avoid major losses. High moisture modules cand increase in temperature slowly over a period of up to several weeks. Module that are harvested at a safe storage moisture will generaly not increase more than 10 to 15 F duing the first 5 to 7 day period. These modules will level off and may even start cooling down with in a few week after the first week.