New USDA Scientific Research Program Promotes Sustainable Agricultural Practices

New USDA Scientific Research Program Promotes Sustainable Agricultural Practices Media Contact: Tara Weaver-Missick, 202-720-2677 WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins announced today that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has invested $77.8 million in research that will focus on sustaining a more abundant, nutritious, and accessible food supply. “Investing in high-value research that promotes sustainably intensified agricultural practices, while addressing climate adaptation and limited resources, ensures long-term agricultural productivity and profitability and provides unprecedented opportunities for American farmers and producers,” said Hutchins, who leads USDA’s Research, Education and Economics (REE) mission area. “USDA continues to support our nation’s farmers through investments that help strengthen our rural communities.” As part of this funding investment, eight land-grant universities will lead projects aimed at integrating sustainable agricultural approaches covering the entire food production system. Among the eight universities leading these projects, Western Illinois University will lead research aimed at developing pennycress as an oilseed crop that can be used as biofuel. Its goal is to help farmers throughout the U.S. Midwest Corn Belt and in other temperate-regions to grow pennycress as a winter-annual cash cover crop. Pennycress is a unique, high-yielding oilseed crop that can provide environmental benefits including reducing nitrogen runoff and preventing soil erosion. New Mexico State University will focus on improving the efficiency of Southwestern ranches by using systems models and linking the socioeconomic and environmental trade-offs associated with heritage cattle genetics, precision ranching and range finishing. This will ultimately help Southwest producers find more economical and sustainable ways to raise beef cattle using precision farming techniques. North Carolina State University is leading a multi-institutional project that focuses on increasing crop productivity, conserving natural resources, and reducing the agro-ecological footprint using cover crops. This research investment taps into creative intellect from 19 universities and scientific experts from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. This research investment is part of a new program within NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems program, the nation’s leading and largest competitive grants program for agricultural sciences. AFRI is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and addresses major challenges in food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. “If we want a sustainable food production system that also safeguards our natural resources, we need approaches that are both innovative and economically viable for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and food producers.  This ultimately benefits our nation’s consumers,” said Hutchins.  A list of the eight universities and their research projects is available on the NIFA website. - 30 – USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension, and promotes  transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges.

NMSU researchers determining amount of water needed to raise wine grapes

NMSU researchers determining amount of water needed to raise wine grapes
DATE: 09/12/2019
WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Gill Giese, 505-865-7340, ggiese@nmsu.edu
BERNALILLO – How much water does it take to grow wine grapes?

A study coordinated by New Mexico State University at Santa Ana’s Tamaya Vineyard north of Bernalillo has learned how much water is used by three varieties of wine grapes.

“We are finding out how much water is used by the plant compared to how much was applied,” said Gill Giese, NMSU viticulture specialist. “This year we gathered data regarding how much water three different varieties used. The next step is to monitor how much water is applied to produce the quantity and quality for the desired production goal, as well as the specific type and style of wine.”

As the multi-year study progresses, the researchers will gather data to provide growers and water regulating government agencies with practical quantities of water needed to grow grapes in the Middle Rio Grande region of New Mexico.

The Santa Ana Agricultural Enterprise is gathering data for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding the amount of water used for growing grapes, alfalfa and corn.

“We received a grant from NRCS to gather data regarding the amount of water we use as well as how much fertilizer and compost is applied,” said Jim Peterson, manager of the Santa Ana vineyard. “We want to learn the optimal amount of times to water with our drip irrigation system.”

NMSU joined in the study to gather additional data.

“This type of study has not been done in this region,” Giese said. “With the wine industry growing in New Mexico, and water availability decreasing, this information will be vital.”

The water requirements of Vitis vinifera wine grapes; Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, were calculated.

“We want to know how much water the plant is actually using versus how much it really needs at each of the growth stages during a given season,” Giese said.

Grapevine stem water potential and volumetric soil water were measured from bud break through harvest to determine vine water stress.

The data was collected by Elda Quintana, a graduate student intern from the Universidad Technologica de Paquime in Casa Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico.

The stem water potential was determined with a Scholander pressure chamber, also known as a “pressure bomb,” where an increasing level of pressure was placed around a leaf stem until sap bubbled from the stem cut. The higher the pressure applied, the less moisture in the plant, which correlates to degree of plant water stress.

The volumetric soil water was determined with a frequency reflectometry probe measuring percentage of moisture at six depths.

“We compared these measurements with estimated vine water requirements by using growing season reference evapotranspiration adjusted to the grape crop’s evapotranspiration that was influenced by the actual vine canopy size,” Giese said. “This is referred to as the crop coefficient.”

This year’s study was limited to two vines for each variety. Next growing season, Giese plans to replicate the study to gather a wider base of data for statistical analysis.

“We learned that, under this year’s weather conditions, Pinot Noir required less water per vine than the other two varieties,” Giese said. “This result was impacted by the variable soil conditions within the planting and impacted the water required within each variety.”

“This research can serve as a reference for wine growers looking for efficient water management, as well as people who intend to establish a vineyard in a region that has similar characteristics as New Mexico,” Giese said.

“It was nice having Elda working on this study this summer, because the data can eventually be used by grape growers in Chihuahua, Mexico, to make better use of water through the proper management of their irrigation systems in a semi-arid region.”
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NMSU to host forage field day Sept. 21 at Los Lunas

NMSU to host forage field day Sept. 21 at Los Lunas
DATE: 09/05/2019
WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Mark Marsalis, 505-865-7340, marsalis@nmsu.edu
LOS LUNAS – Forage crops are the foundation for the state’s largest agricultural industries, and provide the basis for the 3.2 billion livestock and milk production sectors.

New Mexicans farm more than 400,000 acres of forage products valued at over $325 million annually. In the Middle Rio Grande Valley alone, more than 22,000 acres of hay, pasture, and silage are produced to provide feed for more than 110,000 head of livestock, according to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s agricultural statistics.

Providing research-based information through field days, workshops and publications, New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences helps farmers efficiently produce high quality forage for a wide array of livestock uses.

NMSU’s Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas will host a Forage Field Day from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, to share the latest research information and production considerations important for hay and pasture producers. The science center is located at 1036 Miller Road, Los Lunas.

“This event will showcase the current research being conducted on various forage crops by NMSU researchers across the state,” said Mark Marsalis, Extension forage specialist at the NMSU science center at Los Lunas. “We will also receive feedback from producers on what issues they are facing and how we might address those in the future.”

State Extension specialists will be on hand to provide an overview of ongoing research projects involving hay and pasture production, weed control and fertilizer management. They will also be available to answer questions from producers.

Topics at the field day include:

- Rotational grazing and fencing considerations, presented by Leonard Lauriault, NMSU Forage Crop Management Scientist at the Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari

- Potassium fertilizer studies in alfalfa, presented by John Idowu, NMSU Extension Agronomist, Las Cruces


- Plantain weed control studies in alfalfa, presented by Leslie Beck, NMSU Extension Weed Specialist, Las Cruces

- Alfalfa, tall fescue, and orchardgrass variety trials, presented by Mark Marsalis, NMSU Extension Forage Specialist, Los Lunas

- Teff grass and sorghum forages as alternative crops, presented by Marsalis.

This event will coincide with the Rio Grande Heritage Festival at the Los Lunas science center.

Registration is free for both events, which will begin at 8:30 a.m.

For more information on the Forage Field Tour, contact Mark Marsalis at 505-865-7340, or at marsalis@nmsu.edu.
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