NMSU program helps leaders refine their leadership skills

NMSU program helps leaders refine their leadership skills. DATE: 12/11/2015 WRITER: Shelby N. Herrera, 575-646-5368, dancin4h@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Claudia Trueblood, 575-646-6691, nmal@nmsu.edu As Class 10 of the New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program graduates, another group of participants are ready to begin their 18-month learning journey through the program. The New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program was established in 2001 with the goals of identifying and supporting effective leadership among the food, agriculture and natural resource areas. NMAL is a program put on through the Agriculture and Extension Education department of the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. “Speaking with previous participants of the program, I learned that the most valuable experiences they had were being exposed to topics and practices with which they were not familiar, and meeting new people with diverse backgrounds,” said Claudia Trueblood, NMAL program coordinator. “These experiences helped them broaden their perspectives and become more effective leaders in their industries and communities.” The New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program celebrated the graduation of the 10th cohort, last month. These graduates were: • Andy Ellett, producer and welder for Ellett Enterprises • Darryl Multine, chief financial officer of Navajo Agricultural Products Industry • Jason New, marketing specialist for New Mexico Department of Agriculture • Jeff Elmore, branch manager for Helena Chemical Company • Zach Riley, director of government affairs and North East regional director for the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau • Scott Bailey, assistant vice president of the Farm Credit of New Mexico, Las Cruces Branch • Terra V. Winter, associate vice president for development for the NMSU Foundation • Traci van der Ploeg, assistant at the Mid Frisian Dairy • T. J. Harrison, salesman for Crop Production Services • Kathy Craig, producer for Terry Rhodes Hay & Horse They welcomed the Class 11 into the program as well on this day. Class 11 members include: • Newt McCarty, NMSU Extension agent at the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service Office • Valerie Huerta, regional director of New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau • Lacy Levine, natural resources policy & planning analyst for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture • Shannon Norris, NMSU ACES recruiting and retention coordinator • Dustin Ptolemy, loan officer for Farm Credit of New Mexico, Roswell Branch • Alicia Briggs, deputy director of New Mexico Cattle Growers Association • Ryan Garcia, assistant corn crop manager for Navajo Agriculture Products Industry • Cheri Lujan, district manager of East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District • Toby Boone, program manager at Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District The program offers a practical, action-oriented experience in which participants meet nine times, including seven in-state seminars, a Washington, D.C., learning experience, and a seminar at an international location. Through the seminars, participants deepen their understanding about issues relevant to New Mexico, agriculture and natural resources; find common ground with people from diverse backgrounds; expand their network of personal and organizational contacts; gain political awareness and learning the process of organizational decision making; and develop skills necessary for leadership at local, state, and national levels. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews

Sherriff confirms NM rancher kidnapped, NM State Police investigating

Sherriff confirms NM rancher kidnapped, NM State Police investigating From: Carol Capas Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2015 4:55:37 PM Subject: New Mexico Kidnapping Report Good Afternoon, As some of you may be aware, there is a kidnapping report being investigated by the New Mexico State Police along with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The basis for this report is that a ranch hand from the Animas NM area was on his ranch yesterday when he observed a parked vehicle with two men inside. The ranch hand reported that he stopped to see what was going on when the men said their vehicle was broken down and they then forced him to drive them to Willcox Arizona in his vehicle The ranch hand reported that he did drive the two to Willcox and they told him not to report anything because they would have someone watching him. The ranch hand did report this incident and the New Mexico State Police contacted the Sheriff's Office for cooperation and assistance to investigate this report. The NM State Police is the lead agency with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office providing assistance. The NM State Police advised that US Border Patrol have two subjects in custody as a result of a short vehicle pursuit and leads that were developed at the scene of the reported kidnapping. It is unknown what, if any, involvement these two subjects have in the reported kidnapping, however, both subjects are being interviewed in relation to this incident. The Sheriff's Office is working diligently to bring this case to closure for the peace of mind and well being of our ranchers and our citizens. We encourage anyone with information on suspicious activity to call us immediately and we will continue working in close cooperation with you all. Stay safe out there! Carol A. Capas Cochise County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer 520-432-9504

No sign of crashed plane after mysterious mountain fire

No sign of crashed plane after mysterious mountain fire Federal investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire on Guadalupe Peak on Tuesday night that was originally believed to be caused by a crashed airplane. Search crews on the mountain did not find any wreckage Wednesday to indicate an aircraft had crashed, said Lynn Lunsford, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Local authorities had indicated to the FAA early on that a plane had crashed and reports by pilots surveying the peak indicated the same. Dispatchers received a report of an airplane that had crashed into the east side of Guadalupe Peak around 6 p.m. Tuesday, setting a half-mile stretch of wilderness on fire. Crews searching the area Wednesday morning were left puzzled after no debris was found. Elizabeth Jackson, public information officer with the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, said the fire has been contained. She confirmed that search crews have come up empty handed in the search for debris, survivors or victims of the supposed crash. Jackson said accelerant such as gasoline could have been a factor in the size of the fire on the peak, but said there is no way to confirm yet whether the fire was natural, deliberately set or the result of an accident. Kirkland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo have both said they had no maneuvers or operations in the area which could have caused the fire or a possible crash...more

'Keep it in the ground' sparks legal debate over leasing

Phil Taylor, E&E reporter In the late 1920s, with the country awash in crude and prices plummeting, President Hoover ordered the Interior Department to cease all oil leasing. The decision -- aimed at conserving the government's mineral bounty for boom times -- was legal, according to a 1931 Supreme Court ruling that found Interior is under no obligation to lease the federal estate. That ruling resonates today as environmental groups and liberal politicians call on the Obama administration to again stop the sale of federally owned oil, gas and coal. And this time, they want the ban to be permanent. The Keep It in the Ground movement -- led by 350.org, the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians -- has rekindled a vigorous legal debate over whether the government is obligated to sell publicly owned minerals whose burning could intensify global warming. The question has split legal experts and vexed the Obama administration's top lawyers. To be sure, Interior officials have made no indication that they are prepared to terminate the agency's nearly century-old leasing program. Secretary Sally Jewell has said fossil fuel leasing cannot be cut off overnight if people want to continue driving cars and living in comfortable homes. The Bureau of Land Management sold more than 1,000 oil and gas leases last year covering more than 1 million acres, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is floating a controversial proposal to open the Atlantic Ocean to leasing and drilling for the first time in decades. Yet President Obama has also acknowledged warnings by scientists that some fossil fuels -- roughly 80 percent of the world's coal -- must be kept in the ground to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Activists say Obama could burnish his climate legacy by ending, or at least greatly phasing out, the sale of new fossil fuel leases. At the center of the debate is the Mineral Leasing Act, which Congress passed in 1920 to guide the orderly development of federally owned minerals. Climate activists say that despite many amendments, the law still offers clear authority for Interior to lease or not lease its minerals. MLA says lands "known or believed to contain oil or gas deposits may be leased by the secretary." "'May' means 'may,'" said John Leshy, who served as Interior's top attorney under the Clinton administration and now teaches at the University of California's Hastings College of the Law. Lands are "available if the secretary makes them available." The Supreme Court's ruling on the issue was unambiguous, Leshy said. Interior can ban fossil fuel leasing everywhere except for lands with unique statutes such as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). "A blanket 'no' is politically risky because you invite congressional interference," he said. "But in terms of the legal authority, there's no question." READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Congress recently passed H.R.22 - Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 and it has been signed by the president.

Congress recently passed H.R.22 - Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 and it has been signed by the president. You can find out how your members of congress voted here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll673.xml and here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00331#position Here is a summary of some of the provisions as provided by Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association: Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility – The final bill includes language similar to what was included in the House bill establishing benchmarks that the Department of Transportation must hit before engaging in a rulemaking on raising the minimum levels of financial responsibility. The House bill required DOT to analyze how higher insurance limits would impact costs of medical care, compensation, and how often claims exceed the current minimum levels. At the end of the day, this language makes DOT slow down and examine the impact raising the levels would have on the industry. OOIDA supports this language. Changes to the F4A – The language that would have prohibited states from mandating minimum wage for drivers when the carrier pays more than the minimum wage was not included in the bill. OOIDA applauds this decision and will oppose any efforts to standardize mileage pay and continue advocating that a driver’s time should be valued. Interim Hiring Standard – The provision which created an incentive to use only carriers who have a Satisfactory rating from DOT was removed from the bill. OOIDA supports the exclusion of this language. FMCSA/CSA Reform – The Conference Report includes FMCSA and CSA reform that is favorable to our members. We will keep you informed on what exactly these changes will mean for our members. OOIDA has continuously fought for changes to the flawed CSA program, as well as been a vocal opponent to the priority given to certain rulemakings at FMCSA. Under 21 CDL Holders – The included language requires DOT to create a pilot program granting CDLs to drivers under 21. We have opposed all efforts lowering the driving age and will continue to do so. Increase to Truck Size and Weights – No provisions increasing truck size were included in the FAST Act. Every attempt at increasing truck size has failed so far. OOIDA will remain vigilant in our position advocating against heavier trucks. Predatory Towing – OOIDA applauds the expansion of states’ authority to regulate tows performed without the prior consent of an owner or operator of a motor vehicle, commonly referred to as a nonconsensual or third-party tow. Goods Movement Study – OOIDA also applauds the inclusion of a provision which requires the DOT to study the impact delays incurred during the loading and unloading process have on the industry – including safety and livelihood of drivers.

USDA Announces $40 Million Available to Help Ranchers Restore Sage Grouse Habitat

USDA Announces $40 Million Available to Help Ranchers Restore Sage Grouse Habitat Funding Also Available for Six Other Habitats on Privately-Owned Land WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of $40 million to help ranchers and other partners in 11 western states restore and protect sagebrush habitat for greater sage-grouse on privately-owned land. This investment is part of USDA's four-year, $211 million Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0 through the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) partnership. The WLFW partnership uses seven focus species, including sage grouse, to steer public and private conservation investments that improve struggling landscapes and strengthen agricultural operations. "The decisions of agricultural producers have powerful impacts on wildlife and the long-term health of their own land, and the partnerships formed through our Working Lands for Wildlife initiative have had proven success for bringing back several of America's native species," Vilsack said. "By managing ranches with sage grouse and other wildlife in mind, producers also strengthen their own operations, boost resilience and increase agricultural yields." USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses the Sage Grouse Initiative to build on the success of $296.5 million invested with farmers and ranchers in 11 Western States for sage grouse habitat conservation from 2010-2014. The assistance helps ranchers enhance sagebrush habitat by making conservation improvements, like removal of invading conifers and invasive grasses that also improve grazing operations. The partnership also helps ranchers protect other critical habitat, such as wet meadows, by enrolling land into voluntary conservation easements. Conservation efforts on private lands work. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) determined in September 2015 that the sage grouse population was healthy enough that it did not warrant protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)—the result of the unprecedented collaboration in public and private rangeland restoration. Since 2010, ranchers and other private conservation partners participating in the Sage Grouse Initiative have restored and improved 4.4 million acres, benefitting not just the sage grouse, but 350 wildlife species that call the sagebrush landscape their home. Recent data show two sagebrush songbirds that share habitat with sage grouse also saw population increases following restoration activities. One of the birds, the green-tailed towhee, experienced an 81 percent population increase. In addition to the Sage Grouse Initiative, Vilsack also announced more than $10 million available in 2016 to support six other WLFW initiatives for focus species across the country including the New England cottontail, southwestern willow flycatcher, golden-winged warbler, gopher tortoise, bog turtle and lesser prairie-chicken. In September 2015, FWS also announced ESA protections were not warranted for the New England cottontail, in part because of large-scale restoration of young forests on private lands with NRCS assistance. In Louisiana WLFW has helped landowners restore forested wetlands, the driving force behind the proposed delisting of the Louisiana black bear as an endangered species. In Oregon, stream restoration work on private lands led to the delisting of the Oregon chub, the first fish in the history of the ESA to recover and be delisted. Funding for WLFW comes from two 2014 Farm Bill programs that accelerate conservation efforts to benefit wildlife populations by conserving entire landscapes, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. The Conservation Stewardship Program provides additional opportunities for producers wanting to restore sagebrush and prairie habitat for sage grouse and prairie chicken. By participating in WLFW, land managers also gain greater predictability under the ESA. Once enrolled, they may continue implementing their conservation actions without fear of additional regulations. NRCS financial assistance covers part of the cost to implement conservation practices. Interested landowners are encouraged to contact their local USDA service center. #

USDA Announces Funding Available for Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Programs

USDA Announces Funding Available for Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Programs WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of $17.6 million in funding to support research and outreach activities that will help growers, producers, and processors find innovative ways to improve organic agriculture. The grants are being funded through the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), a program that is administered by USDA’s National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Over the past six years, USDA has strengthened programs that support organic producers as they grow, thrive and respond to increasing consumer demand for organic products,” said Secretary Vilsack. “The projects funded through the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative will help identify innovative solutions to critical challenges facing organic agriculture, ultimately strengthening local markets, improving rural economies and expanding access to healthy food for Americans.” The purpose of the OREI program is to fund high-priority research, education, and extension projects that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. Past projects include a project at Washington State University to document the ecological role of wild birds on vegetable farmers, providing owners with practical, science-based recommendations for wild-bird management, and a project a joint project between Pennsylvania State University, Delaware State University, and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore to predict benefits and costs of cover crop mixtures in the context of regional climate, soil and management variability; empower organic farmers to use mixtures to meet their farm-specific goals; and to integrate this research into undergraduate organic education to further prepare the next generation of growers and researchers. Funded projects will aid farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning by delivering practical research-based information and will improve the ability for growers to develop the Organic System Plan required for certification. OREI has eight legislatively-defined goals: • Facilitating the development and improvement of organic agriculture production, breeding, and processing methods • Evaluating the potential economic benefits of organic agricultural production and methods to producers, processors and rural communities • Exploring international trade opportunities for organically grown and processed agricultural commodities • Determining desirable traits for organic commodities • Identifying marketing and policy constraints on the expansion of organic agriculture. • Conducting advanced on-farm research and development that emphasizes observation of, experimentation with, and innovation for working organic farms, including research relating to production, marketing, food safety, socioeconomic conditions, and farm business management • Examining optimal conservation and environmental outcomes relating to organically produced agricultural products • Developing new and improved seed varieties that are particularly suited for organic agriculture Applications are due March 10, 2016. Please see the request for applications for specific program requirements. Today's announcement was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and seeks to make transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts. # 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).