NMSU professor, students assist with endangered bat species research

NMSU professor, students assist with endangered bat species research DATE: 07/31/2017 WRITER: Kristie Garcia, 575-646-4211, kmgarcia@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Kathryn Stoner, 575-646-7051, kstoner@nmsu.edu What do tequila and bats have in common? You may not think the two go together, but the Mexican long-nosed bat and agave plants have a unique connection. Agave plants are native to certain arid regions in Mexico and parts of the Southwestern United States. Mexican long-nosed bats – Leptonycteris nivalis – migrate from Central and Northern Mexico into the southern areas of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. This endangered bat, with a long nose and a fuzzy body, pollinates columnar cactuses and agave plants. And tequila is a Mexican liquor made from the blue agave, a succulent-type plant. “The bats’ migration up from Mexico is initiated by the corridor of the blooming agave and columnar cactus, which have the main food item – the flower nectar – these bats eat,” said Kathryn Stoner, professor and department head of the New Mexico State University Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology. “So, not only is this bat an endangered species, but it has economic value because it pollinates the tequila plant.” The Mexican long-nosed bat was listed as an endangered species in 1988 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and in 1991 under the Mexican Endangered Species Act. Stoner, a faculty member in the NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, is part of the Nivalis Conservation Network, a binational group of researchers working to conserve this particular bat species. Bat Conservation International initiated this collaborative research effort last year. Earlier this month, Stoner and her graduate student, Scarlet Sellers, made their way to Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and down to Cueva del Infierno, a known L. nivalis cave. The purpose of the trip was to learn how to properly mark the bats in order to track their migratory patterns. Senior director of conservation science at BCI, Winifred Frick, showed Stoner and Sellers, as well as researchers from BCI, Texas, Universidad de Nuevo Leon and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the proper technique of pit-tagging the bats. “With the pit-tagging technique, you insert small pits under the skin with an injector,” Stoner said. “Because this is an endangered species, the marking of the bats requires special permits, so we wanted to be trained by the best.” Once the bats have been marked at locations such as Cueva del Infierno, the next step is for Nivalis Conservation Network researchers to track the bats at particular caves in their respective areas. For Stoner and Sellers, they will collect data from a cave in Southwestern New Mexico. So, how exactly do the researchers record the presence of these high-flying, strong, nocturnal creatures? They use a large rope antenna that is placed around the entrance and exit to the cave. “The rope antenna actually looks like a cable, and it’s connected to a data system that records a bat when it flies through,” Stoner said. “Having these bats marked – and we’re all making large efforts to mark many bats in each of our respective areas – we’re hoping that we’ll get a bat that flies into our cave that was marked in Cueva del Infierno, for example.” Rope antennae are also set up in caves in Big Bend, Texas, in Baja, California and in several locations in Mexico. The overarching goal of the collaborative effort is to determine the bats’ movement patterns, including arrival dates and departure dates, as well as location of origin. Sellers, who is pursing a master’s degree in wildlife sciences at NMSU, is specifically studying the diet of the Mexican long-nosed bat in New Mexico. Stoner said although bats mainly eat agave, the plant is scarce in New Mexico, and there are not any columnar cactuses in the area where these bats are in New Mexico, only in Arizona. NMSU student Rachel Burke is also studying under Stoner. Burke, who is pursuing a master’s degree in wildlife sciences like Sellers, has modeled the availability of food resources across the landscapes so researchers can recognize areas where L. nivalis may be found. “This will help us determine locations at which we can more carefully look for caves and roosting areas,” Stoner said. Stoner’s NMSU team has received help from several entities in support of bat research. “Locally, we’ve received funding from T&E, which is a nonprofit organization that funds ecological research, and many NMSU students receive funding from T&E,” she said. The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management’s Las Cruces District has also supported the Mexican long-nosed bat research effort. “The BLM has helped us significantly with our research,” Stoner said. “The local BLM office has helped us with the equipment. The equipment is on loan, but we can use it whenever we need to do our research on Leptonycteris.” This is a long-term research project. But in the end, Stoner and the research team hope to save the Mexican long-nosed bat, which may in turn help save the tequila.

Public meeting to discuss the proposed drafting of the “Eddy County Man Camps and Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance” and the proposed “Eddy County Business Licensing and Registration Ordinance”

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Eddy County Administration is providing notice to inform all interested parties that Eddy County will hold two public meetings. The first public meeting will be held on Thursday, August 3rd, at 6:00 p.m. at the Eddy County Public Works Building located in Artesia, NM at 2611 S. 13th St. The second public meeting will be held on Monday, August 7th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Eddy County Commission Chambers located at 101 W. Greene St, Carlsbad, NM. The purpose of both meetings is to invite public comment on two proposed ordinances – “Eddy County Solid Waste, Nuisance and Illegal Dumping Ordinance” and the “Eddy County rural Addressing Ordinance.” Additionally the August 3rd meeting will be the scheduled monthly Planning and Development Advisory Committee meeting and will discuss the proposed drafting of the “Eddy County Man Camps and Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance” and the proposed “Eddy County Business Licensing and Registration Ordinance” A copy of the agenda and draft ordinances is available online at http://www.co.eddy.nm.us/ and is available during normal business hours at the Eddy County Administration Building. The public is invited to attend. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of aid or service to attend the meeting, please contact the Community Services Department at least 24 hours in advance at (575) 887-9511. This notice is given pursuant to Section 10-15-1 NMSA 1978.

New or Revised NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Publicaions.

The following CES publications are now available online in PDF format. Guide B-708: Documents Required to Transport Horses in New Mexico Revised by Jason L. Turner (Extension Horse Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences & Natural Resources) Donald Martinez (Extension Agriculture Agent, Rio Arriba County Extension Office) John Wenzel (Extension Veterinarian, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences & Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B708.pdf Guía B-708: Documentos Requeridos para el Transporte de Caballos en Nuevo México Revisado por Donald Martinez (Agente de Extensión Agrícola, Oficina de Extensión Cooperativa del Condado de Rio Arriba) Rossana Sallenave (Especialista de Extensión en Ecología Acuática, Departamento de Extensión en Ciencias Animales y de los Recursos Naturales) Jason L. Turner (Professor/Especialista de Extensión de Caballos, Departamento de Extensión en Ciencias Animales y de los Recursos Naturales) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B708sp.pdf Guide I-111: The Benefits of Strength Training and Tips for Getting Started By Raquel Garzon (Extension Nutrition and Wellness Specialist, Dept. of Extension Family and Consumer Sciences) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_i/I111.pdf

Eddy County fair just ended but I thought I would run this anyway.

THE WESTERNER https://thewesterner.blogspot.com/ Sunday, July 30, 2017 Cowgirl Sass & Savvy See you at the county fair by Julie Carter It is county fair time –locally and pretty much all across America. Spending a day at the fair is as much a lesson in history and anthropology as it is an excuse to eat homemade pie and see cute bunnies in their best fur coats. County fairs nuture the roots of rural life. They are one of the few places left that bring together the generations of agriculture to experience a culture and a heritage that has been left behind by the majority population of this country. Yet the fair is a teaching tool as well. I believe one it’s best functions is to provide today's youth with a glimpse into the lives of the generations before them. Local 4-H clubs and FFA chapters champion agricultural education and community service. The members work on several projects throughout the year and come to county fairs to exhibit their accomplishments. Fair projects can include anything from baking and knitting to crafts and photography, but at most fairs, the focus is on the show ring where youth exhibit animals they’ve been preparing for months. The majority of the fair's events are livestock contests in which 4-H and FFA members display their animals and receive prizes based on which animal shows best confirmation, grooming and obedience. Fairs are about families. What you don’t see when you arrive at the fair is the hustle, bustle, cram, jam and near panic that goes on within those families for a few weeks prior to the fair itself. Sometime around the Fourth of July, the fair families look up at the calendar and gasp. Only a few weeks until the county fair. They begin to give a serious eye to the livestock that up until that moment simply got fed twice a day, exercised occasionally and not much else. Exercise and nutrition plans quickly take on a scientific edge with the only comfort coming from hearing the neighboring 4-H’er say, “I still can’t catch mine.” Ok, so maybe almost everyone, at least someone, started as late as the kid you thought had it all together until he admitted to finally just now getting to work with his goats, sheep and steer. Ag teachers and extension agents hit the road almost 24/7 during the final “crunch” to get every fair animal in the county clipped and trimmed in time. You can spot them easily. They are carrying at least one set of hog scales and two trimming racks in the back of their pickup. They spend long days crisscrossing the county to clip the next set of lambs or spend hours fine tuning the coiffure on a couple of fat steers. Show boxes are sorted and re-organized, show ring wardrobes planned and the last-minute rush is on to finish the braiding, welding and baking projects. Then finally the fair becomes about relaxing, having fun and showing off a little of what has been learned and accomplished. Lifelong memories are made annually as another generation passes through the show ring. Families make memories they won’t have time to enjoy until years later, but when that season in their life passes, they will first feel like a big part of their lives is missing. It really was more fun than it seemed like at the time. Julie can be reached for comment at jcarternm@gmail.com

USDA Farm Service Agency News Release - New Mexico Producers Have Until Aug. 1, to Submit FSA County Committee Nominations

Albuquerque, NM, July 17, 2017 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Executive Director for New Mexico, Brenda Archuleta, today reminded farmers and ranchers that they have until Aug. 1, 2017, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local FSA county committees. County committees are made up of farmers and ranchers elected by other producers in their communities to guide the delivery of farm programs at the local level. Committee members play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of FSA. Committees consist of three to 11 members and meet once a month or as needed to make important decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide there are over 7,700 farmer and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. "The Aug. 1 deadline is quickly approaching,” said Acting SED, Brenda Archuleta. "If you know of a great candidate or want to nominate yourself to serve on your local county committee, go to your county FSA office right now and submit the nomination form. I especially encourage the nomination of beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as women and minorities. This is your opportunity to have a say in how federal programs are delivered in your county.” To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency administered program, and reside in the local administrative area where the election is being held. A complete list of eligibility requirements, more information and nomination forms are available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. All nominees must sign the nomination form FSA-669A. All nomination forms for the 2017 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA county office by Aug. 1, 2017. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by Nov. 6 and are due back to the local USDA Service Centers on Dec. 4. The newly elected county committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2018.

USDA Farm Service Agency State Office in Albuquerque to Move to New Location

USDA Farm Service Agency State Office in Albuquerque to Move to New Location Albuquerque, NM, July 17, 2017 – USDA Farm Service Agency Acting State Executive Director, Brenda Archuleta announced today the agency will be moving its State Office from 6200 Jefferson Street, Suite 211 to One Sun Plaza Building, 100 Sun Avenue, NE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, NM. Due to the move, the State Office Staff will be available by appointment only, Thursday, July 20, 2017 and Friday, July 21, 2017. The State Office will resume walk-in business at 8:00a.m. on Monday July 24, 2017. Other USDA agencies also moving in the weeks to follow will include Rural Development (RD) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) State Offices. The moves are being conducted to fill office space vacated by the U.S. Forest Service. When: July 20, 2017 and July 21, 2017. What: USDA Farm Service Agency State Office will be moving to a new office space. Where: One Sun Plaza Building, 100 Sun Avenue, NE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Contact: For information on this News Release, please contact Veronica Tribbet, Farm Service Agency Administrative Specialist during business hours at (505)761-4900 or at Veronica.Tribbet@nm.usda.gov.

House Panel Lifts Ban on Slaughtering Horses for Meat

House Panel Lifts Ban on Slaughtering Horses for Meat The New York Times By Associated Press A House panel has voted to lift a ban on slaughtering horses at meat processing plants. The move by the House Appropriations Committee would reverse a horse slaughter ban that was contained in a huge catchall spending bill signed into law by President Trump in early May. A move to renew the slaughter ban, pushed by California Democrat Lucille Roybal-Allard, was defeated by a 27-25 vote. The Horse slaughter ban has mostly been in force for more than a decade. The ban is enforced by blocking the Agriculture Department from providing inspectors at meat plants that slaughter horses and is in place through Sept. 30. There are currently no horse slaughter facilities operating in the U.S.