Woods Note: Last year they were barging that the population was down and all the vegetation was coming back after being over grazed by Elk, giving credit to introduction of wolfs. Did they skip Ecology 101 on predator prey relationships. Northern Yellowstone elk herd at highest level in more than a decade The elk herd that resides in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park and the southern end of Montana’s Paradise Valley is growing, according to a new count conducted by state and park biologists. During aerial surveys earlier this month, biologists from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Yellowstone National Park counted 7,579 elk in what’s known as the northern range, an area stretching from the Lamar Valley north to Six Mile Creek. The total is 42 percent higher than 2017’s count of 5,349. Karen Loveless, a biologist with FWP, said the significant jump likely means they missed counting some elk last year, but they still believe the population is healthy and growing. It’s the fourth consecutive year that the number has increased.. What caused this turnaround? Increasing numbers have coincided with the trend of more elk migrating north from the park and into Montana. More than three-quarters of the herd was spotted north of Yellowstone this year, a percentage that’s been fairly consistent in each count since 2013. Prior to 2006, less than half the herd regularly migrated north. Notice they have to leave the Park to have a healthy and growing population. Source: THE WESTERNER https://thewesterner.blogspot.com/

NMSU partnering with Colombia to help local farmers rebuild after years of conflict

NMSU partnering with Colombia to help local farmers rebuild after years of conflict DATE: 02/05/2018 WRITER: Ximena Tapia, 575-646-6233, xtapia@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Luz Urquijo-Hawkes, 575-646-3215, urquijo@nmsu.edu New Mexico State University is helping post-conflict Colombia get back on its feet through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Farmer-to-Farmer program. The F2F program “promotes sustainable economic growth, food security and agricultural development worldwide,” according to their website. The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences was selected by Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance, a partner organization that works with USAID, to implement a one-year F2F project in August 2017 and sent their first volunteer to Colombia in January 2018. Each volunteer will go on an all-expenses-paid, two-week assignment with their partnering college, University of La Salle, and their host organization, Salva Terra, a Colombian Non-Governmental Organization that works with marginalized communities in post-conflict areas of that country. The program is sending out 10 volunteers from now until June. Brenda Seevers, professor in the department of Agricultural and Extension Education, was the first NMSU volunteer in Colombia. “Colombians are a warm and welcoming people. My knowledge has increased, my eyes have been opened and my heart touched,” she said. The volunteers going to Colombia include professors, extension agents, one graduate student, and researchers who specialize in certain areas, such as water research. “The F2F program hopes to help build stronger linkages between La Salle University, community groups such as Salva Terra and local producers,” Seevers said. “If successful, many Colombians will experience a stronger agriculture system and a higher quality of life.” Luz Urquijo-Hawkes, the F2F program coordinator at NMSU, said volunteering is a “great way for people to offer their skills to make a positive impact on people in need.” The program not only benefits the people of Colombia, but also offers professional and personal development for the volunteers. Rodrick McSherry, the F2F principal investigator and Director of Global Agricultural Initiatives in the college of ACES, says it is a personally enriching experience for the NMSU community as well. “The volunteer comes back as a changed person. It’s an opportunity for them to see how their specializations can be used in a different setting,” he said. “It’s good for the individual, it’s good for our institution, and it’s good for New Mexico.” Once the volunteers come back to Las Cruces, it is not the end of their journey. They will have many opportunities to talk about their experiences with others. NMSU’s Marketing and Communications will interview each of the volunteers when they come back. They will also have the chance to talk to other students and faculty about their time in Colombia. The F2F program would like to send 10 volunteers to Colombia, and there are currently eight ready to go. They are still taking applications for two more candidates. Anyone is welcome to apply. They are especially looking for specialists in the areas of agronomy, water, climate, food safety or any related field. For more information or to apply, please visit http://aces.nmsu.edu/international/farmer-to-farmer.html.

HB161 - AGRICULTURE & VEGETABLE SEED LAW PREEMPTION

HB161 - AGRICULTURE & VEGETABLE SEED LAW PREEMPTION Seed Standardization = Freedom to Farm = Fresh, Local Food NMF&LB supports HB161, - Agriculture & Vegetable Seed Law Preemption giving the New Mexico Department of Agriculture regulatory control over which seeds can be planted in our state. Farmers in certain counties in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington cannot "propagate, cultivate, raise or grow seeds or crops of genetically engineered organisms" due to the passage of local ordinances. In New Mexico this would affect not only corn, cotton and alfalfa growers who use Roundup ready seeds, but would also leave open the door for a future ban on seeds with a neonicotinoid coating. There are groups that oppose this We anticipate that the bill will be heard by the House State Government, Indian & Veterans Affairs on Tuesday, February 6th. This committee is comprised of: Georgene Louis (D) Chair (505) 986-4327 georgene.louis@nmlegis.gov Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez (D) Vice Chair (505) 986-4248 rodolpho.martinez@nmlegis.gov Sharon Clahchischilliage (R) (505) 986-4453 sharon.clahchischill@nmlegis.gov Yvette Herrell (R) (505) 986-4210 yherrell@yahoo.com Wonda Johnson (D) (505) 986-4236 dwonda.johnson@nmlegis.gov Derrick J. Lente (D) (505) 986-4433 derrick.lente@nmlegis.gov William "Bill" R. Rehm (R) (505) 986-4214 rehm@nmlegis.gov Dennis J. Roch (R) (505) 986-4227 denroch@hotmail.com G. Andrés Romero (D) (505) 986-4435 andres.romero@nmlegis.gov We know that there are significant forces aligned against this bill including environmentalist groups, pueblo governments and acequias associations. We need to be just as vocal. Please contact the committee members and urge them to support the bill for these reasons: • HB161 Seed Preemption would ensure that farmers are not navigating a patchwork of county and municipality rules related to seeds. Passing HB161 would give NMDA control over seeds and give famers the predictability they need. • HB 161 ensures the consistent statewide regulation of seed, just as is the case with pesticides. The measure simply ensures that the authority to regulate seed lies with the experts at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Thirty fives states have seen the wisdom of one, state-wide body regulating seeds and have passed similar laws. • Seed standardization legislation maintains private property rights. Farmers are seed experts and they should decide which crops make sense for their family farm. • The bill provides for regulatory consistency, creating an environment where the marketplace drives business decisions, not a patchwork of regulations that creates burdensome roadblocks for family farms. • Codifying the uniform regulation of seed by the statewide experts - well credentialed officials at NMDA - provides long term certainty for growers and farmers. This is especially useful given that there are 136 municipal governments (county, city & town) in New Mexico. • Farmers and growers in New Mexico may own or lease land in multiple jurisdictions. Being forced to comply with varying regulations across city and town lines, even though a farmer is on his or her private property, is cost prohibitive and burdensome. Keep an eye out for future HB161 Calls to Action, we're going to need your help to get this bill passed!

Apply Now for a Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Award

Apply Now for a Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Award Protect your community from wildfire by applying for a $500 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day grant through the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, Saturday, May 5, 2018, encourages communities to work together to address their wildfire risk. From January 8 through March 2, 2018, NFPA welcomes applications for one of 150 funding awards. Develop a plan now to work with partners and identify wildfire risks in your community. NFPA’s Firewise USA site has resources you can use to understand your risk. To view past projects, visit the 2017 Success Stories. For more information on wildfire preparedness, visit the U.S. Fire Administration’s Wildfire page.

Beef Ambassador contest

The 2018 NM Beef Ambassador Contest will be held Friday, April 6, 2018 during the State FFA Career Development Events on the NMSU campus in Las Cruces. A three member beef ambassador team, comprised of the top two senior winners and the first place junior winner, will be chosen to travel the state to share factual information regarding beef nutrition, food safety and positive stewardship practices through educational programs, special events and social media. The contestant age groups are: Junior (Ages 15-17) and Seniors (Ages 18-20). The application, brochure and informational sheets are attached and can also be found on the New Mexico CowBelle organization’s website at www.newmexicocowbelles.org. The contest entry deadline is March 15th. Thanks for helping me to promote the contest! Feel free to give Wayne a call if you have any questions.

Summer Intern for working with Cooperative Extension County Office.

We are happy to again offer a summer intern program with Cooperative Extension Service. Through this program, students can intern in a county office or Extension department for the summer. They receive pay and small travel allocation from central extension funds. In return provide assistance and learn about Extension programs. At the end of the experience they write up a review of the experience and things learned. Please contact your local county agent for a application form for any NMSU students that may be interested. Thank you

USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2018

USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2018 02/01/2018 10:00 AM EST WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for February 2018. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for February is 1.750 percent, up from 1.625 percent in January.