KOAT reports that Europe is interested in our chile.

LEMITAR, N.M. —

Representatives from the European Union visit Five Star Chile on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, to talk about trade and present opportunities to New Mexico farmers about exporting products to Europe.

"My main goal is to present the real picture of the European Union as a friendly entity to the United States, which is the No. 1 partner for agriculture," said Lorenzo Terzi, the minister counselor for health and food safety in the United States for the European Union.

He says Europeans could easily start adding certified New Mexico chile to their dishes.

"I consider that there are no sanitary barriers to the export of this product," Terzi said.

Five Star Chile owner Glen Duggins says the USDA contacted the New Mexico Chile Association about representatives from the European Union coming to visit. His farm was chosen.

"It's pretty cool that somebody from Europe has found out about New Mexico chile; that's the first step," Duggins said. "They're here on the chile farm, step two. Step three, we're just going to continue to get the word out and who knows, maybe we'll just be sending it over to Europe."

NMSU to host virtual field trip to celebrate 75th anniversary of Smokey Bear

NMSU to host virtual field trip to celebrate 75th anniversary of Smokey Bear
DATE: 05/15/2019
WRITER: Victoria Balderrama, 575-646-1614, vbalde@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Adrian Velarde, 575-646-2259, avelarde@nmsu.edu
New Mexico State University’s KRWG TV-Las Cruces, KNME TV-Albuquerque and KENW TV-Portales have partnered with the USDA Forest Service and the Prince William Network to bring students, teachers and the general public a virtual field trip that will be webcast live from Smokey Bear’s birthplace in Capitan, New Mexico, Nov. 7.

In 1950, an injured bear cub found himself caught in a burning forest. The firefighters who retrieved him were so moved by his bravery, they named him Smokey. Smokey Bear spent his life promoting fire prevention and continues to remind people to be responsible when using fire.

After 75 years, Smokey’s message is still relevant today. During this distance learning adventure, learn how natural resource managers and communication specialists have worked together to promote Smokey’s message.

“Working together, we can reach hundreds of thousands of people with an important message that is near and dear to the hearts of the people of New Mexico,” said KRWG General Manager Adrian Velarde.
There will be two webcasts about Smokey Bear including a pretaped video. “Smokey Bear LIVE: Only you Can Prevent Wildfires” will be web streamed at https://smokeybearlive.org/ beginning Oct. 6.

On Nov. 7, an interactive program will be available for students and others to send questions about Smokey, wildfire prevention, firefighting and more to scientific experts who will answer the questions during the webcast.

Visit https://smokeybearlive.org/, to register and to take part in the virtual field trip and download lessons plans and other resources about Smokey Bear and wildfire prevention.

Howard Stroup Scholarship awared.

This year’s Howard Stroup Scholarship was awarded to Gracelyn Kiel Casey from Artesia High School. She was the only student we received a qualifying application from. Her major field of study will be Agriculture Education.

USDA-APHIS - Ecaluates risk fomr fresh pepper from Colombia.

Washington, D.C., May 9, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of fresh pepper fruit from Colombia into the continental United States.  Based on the analysis, APHIS scientists have determined the application of one or more protective measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh pepper fruit from Colombia. We are making the pest risk analysis and risk management document outlining those measures available to the public for review and comment.

To safeguard U.S. agriculture, the importation of fresh peppers from Colombia would be subject to a series of safeguarding measures taken by growers, packers and shippers that, in combination, minimize pest risks before a commodity is imported in the continental United States. The following measures are included as conditions for importation: Places where the pepper fruit is grown must be registered with Colombian officials; production locations must use approved pest trapping measures and those locations must be monitored; places of production must be inspected prior to harvesting; peppers must be packed within 24 hours of harvest using insect-proof materials; and, inspections would be required at the port where the fruit enters the continental United States. In addition, Colombia would have to issue a phytosanitary certificate stating that the consignment was inspected and found free of quarantine pests. Colombia would also have to enter into an operational work plan with APHIS that spells out the daily procedures the country will take to implement the protective measures identified.