Dr. Rolando Flores will be the next Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Rolando Flores will be the next Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Flores is internationally recognized for his work in food science technology, agricultural engineering, and grain science. Moreover, he has been involved in many international initiatives and has a strong record of accomplishment as an administrator at a land grant university. I believe that under his guidance and leadership, the research, education, and service programs of the college will be strengthened. Please join me in warmly welcoming him to NMSU. Also, I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Jim Libbin for his good work as interim dean, which will continue until Dr. Flores takes over on August 1. Dr. Libbin has been a great asset to the university and I look forward to his continued contributions to NMSU. All the very best, Dan Howard

USDA Extends Deadline for Recording Farm Structure

USDA Extends Deadline for Recording Farm Structure Gives Non-Family Farming Operations More Time to Restructure in Response to 'Actively Engaged' Farm Management Rule WASHINGTON, May 27, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a one-time, 30-day extension to the June 1 deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. This date is used to determine the level of interest an individual holds in a legal entity for the applicable program year. Farming operations will now have until July 1 to complete their restructuring or finalize any operational change. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued the extension in response to farmers and ranchers who requested more time to comply, and to assure that everyone has enough time to provide their information under the new rules. "Most farming and ranching organizations have been able to comply with the actively engaged rule," said Vilsack. "This one-time extension should give producers who may still need to update their farm structure information the additional time to do so." The 2014 Farm Bill provided the Secretary with the direction and authority to amend the Actively Engaged in Farming rules related to management. The final rule established limits on the number of individuals who can qualify as actively engaged using only management. Only one payment limit for management is allowed under the rule, with the ability to request up to two additional qualifying managers operations for large and complex operations. The rule does not apply to farming operations comprised entirely of family members. The rule also does not change the existing regulations related to contributions of land, capital, equipment or labor, or the existing regulations related to landowners with a risk in the crop or to spouses. Producers that planted fall crops have until the 2017 crop year to comply with the new rules. The payment limit associated with Farm Service Agency farm payments is generally limited annually to $125,000 per individual or entity. Since 2009, USDA has worked to strengthen and support American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 American jobs, provides American consumers with more than 80 percent of the food we consume, ensures that Americans spend less of their paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports markets for homegrown renewable energy and materials. USDA has also provided $5.6 billion of disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; expanded risk management tools with products like to Whole Farm Revenue Protection; and helped farm businesses grow with $36 billion in farm credit. The Department has engaged its resources to support a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building new markets and market opportunities; extending new conservation opportunities. USDA has developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,500 biobased products through USDA's BioPreferred program; and invested $64 billion in infrastructure and community facilities to help improve the quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results. #

Oil Field and Non-cropland vegetation managment meeting to be held in Artesia

On May 31 2016 9:00am to 4:00 pm at the Eddy County Fair Grounds Community Center there will be a workshop for those who do vegetation management in non-cropland area including oil field pads, trucking lots, places where in most cases bare ground is desired. DOW chemical is sponsoring this workshop and lunch will be provided if you per-register. Thanks to DOW there is no charge for this workshop. If you don't preregister you may have to eat leftovers. call Robyne at 575-887-6595 or 1-877-887-6595 to pre register. There will be 5 Continue Education Units to meet NM pesticide renew requirements awarded. AGENDA OIL FIELD VEGETATION MANAGEMENT 31 May 2016 Artesia Community Center Eddy County Fair Grounds 9:00 Registrations Coffee 9:30- 10:00 Pesticide Basics- Woods Houghton 10:00 1045 Invasive weed and weed ID Dr. Krit Young 10:50 Environmental Fate of Pesticides Woods Houghton 10:30 11:00 Runoff issues Nick Aschcroft Lunch 1:00 How to choose the correct chemical Greg Alpers 1:30 Soils Dr. Flynn 2:00 Chemical Carry over Greg Alpers 2:30 Plant Selection/timing- Nick Aschcroft 3:00 Mechanics of re-vegetation- BLM Soil and Water Conservation districts

Pecan Nut Case bearer Spray Time Is Latter than the past years

Well this is from last year and I fell behind for this year. Traps indicate that this is accurate for this year. Pecan Nut Case bearer Spray Time Is Latter than the past years Carlsbad, NM,— It is that time of the year again to be thinking about spraying for Pecan Nut Case bearer (PNC). Population projections are not real reliable this year because of the strange weather. We have had a drop in minimum daily temperature since bud break in Pecans. I estimated bud break to be March 30 this year but it varies up and down the valley. Some reported as early as March 26 and other as late as 10 April. Using a Heat unit model developed by Texas A & M Cooperative Extension Service, the Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service predicts the Pecan Nut Case bearer would be later this year. Based on this model crop protection chemicals should be applied May 30 to June 14th. However this may be revised based on reported moth counts in pheromone traps. Computer predictions are best used to decide when to set out pheromone traps, look for eggs and to plan insecticide application but should not be used as the only source of information to make application decisions. This year may prove this. Orchard scouting for eggs should begin two weeks before the predicted spray date as unusual weather conditions near the spray date, can either accelerate or delay egg-laying activity. I am getting reports of third generation larva in the shoots of new growth; these are from crop years 2014 and have managed to over winter to this spring. This is usual for this valley. Most Case bearer eggs are found at the tip of the nut let, either on the top or hidden just under the tiny leaves at the tip of the nut let. A good hand lens is necessary to determine their development, (hatched, white, or pink). Also, look for bud feeding just below the nut cluster to detect the presence of newly hatched larvae. You should examine 10 nut clusters per tree. A cluster is considered infested if it has a Case bearer egg or nut entry. If two or more clusters are infested, insecticide applications may be necessary. Application should be two days after the eggs hatch. When no infested clusters are found you should check again two days later. Keep checking until June 20, which then if an infestation is not found insecticide application should not be required, for the first generation. Scouting for the seconded generation should start July 4th as currently predicted by the heat unit model. With the frost damage nut formation may be delayed. Insecticide selection for backyard trees should be done with caution because of the great potential for spray drift onto nearby garden, pets, and living areas. Only products containing Carbaryl, and Malathion, are labeled and packaged for homeowner for control of pecan nut Case bearer in urban areas. Refer to label instructions for mixing and application rates and precautions. It is in violation of federal law to apply any chemical in any manner except what is on the label. Commercial orchards may use the above products or Interpid, Chlorpyrifos (Lordsban) (Cobalt), Confirm 2F, Pyrethroid or Spintor insecticide. Intrepid is an insecticide, which is labeled for Pecans. This product has a very good residual and is very effective and much safer then Oregano Phosphates and is the current product of choice. It does not harm predatory insects. This product is very safe for use around people. The fact it is not labeled for home owner is a disappointment, because it is safer than some product which is labeled for non-restricted use. Pecan nut Case bearer is one of the most important nut infesting insect pests of pecans. It is found in most the pecan growing areas from the east coast to Eddy County New Mexico. The Case bearer larva tunnels into nut lets shortly after pollination, often destroying all of the nut lets in the cluster. The most effective and reliable method of control is a well-timed insecticide application(s) made in the spring to kill hatching larvae before they tunnel into the nut lets. However, insecticides should only be applied if an infestations and nut load justify treatment. New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating. Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating. Carlsbad, NM,— It is that time of the year again to be thinking about spraying for Pecan Nut Case bearer (PNC). Population projections are not real reliable this year because of the strange weather. We have had a drop in minimum daily temperature since bud break in Pecans. I estimated bud break to be March 30 this year but it varies up and down the valley. Some reported as early as March 26 and other as late as 10 April. Using a Heat unit model developed by Texas A & M Cooperative Extension Service, the Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service predicts the Pecan Nut Case bearer would be later this year. Based on this model crop protection chemicals should be applied May 30 to June 14th. However this may be revised based on reported moth counts in pheromone traps. Computer predictions are best used to decide when to set out pheromone traps, look for eggs and to plan insecticide application but should not be used as the only source of information to make application decisions. This year may prove this. Orchard scouting for eggs should begin two weeks before the predicted spray date as unusual weather conditions near the spray date, can either accelerate or delay egg-laying activity. I am getting reports of third generation larva in the shoots of new growth; these are from crop years 2014 and have managed to over winter to this spring. This is usual for this valley. Most Case bearer eggs are found at the tip of the nut let, either on the top or hidden just under the tiny leaves at the tip of the nut let. A good hand lens is necessary to determine their development, (hatched, white, or pink). Also, look for bud feeding just below the nut cluster to detect the presence of newly hatched larvae. You should examine 10 nut clusters per tree. A cluster is considered infested if it has a Case bearer egg or nut entry. If two or more clusters are infested, insecticide applications may be necessary. Application should be two days after the eggs hatch. When no infested clusters are found you should check again two days later. Keep checking until June 20, which then if an infestation is not found insecticide application should not be required, for the first generation. Scouting for the seconded generation should start July 4th as currently predicted by the heat unit model. With the frost damage nut formation may be delayed. Insecticide selection for backyard trees should be done with caution because of the great potential for spray drift onto nearby garden, pets, and living areas. Only products containing Carbaryl, and Malathion, are labeled and packaged for homeowner for control of pecan nut Case bearer in urban areas. Refer to label instructions for mixing and application rates and precautions. It is in violation of federal law to apply any chemical in any manner except what is on the label. Commercial orchards may use the above products or Interpid, Chlorpyrifos (Lordsban) (Cobalt), Confirm 2F, Pyrethroid or Spintor insecticide. Intrepid is an insecticide, which is labeled for Pecans. This product has a very good residual and is very effective and much safer then Oregano Phosphates and is the current product of choice. It does not harm predatory insects. This product is very safe for use around people. The fact it is not labeled for home owner is a disappointment, because it is safer than some product which is labeled for non-restricted use. Pecan nut Case bearer is one of the most important nut infesting insect pests of pecans. It is found in most the pecan growing areas from the east coast to Eddy County New Mexico. The Case bearer larva tunnels into nut lets shortly after pollination, often destroying all of the nut lets in the cluster. The most effective and reliable method of control is a well-timed insecticide application(s) made in the spring to kill hatching larvae before they tunnel into the nut lets. However, insecticides should only be applied if an infestations and nut load justify treatment. New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating. Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

Udall Statement on Overwhelming House Passage of Chemical Safety Reform

Udall Statement on Overwhelming House Passage of Chemical Safety Reform WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall welcomed passage in the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 403-12 of landmark reform of our nation's broken chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). Udall authored the reform bill, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, with Senator David Vitter (R-La.) to finally enable the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the thousands of chemicals manufactured each year and used in common household items -- including known carcinogens and highly toxic substances, like formaldehyde, asbestos, lead, flame retardants and BPA. The Senate is expected to vote later this week, and the White House has indicated that the president will sign the bill. Udall issued the following statement: "TSCA was intended to protect Americans from dangerous chemicals, but it has been broken from the very beginning. We’re exposed to hundreds of chemicals in our daily lives in countless ways -- from flame retardants in the dust from your sofas to formaldehyde in non-iron shirts, and from the non-stick coating on your frying pans to volatile organic compounds given off from laser printers. Some of these chemicals are known to cause cancer or serious health problems, yet there has never been a cop on the beat keeping us safe. "The House vote today is a major milestone that has taken years of negotiation and collaboration across both parties and both houses of Congress. We aren't done yet -- the Senate still needs to pass this bill. But we are steps away from finally having a working chemical safety law that protects our children and our communities from dangerous chemicals."

Produced wqter Meeting May 24

Produced Water Meeting The New Mexico State Water Resources Center, Eddy County Cooperative Extension will be holding a community workshop on May 24 in Carlsbad. I ask that everyone please provide me with a topic for your presentation by Friday. In order to stay on time and to be respectful of your fellow presenters please limit your presentation to 20 minutes total (this includes time for questions or discussion). If anyone has any comments, concerns or suggestions about the current agenda please let me know. I think this will be a very good workshop! Thanks for everyone’s help and participation. Also, if you would like to invite anyone to the workshop, please feel free to do so and make sure they register if they want lunch. Registration link: http://nmwrri.nmsu.edu/?page_id=4840 Proposed agenda: 10:00-10:05 Welcome | Steve McCutcheon (Carlsbad City Administrator) 10:05-10:25 Regional Water Planning | Woods Houghton (NMSU Eddy Co. Extension) 10:25-10:45 Brent Van Dyke (New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts) 10:45-11:05 Rueben Harris (M&R Trucking) 11:05-11:25 Scott Dawson (New Mexico Oil Conservation Division) 11:25-11:45 Andy Morley (New Mexico Office of the State Engineer) 11:45-12:05 David Torres (New Mexico Environment Department) 12:05-1:00 Lunch – 12:50 Project Overview | Robert Sabie (New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute) 1:00-1:20 Produced Water Database | Martha Cather (Petroleum Recovery Research Center, New Mexico Tech) 1:20-1:40 Geospatial Analysis of TDS Levels in the Permian Basin | Dr. KC Carroll and Spencer Willman (New Mexico State University) 1:40-2:00 Robert Flynn (New Mexico State University, Artesia Science Center) 2:00-2:20 Robert Sabie, Jr. (NMWRRI), Pei Xu, and Guanyu Ma (New Mexico State University) 2:20-2:40 Jeff Sawyer (Devon Energy) 2:40-3:00 Malynda Cappelle (Center for Inlands Desalination Systems) Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

Fire up the grill with some spicy new Jolokia products from NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute

Fire up the grill with some spicy new Jolokia products from NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute DATE: 05/23/2016 WRITER: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Adan Delval, 575-646-3028, cpi@nmsu.edu It’s going to be a hot summer – in more ways than one – with a number of new, super-spicy products available at New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute. Holy Jolokia mustard, ketchup and spice mixture, each produced in collaboration with CaJohns Fiery Foods, are the newest in the growing line of Holy Jolokia products. “We really appreciate CaJohns and their assistance,” said Paul Bosland, an NMSU Regents Professor and head of the university’s Chile Pepper Institute. “We’ve had so much success with all of their products, which helps further our chile pepper research at the university.” Since 2009, the Chile Pepper Institute has worked with CaJohns to produce and sell thousands of bottles of Holy Jolokia hot sauce, salsa, barbecue sauce, taco sauce, wing sauce and spice rub, each made with Bhut Jolokia chile peppers – also known as the “Ghost Pepper,” one of the hottest chile peppers on the planet. “The ketchup, the mustard, the spice, these are all going to have a kick,” said Adan Delval, a program specialist for the Chile Pepper Institute. “They are definitely pretty hot and perfect for backyard barbecues this summer.” Bottles of the ketchup sell for $10. The mustard is $8 and the spice mixture is $6. All proceeds from the sale of all Holy Jolokia products go toward an endowed chair for chile pepper research at NMSU. Holy Jolokia products are available at the Chile Pepper Institute, Gerald Thomas Hall Room 265 on the NMSU campus, or online at www.chilepepperinstitute.org. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews

AGENDA OIL FIELD VEGATION MANAGEMENT

AGENDA OIL FIELD VEGATION MANAGEMENT 31 May 2016 Artesia Community Center Eddy County Fair Grounds 9:00 Registrations Coffee 9:30- 10:00 Pesticide Basics- Woods Houghton 10:00 1045 Invasive weed and weed ID Dr. Krit Young 10:50 Environmental Fate of Pesticides Woods Houghton 10:30 11:00 Runoff issues Nick Aschcroft Lunch 1:00 How to choose the correct chemical Greg Alpers 1:30 Soils Dr. Flynn 2:00 Chemical Carry over Greg Alpers 2:30 Plant Selection/timing- Nick Aschcroft 3:00 Mechanics of revegetation- BLM Soil and Water Conservation districts

NMSU researchers identify top commercial products to repel mosquitoes

NMSU researchers identify top commercial products to repel mosquitoes DATE: 05/23/2016 WRITER: Dana Beasley, 575-646-7953, danab@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Immo Hansen, 575-646-7719, immoh@nmsu.edu As Congress haggles over how many millions or billions of dollars to spend to help stop the spread of the Zika virus in the U.S. before summer, researchers at New Mexico State University are already testing wearable mosquito repellent devices to determine which ones can best help us protect ourselves against these insects. “The goal is to find out what works and what doesn’t,” said Immo Hansen, an NMSU associate professor of biology involved in the investigation. “There are so many products on the market that simply don’t work, so I think it’s really important to test them in a scientific way.” This month, a group from Hansen’s Molecular Vector Physiology Lab, in the College of Arts and Sciences, began a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of a dozen commercially available wearable repellents, including clip-ons and wristbands. Though the study is ongoing, preliminary data revealed that citronella-based bracelets and wristbands have little effect on mosquitoes, whereas OFF Clip-On devices not only repel mosquitoes, they also kill them. “Some people are really resistant to putting repellents on their skin, so they would rather choose a wearable device,” said Stacy Rodriguez, manager of NMSU’s Molecular Vector Physiology Lab and lead researcher on this project. “Right now, we are just trying to see if the wearable devices are as effective as the spray-on devices.” The group plans to publish the results of this research by mid-summer. This analysis is a follow-up to a study the group conducted last fall on 10 commercially available spray-on repellents. During this experiment, Rodriguez and her colleagues recognized the most reliable sprays as DEET products and lemon eucalyptus-based insect repellents. For the current study, the group is testing the wearable devices using a 70-foot wind tunnel located in an NMSU research facility. After taking baseline readings, the researchers put on the repellent devices and position themselves upwind of a series of test cages. Depending on the product’s repellency, the caged mosquitoes either fly away from the test subjects or toward them. The wearable devices are being tested against the same two species of mosquito used in the spray repellent study: the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), both of which carry the Zika virus. “These two mosquitoes have very different levels of attraction to even one certain individual,” Rodriguez said. “Since attraction varies, repellency is also going to vary, so it’s important to test multiple species when you’re looking at repellents and their efficacy.” Thanks to body chemistry, mosquitoes are also more inclined to bite someone who “smells” good to them. “Everybody has a different bacterial flora on his or her skin,” Hansen said. “The bacteria break down components of sweat and produce a different set of olfactory clues for the mosquitoes. Some people just smell better to mosquitoes than others, and there’s really nothing you can do about that except wear repellents. There’s nothing you can do to change the bacterial flora on your skin.” Consequently, these chemical differences can impact which repellents work best for you. “Something that might work for one person because of his or her body chemistry, might not work for somebody else because he or she has different chemistry,” Rodriguez said. While the Asian tiger mosquito hasn’t established significant populations in New Mexico, Aedes aegypti – one of the primary vectors of dengue, Zika virus and yellow fever – can be found in your backyard in Las Cruces. “Be aware; prepare,” Hansen said. “Get yourself a good repellent, wear long sleeves, long pants. Try to avoid getting bit.” The mosquito that carries the Zika virus can breed in as little as one centimeter of standing water, Hansen explained. For those with ponds, his recommendation was to get Gambusia, or mosquito fish, from the Doña Ana County Vector Control to keep backyard mosquito populations at bay. Next fall, Hansen and Rodriguez plan to investigate mosquito attractants for use in baits. Surprisingly, even though humans attract mosquitoes all the time, Rodriguez explained that creating a chemical to attract mosquitoes is actually harder than repelling them. “We have such complex odors that it’s actually hard to emulate that in cream or a bait trap,” she said. “It’s actually much more complex than creating something that disguises your human smell.” For more information on NMSU’s Molecular Vector Physiology Lab, visit http://biology-web.nmsu.edu/~hansen/index.htm. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews

FSA is looing for a Farm Loan Specilist in Roswell

The USDA, New Mexico Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently seeking applicants who may be interested in our Farm Loan Assistant/Specialist (Agricultural) position in Roswell, New Mexico. We are interested in applicants who are motivated and are interested in pursuing a career in the federal government. FSA develops new local leaders through a two-year training program for Farm Loan Office Trainee (FLOT). Each FLOT is guided through the training program by an experienced Farm Loan Manager (FLM). Emphasis is placed on acquiring an in-depth knowledge of FSA loan programs administered. A combination of classroom-type training and hands-on experience will be provided to prepare the FLOT to provide oversight for FSA Farm Loans for many counties in New Mexico. Successful candidates for these positions possess leadership skills and are willing to learn. Individuals that are interested can view the vacancy announcement by going to www.usajobs.gov and searching for vacancy announcement numbers FSA-16-0851-NM-LF – Farm Loan Assistant (Agricultural) and/or FSA-16-0854-NM-LF – Farm Loan Specialist (Agricultural). Please read the “How to Apply” section in the vacancy announcement for instructions on submitting a complete application package to be considered for employment. If you have questions regarding this position, please contact: Bob Ledingham, Farm Loan Manager – Curry County FSA Office at 575-762-4769 or john.ledingham@nm.usda.gov. Please forward this to any of your contacts or departments that may be interested in pursuing these opportunities. Any recruitment assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Alice Walker who served Eddy County Agriculture as a Technician for Soil Conservation Service then whith the name change Natural Resource Conservation Service-USDA.

I am passing on the sad news that Alice Walker passed away this past weekend at a hospital in Lubbock. She had a heart attack last week and did not recover. Her funeral services will be held at Denton Funeral Home on this coming Wednesday at 10 am. Alice was noted for her pioneering work being the first woman USDA/ NRCS (the old Soil Conservation Service) field representative in Eddy County. She would go out and “shoot” levels and grades for farmers and ranchers for concrete ditches, pipelines, field leveling, etc. She was pretty proud of her tenure at the NRCS and liked to talk about her experiences. She will certainly be missed by all of us in the agriculture community who knew her. She had a good heart and cared.

Crona Ranch round table

Register now for the first Beyond the Roundtable of 2016 at www.corona.nmsu.edu. Herd Health Issues, May 31 starting at 10am. Free to attend, lunch provided. Flyer attached. Drs. Tim Hanosh and John Wenzel will present a program to bring everyone up to date on current and emerging issues in livestock health. This will be a dynamic program with content changing until the day of the event that will most certainly include, NMDA VDS update on issues they are seeing in lab testing, a discussion on managing for Trich, Vaccination guidelines, new FDA Regulations for feed additives etc. There will be time after lunch to answer any audience questions, as well as, one on one conversations.

The following CES publications have been revised and are now available online in PDF format.

The following CES publications have been revised and are now available online in PDF format. Guide A-613: Extension Pesticide Applicator Training Series #4: Sprayer Calibration http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_a/A613.pdf Guide A-614: Extension Pesticide Applicator Training Series #5: Calculating Pesticide Amounts for Broadcast Applications http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_a/A614.pdf Both revised by Jane Breen Pierce (Extension Entomologist, Dept. of Ext. Plant Sci.) And Jason French (Pesticide Program Manager, Dept. of Ext. Plant Sci.)

Udall Advances Priorities of New Mexico Farmers and Ranchers, Rural Communities in Agriculture Funding Bill

Udall Advances Priorities of New Mexico Farmers and Ranchers, Rural Communities in Agriculture Funding Bill Authored provisions to ban horse slaughter plants, assist farmers in NM's traditional communities, strengthen SNAP oversight WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined the Senate Appropriations Committee in advancing an Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration funding bill that makes critical investments in agriculture and nutrition programs to support New Mexico families and rural communities. The bill sets the Fiscal Year 2017 budgets for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and now heads to the full Senate for a vote. "Farming and ranching are part of our heritage and a key economic engine for New Mexico, and I was pleased to support this bill for our farmers and ranchers and rural communities. This bill provides important funds to strengthen agriculture in New Mexico as well as to address hunger, protect our clean water and quality of our soil, and stimulate the economy in rural communities through funds for housing and small business assistance," said Udall, a member of the Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee. "I fought hard to ensure this bill contains funding and additional oversight for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Almost a third of children in our state can't afford enough to eat at some point each year, and it's critical to ensure those families have access to food assistance. I'm also very pleased that this bill contains several amendments that I fought for, including to continue a policy that effectively bans horse slaughter plants in New Mexico and across the country, and to ensure we fund a program for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers that is critical for New Mexico's traditional communities and many others in the state." Overall, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies appropriations bill approved $21.25 billion in critical investments that directly impact public health and safety, including nutrition programs, housing and water programs, conservation projects, rural development and farm services, and animal welfare programs. Udall successfully included provisions important to New Mexico that support economic development in rural communities, provide assistance to farmers and ranchers, and fund food assistance programs to improve the health of low-income children, mothers and the elderly. Udall pushed for measures to support Tribes and colonias, the development of water and wastewater infrastructure, food assistance programs, agriculture research programs. Udall's three amendments in the final committee-passed bill prevent government funds from being used to inspect horse slaughter plants in the United States, provide $3 million for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veterans Farmers and Ranchers Program, and encourage USDA to work closely with states, including New Mexico, to assist with implementation and combat any falsification of data regarding eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bill includes $546 million for loans and grants to assist rural communities in developing water and waste disposal infrastructure, including $66.5 million designated specifically for Native American communities and colonias, and $16.89 million for the continuation of the Circuit Rider Technical Assistance program. The bill also includes $313 million in funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which helps provide food assistance for low-income seniors, and $16.5 million for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women Infants and Children (SNAP-WIC). U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich welcomed the legislation. “This funding is absolutely essential to New Mexico’s rural and tribal communities. Ranching and farming play a vital role in our state’s economy, and this bill will provide critical resources to produce the food that feeds our families," Heinrich said. And when many families are struggling financially, and children are coming to school hungry, we need to ensure food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are available to them. I am proud to support this bill to improve water infrastructure, invest in rural economic development, and help New Mexicans who are most in need. I commend Senator Udall for his leadership.” Highlights of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies funding bill include: Food Assistance Programs Child Nutrition Programs: $23.2 billion Includes the School Lunch Program; School Breakfast Program; Child & Adult Care Food Program; Summer Food Service Program; Special Milk Program; State Administrative Expenses; Commodity Procurement and School Meal Equipment Grants, among other programs. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): $79.6 billion SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities and is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. Commodity Supplemental Food Program: $313 million CSFP works to improve the health of low-income elderly persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program: $16.5 million This program provides fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income mothers and children benefiting not only WIC participants but local farmers as well. Infrastructure and Rural Development Assistance Rural Utilities Service water, wastewater and waste disposal loans and grants: $546 million -Circuit Rider Technical Assistance Program for Rural Water Systems: $16.89 million -USDA Rural Water & Waste Disposal Grants for Colonias and Native Americans: $66.5 million Continuation of Grassroots Source Water Protection Program: $6.5 million to help prevent pollution of surface and groundwater used a primary source of drinking water in rural areas. Grants and loans for Native American Tribes through the Community Facilities Program: $2.2 billion, including funding for water and waste disposal, Tribal college facilities and Tribal business development through the Strikeforce Initiative and Promise Zones. Education Continuation of National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) programs important for research and education at land-grant universities: Hatch Act: $243.7 million Smith-Lever 3(b) and 3(c): $300 million McIntire-Stennis: $33.9 million Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: $375 million Farm and Ranch Research and Assistance Alfalfa Seed and Forage Systems Research Program: $2.25 million to help increase yields, increase milk production and improve water conservation. Outreach & Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged & Veteran Farmers & Ranchers Program: $3 million through an amendment Udall authored in the committee markup. National Veterinary Medical Services Act: $5 million to help provide loan repayments for veterinarians who relocate to high-need areas, typically rural communities. Equine, Cervid, and Small Ruminant Health Program: $19.65 million Animal Welfare Horse Protection Act (HPA) Enforcement: $706,000 Animal Welfare Act (AWA) Enforcement: $28.746 million to ensure that minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially or exhibited to the public.

NOT SO WET NM WATER PLANNING

Lower Pecos meets fri May 20 at 9:30 in the community building Eddy County Fair Grounds. Not so Wet New Mexico’s water plans predict supply decline at the regional level but don’t tackle statewide strategy May 18, 2016, 12:00 am By Laura Paskus People trying to survive in this arid landscape have spent thousands of years—some flush with rain and snow, others parched—hoping that the next season will allow fields and villages to survive. Or maybe even flourish. Whether it was the drought of the 12th century that contributed to migrations out of Chaco Canyon or the dry years that desiccated ranches and farms in the 1930s and ’50s, people here in New Mexico have probably always watched the skies and prayed for rain. And while tree ring data or abandoned farmsteads trace the stories of past droughts, online PDFs full of graphs, tables and planning ideas offer clues to the difficulties—or opportunities—that might lie ahead. This year, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission released 16 regional water plans. Each draft paints a localized picture of the next 40 years—how much water there may be, whether the population will rise or fall and if supplies can meet demands. Some regions are worse off than others. The economy in northeastern New Mexico hasn’t yet recovered from drought that began in 2009. In southern Curry County, people haul water in places where wells have dried. Surface water is already scarce in the northwest; now, groundwater levels are declining, too. In the past 30 years, aquifers beneath Gallup and nearby communities have dropped several hundred feet. And in many places, like the Middle and Lower Rio Grande, river waters are already over-allocated. Further downstream from the Canyon Road treatment plant, water fans out for wildlife habitat and recreation along a paved trail. Laura Paskus But even as surface and groundwater supplies in many places are projected to decline even further, no one seems sure—and the state’s not saying—how all these regional plans will fit into one comprehensive plan to envision how New Mexico might look in 2060. “Other than the fact that we have a common technical platform, I don’t think we have any idea what they’re going to do with the state water plan,” says Conci Bokum, a local expert who has long worked on regional water planning in the Santa Fe area. The state did not allow water planning staff to answer questions on the record about the plans, nor did Interstate Stream Commission Director Deborah Dixon respond to interview requests. As for how, or if, the state will incorporate the regional plans into a statewide approach, Public Information Officer Melissa Dosher wrote in an email that the planning phase has begun and will continue into 2017. CALL TO COMBINE FORCES IN SF Considering the dire data for many areas, Santa Fe is in comparatively good shape. The City Different lies within the Jemez y Sangre planning region, which includes Los Alamos County and parts of Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties. The recent planning effort involved the three counties, the cities of Santa Fe and Española, water users associations, acequia users, environmental and business groups, federal and state agencies and six pueblos. Today, about 147,000 people use more than 90,000 acre-feet of water in the region each year. Most of that water comes from the Rio Grande, the Chama and the Santa Fe River; about 20,000 acre-feet is pumped each year from underground aquifers. Farms are the biggest water users: Irrigated agriculture diverts 73 percent of the region’s entire water supply. As with all the regions, state workers and contractors wrote the bulk of the plan—supplying water information, population forecasts, and future demand scenarios—while locals suggested ideas to address the gap between future supply and demand. Many solutions center around increasing efficiency, improving infrastructure and drilling new groundwater wells. Other proposals call for restoring watershed conditions and reusing effluent water. The Jemez y Sangre region is highly vulnerable to drought, which can put surface supplies at risk. That means planning for climate change is critical. “Water has always been a big issue in our area,” says Santa Fe County Commissioner Kathy Holian, one of the steering committee’s four chairs. “But as climate change begins to be felt more and more—and in a variety of ways—it’s even more important for us to do planning so that we can help shield people in our communities from the effects of drought or really heavy rainstorms.” Holian hopes the public will weigh in on the draft plan, especially when it comes to a proposal to regionalize the city and county into one water utility, similar to the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. The two entities worked together in the past to build the Buckman Direct Diversion Project on the Rio Grande. “It is a slightly controversial topic,” she says. “The county is open to that, but the city, as far as I can determine, is not really interested in going there at this point.” Santa Fe might also continue buying agricultural water rights and transferring them to municipal use. That’s one way to close the gap, especially since ag is the predominant water user in the area. “I myself am very interested in encouraging more local agriculture, not less,” says Holian. “So I really want to get feedback on that particular issue.” - See more at: http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-11966-not-so-wet.html#sthash.TPDHOXPi.gEISU1P5.dpuf

Small red snake found in three different homes in Eddy County

When I first looked at these I thought it as a hatching for red racers but further research I discovered i was in error. So far I have had three different people bring these in and they are found near refrigerators in Kitchens each time. Dr. Sam Samallage corrected my original ID to western blind snake. Western Blind Snake (Leptotyphlops humilis) Order: Squamata Family: Leptotyphlopidae (blind snakes) Other common names: worm snake Spanish names: culebra Distinguishing Features This small snake, which is about as thick as a pencil lead on average, reaches a maximum length of 16 inches (40 cm). It is usually pale brown, pink, purplish, or beige with a silver sheen. The hard, shiny scales on the underside are similar in appearance to those on the back, except lighter in color. The head and tail are blunt, with a spine at the tail tip. Vestigial eyes appear as spots under the head scales. Teeth are lacking from the upper jaw. Range In the northern part of its range, the western blind snake occurs from southern California to western Texas. Continuing south into Mexico, it is found in all of Baja California and western and north-central Mexico. Habitat Found from below sea level to 5000 feet (1500 m), the western blind snake prefers moist, loose soils suitable for burrowing. This may include the sandy washes or canyon bottoms of mountain brushy areas or desert grasslands. Life History By spending most of its life underground, the western blind snake has no need for visual acuity. While not entirely blind, it does have vestigial eyes thought to be capable of seeing light only. If disturbed, it will writhe and wiggle its tail to focus attention here instead of on the head. Preyed upon by a wide variety of animals, including birds, mammals, snakes, fish and even spiders, the western blind snake is a specialist in its culinary desires: ants and termites along with their eggs, pupae, and larvae. Millipedes and centipedes are also occasionally eaten. When searching for food, a western blind snake will hunt until it finds an ant pheromone trail and follow it back to the nest to consume the residents. The smooth, tightly overlapping scales provide protection against the bites and stings of ants. This small serpent shares a feature with the much larger boas and pythons—the remains of a pelvic girdle and femur, complete with a tiny spur! A secretive, nocturnal snake, the blind snake lays up to 7 eggs in mid summer.

USDA Announces $10.7 Million Available For Critical Water Research

USDA Announces $10.7 Million Available For Critical Water Research WASHINGTON, May 17, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $10.7 million in funding for research that could solve critical water problems in rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States. This funding is available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). "Finding solutions for dealing water scarcity as well as maintaining water quality is critical for communities across the country and for the men and women who raise the food we eat," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Better water management practices, tools and technologies will make a difference for farmers, ranchers, and foresters who are constantly adapting to less predictable and more severe weather patterns." Established by the 2008 Farm Bill and re-authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill, AFRI is the nation's premier competitive, peer-reviewed grants program for fundamental and applied agricultural sciences. In the seven years since AFRI was established, the program has led to true innovations and ground-breaking discoveries in agriculture to combat childhood obesity, improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues, increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate the impacts of climate variability and enhance resiliency of our food systems, and ensure food safety. This round of funding is offered through the AFRI Water for Agriculture Challenge Area, which funds projects that tackle critical water issues by developing both regional systems for the sustainable use and reuse, flow and management of water, and that address water issues focused on production and environmental sustainability efforts at the watershed and farm scale. There is also a focus on solutions for conserving higher quality water and understanding human behavior and its influence on decision making for agricultural water use in the Fiscal Year 2016 projects. To date, more than $20.5 million in research, education and extension grants have been awarded through AFRI's Water for Agriculture Challenge Area. Examples of previously funded projects include a grant for the University of Nevada-Reno's Coordinated Agricultural Project to assess the impacts of climate change on future water supplies and enhance the climate resiliency of tribal agriculture. Also, Clemson University is integrating remote sensing products and weather forecast information for farmers and growers to address the best products, increase agricultural drought indices, and develop an agricultural drought forecasting model to provide near real-time feedback. Applications are due August 4. See the request for applications for more information. More information about USDA's work to mitigate climate change can be found in the Department's most recent entry on Medium, How Food and Forestry Are Adapting to a Changing Climate. Science funded by AFRI is vital to meeting food, fiber, and fuel demands as the world's population is projected to exceed nine billion by 2050 and natural resources are stressed under a changing climate. In addition, AFRI programs help develop new technologies and a workforce that will advance our national security, our energy self-sufficiency, and the health of Americans. The President's 2017 budget request proposes to fully fund AFRI for $700 million; this amount is the full funding level authorized by Congress when it established AFRI in the 2008 Farm Bill. Since 2009, NIFA has invested in and advanced innovative and transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA's integrated research, education, and extension programs, supporting the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel, have resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries. To learn more about NIFA's impact on agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates, or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts. #

ARS targets next generation Arizona cotton irrigation May 13, 2016 Cary Blake

Water for agricultural irrigation is the most precious natural resource in western agriculture. Due to ever tightening water supplies, more attention is being focused on shifting from flood-irrigated cotton to more efficient systems which could include sprinkler and buried drip systems. This could happen sooner rather than later. Helping Arizona cotton farmers look ahead to potential irrigation system shifts are agricultural researchers at the U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center (ALARC) located at Maricopa, Ariz. ALARC is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, and is based at the Maricopa Agricultural Center farm. Working to steer this effort closer to reality are scientists Kevin Bronson and Kelly Thorp of ALARC’s Water Management and Conservation Research Unit. Unit leader Bronson says, “ALARC’s mandate is field-scale water management research in terms of improving water use efficiency. We want to maintain high productivity but reduce the inches or acre feet of water used to grow crops, especially cotton.” Each year, ALARC researchers tap technology to study water use efficiency in crops grown in the Grand Canyon State, including experimental crops. For cotton, 2016 is the third year of sprinkler field trials and the first year of buried drip field trials conducted by Bronson and Thorp. Variable rate irrigation The research duo is using variable rate irrigation (VRI) with sprinklers in a 16-acre field and drip line buried eight inches deep in a nearby four-acre field. The overhead sprinkler system includes a Lindsay Zimmatic linear move sprinkler system with six spans and an overhang, and retrofitted with a variable rate irrigation system. Thorp explains, “With an overhead sprinkler system we don’t need bed shaping and related tillage.” The overhead sprinkler system is managed using precision agriculture tools to provide timely, variable applications across the field, including remote sensing, computer modeling, and other tools from their technology bag. Thorp says, “VRI allows us to manage the field so we can explicitly show how cotton responds to different water rates and timings from June through August.” Overhead sprinkler system When operating the overhead sprinkler system at 50 percent of the full system speed, one-third inch of water is delivered in each pass of the system. It uses about 850 gallons of water per minute when irrigating the entire field at the full rate. During the summer months, most irrigations include several passes per week. The system includes Senniger nozzles, plus bubblers to dribble the water between the rows. Thorp says, “The key is you want the water to infiltrate where it’s applied. Otherwise it negates the technology.” The local water supply is mostly Colorado River water delivered by the Central Arizona Project, plus some groundwater. Field details The run length in the sprinkler field is about 600 feet, including the borders, a short run required to retrofit the machine on existing fields on the Maricopa Agricultural Center farm. The cotton field includes traditional 40-inch rows planted April 25 with Deltapine 1549 B2XF seed. Prescription maps help guide the sprinklers on how much water to apply and where. Reduced percolation “With sprinkler irrigation, we have found that deep percolation losses are greatly reduced compared to flood irrigation and almost no water is leached below the root zone,” Bronson says. “In buried drip, you get the added benefit of reduced evaporation from the soil.” Thorp is a research agricultural engineer. He says less water is required by the cotton plant earlier in the season and more water later in the season. The critical water months for cotton are June to advance vegetative growth, July for flowering and early boll growth, and August for boll fill. “If you have a given amount of water, I believe August would probably be the most critical time to apply water, with July probably the second most important,” says Thorp. His comments are based on advanced computer modeling. “The end result of the overhead sprinkler system should be water savings and higher cotton yields,” he says. Reduced evaporation “By shorting the water in the early season, we are reducing evaporation loss since we don’t have a closed canopy. We may also affect the root growth since the roots will have to search deeper for water. This can result in a better root system to support improved plant growth later in the season. Bronson says it’s important to monitor water applications early in the season for sprinkler and drip systems. Reduced evaporation “By shorting the water in the early season, we are reducing evaporation loss since we don’t have a closed canopy. We may also affect the root growth since the roots will have to search deeper for water. This can result in a better root system to support improved plant growth later in the season. Bronson says it’s important to monitor water applications early in the season for sprinkler and drip systems. “In our hot, arid environment, you can’t cutback water too early or else you can get smaller plants, possibly resulting in earlier flowering and fewer fruits. This could result in reduced yield potential.” Water strategy Overall, the ARS team is applying about 40-44 inches of water season long with the sprinklers. Thorp said, “We put on about 10 inches of pre-plant water to fill the soil profile, let it dry, and then planted.” This was followed by three-inches of water to germinate the crop. June irrigations will total about 1.5 to 2 inches of water per week, irrigated over 6-8 hours per day, two-to-three days a week. July and August irrigations will total about 2.5 to 3 inches per week (10-12 inches per month). Total water use from June through August could total about 30 inches. Latest news in western agriculture – Western Farm Press Daily e-news blast - delivered free to your inbox. Rye cover crop To help conserve water in the soil profile and reduce soil erosion prior to planting, the researchers planted rye in mid-December as a cover crop and terminated the crop with Roundup before planting cotton. Rye was planted as the seed cost less than wheat, barley, and other small grains. Bronson says rye is winter hearty, requires less water, and grows tall – taller than barley or wheat over a short period of time. Bronson and Thorp have discussed water use in cotton over the years with cotton growers who estimated their annual water use to grow the crop in the 5-6 acre feet range with flood irrigation. 27 inch water savings The researchers believe the sprinkler system could save about 27 inches of water with total water use around 44 inches, or close to 3.5 - 4 acre feet total – a two acre feet-plus savings. The actual amount of water needed to grow cotton depends on various factors with soil type high on the list. In Central Arizona, sandy clay loam soil is common. The ground in the sprinkler trial is more of a Trix clay loam soil commonly found on alluvial fans and flood plains with slopes of zero to 5 percent, an annual precipitation of about 7 inches, and an average temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. These are the conditions in many areas in Arizona’s low desert. Maximized fertigation Another benefit of sprinkler and drip irrigation is the ability to maximize fertigation. Bronson states, “Fertigation into a sprinkler or drip system is the most efficient way to apply fertilizer in irrigated agriculture. Fertigation in a flood system means dribbling the liquid into a canal where the delivery is less uniform and harder to mix and monitor.” The ARS sprinkler and drip projects are mostly tax payer funded through USDA with additional dollars from Cotton Incorporated. Automation benefits Another benefit of an overhead sprinkler system is the machine is automated. It eliminates the need for someone to work with siphon tubes and monitor the water in the canal. And if an equipment problem occurs, software is available to alert the user via cell phone. In summary, Bronson says the sprinkler and drip systems are more efficient, and open the door to the benefits of conservation tillage through reduced soil and water losses. He says, “The cover crop also reduces soil evaporation, and planting cotton into it reduces tillage time and expenses so it’s a win-win situation.” This summer, the cotton is expected to grow well in the sprinkler and drip fields. Bronson and Thorp will analyze their findings in the months to follow. The findings should provide cotton growers with important information which could help them gain a clearer view of irrigation strategies beyond flood irrigation.

Bee Losses Raise Stakes for Action on Pesticides Public News Service - WY | May 2016 - See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/

CHEYENNE, Wy. - Honeybee populations in the U.S. dropped by 44 percent last year according to a new national survey. Tiffany Finck-Haynes, food futures campaigner, with Friends of the Earth says bees are essential to agriculture, responsible for more than $20 billion of the U.S. economy and contribute $217 billion globally. Finck-Haynes is not convinced that varroa mites, cited in the report as one contributing factor, are to blame because beekeepers have been effectively managing mites for decades. "What's new and used pervasively in agriculture and in our own backyards is pesticides," says Finck-Haynes. "These pesticides are problematic because they'll kill bees outright. They also weaken their immune system." Scientists with Bayer, a leading pesticide producer, say bee losses can be mitigated if mites are managed better and suggests colonies can simply be replaced. Finck-Haynes argues losing more than 40 percent of all bees every year is unsustainable. She points to meta-analysis of more than 1,200 peer-reviewed studies connecting bee declines to exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides used heavily on plants that bees pollinate. Finck-Haynes says just two years after Italy banned neonicotinoids, bee populations nearly doubled. She adds the controversial pesticide is prohibited in Europe but continues to be widely used in the U.S. "What we need from EPA is for them to adopt a federal unified plan and to place very strong restrictions on these pesticides," she says. "And really pull them from the market because we know that's the best way that they can protect the bees." Last year the EPA passed a moratorium on new uses of neonicotinoids and in January the agency released a preliminary report which confirmed the risk to bees. Finck-Haynes says the longer we wait to act, the worse the situation becomes for farmers, beekeepers and the ecosystems that support the nation's food supply. Eric Galatas, Public News Service - WY - See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2016-05-16/rural-farming/bee-losses-raise-stakes-for-action-on-pesticides/a51918-1#sthash.f6M0S4sN.9sMBPR9P.dpuf

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FOR THE OIL FIELD AND OTHER NON-CROPLAND AREAS

Press Release Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service 1304 West Stevens Carlsbad, NM 88220 For More Information, Contact: Woods Houghton, Eddy County Agriculture Agent Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service Phone: 575-887-6595 Fax: 575-887-3795 whoughto@nmsu.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FOR THE OIL FIELD AND OTHER NON-CROPLAND AREAS Eddy County Extension Service, Carlsbad and Central Valley Soil and water Conservation Districts and the BLM, will be conducting a workshop on vegetation management on May 31 starting at 8:30 AM and ending at 4:30 pm, at the Eddy County Community Building at the Eddy County Fairgrounds. This workshop has an agenda that includes vegetation ID, soil, and environmental fate of pesticides, pesticide selection runoff issues, and revegetation as well as site considerations. This should be an open workshop and discussion on what you need to know. This class will offer Continuing Educations Credits (5 CEU’s) for private applicators, public and commercial applicators. Please let us know if you are coming by calling or emailing Eddy County Extension (575) 887-6595; Toll free (877) 887-6595 or whoughto@nmsu.edu. If you are in need of special assistance due to a disability in order to participate please contact the Eddy County Extension Office 887-6595 before May 27th. Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

Produced Water Meeting

Produced Water Meeting The New Mexico State Water Resources Center, Eddy County Cooperative Extension will be holding a community workshop on May 24 in Carlsbad. I ask that everyone please provide me with a topic for your presentation by Friday. In order to stay on time and to be respectful of your fellow presenters please limit your presentation to 20 minutes total (this includes time for questions or discussion). If anyone has any comments, concerns or suggestions about the current agenda please let me know. I think this will be a very good workshop! Thanks for everyone’s help and participation. Also, if you would like to invite anyone to the workshop, please feel free to do so and make sure they register if they want lunch. Registration link: http://nmwrri.nmsu.edu/?page_id=4840 Proposed agenda: 10:00-10:05 Welcome | Steve McCutcheon (Carlsbad City Administrator) 10:05-10:25 Regional Water Planning | Woods Houghton (NMSU Eddy Co. Extension) 10:25-10:45 Brent Van Dyke (New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts) 10:45-11:05 Rueben Harris (M&R Trucking) 11:05-11:25 Scott Dawson (New Mexico Oil Conservation Division) 11:25-11:45 Andy Morley (New Mexico Office of the State Engineer) 11:45-12:05 David Torres (New Mexico Environment Department) 12:05-1:00 Lunch – 12:50 Project Overview | Robert Sabie (New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute) 1:00-1:20 Produced Water Database | Martha Cather (Petroleum Recovery Research Center, New Mexico Tech) 1:20-1:40 Geospatial Analysis of TDS Levels in the Permian Basin | Dr. KC Carroll and Spencer Willman (New Mexico State University) 1:40-2:00 Robert Flynn (New Mexico State University, Artesia Science Center) 2:00-2:20 Robert Sabie, Jr. (NMWRRI), Pei Xu, and Guanyu Ma (New Mexico State University) 2:20-2:40 Jeff Sawyer (Devon Energy) 2:40-3:00 Malynda Cappelle (Center for Inlands Desalination Systems) Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

Farm Bureau® Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge

Farm Bureau® Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge AFBF Would $30,000 help your food, fiber or fuel business? The Farm Bureau® Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs working on food and agriculture businesses. Rural entrepreneurs pitch innovative business ideas to a team of judges with expertise in business development and agribusiness. These entrepreneurs compete for $145,000 of startup funds. Go here to learn more.

NMF&LB Announces Discussion Meets

NMF&LB Announces Discussion Meets NMF&LB Growing the next generation of food producers is a priority for NMF&LB. Our YF&R and Collegiate Discussion Meets help develop leadership skills by simulating a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each participant. This competition is evaluated on an exchange of ideas and information on a pre-determined topic. Participants build basic discussion skills, develop a keen understanding of important agricultural issues and explore how groups can pool knowledge to reach consensus and solve problems. We will be hosting discussion meets at our Summer Conference, July 15-16 in Ruidoso. Winners at the state level will receive $500 and the chance to attend a national conference. Applications and questions can be found here

U.S. Beef Arrives in Recently Reopened South African Market

U.S. Beef Arrives in Recently Reopened South African Market WASHINGTON, May 16, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today confirmed that the first shipment of U.S. beef recently arrived in South Africa following the reopening of the South African market earlier this year. "The arrival of U.S. beef in South Africa represents another important milestone in efforts by USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to regain access to this important market," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Along with U.S. poultry, South African consumers now have access to high quality, safe and wholesome U.S. beef, and U.S. producers and exporters have gained another valuable market for their products." On January 7, 2016, after more than two years of intense discussions, the United States and the Republic of South Africa concluded an agreement on sanitary barriers and related health certificates for U.S. beef, pork and poultry products exported to South Africa. The South African market had previously been closed to U.S. poultry since 2000, beef since 2003 and pork since 2013. With the removal of the barriers, U.S. exports of meat to South Africa could reach $75 million annually. The United States began shipping poultry to South Africa earlier this year under the terms of the agreement. As a result, U.S. poultry exports to South Africa totaled almost 12,000 metric tons, worth $7.2 million, in the first quarter of 2016. The Obama Administration has worked aggressively to expand markets for American-made goods, including agricultural products. Six of the past seven years have represented the strongest period for American agricultural exports in the history of our country, with U.S. agricultural product exports totaling $919.6 billion between Fiscal Years 2009 and 2015. In fiscal year 2015, American farmers and ranchers exported $139.7 billion of food and agricultural goods to consumers worldwide. Not only that, U.S. agricultural exports supported more than 1 million American jobs both on and off the farm, a substantial part of the estimated 11.7 million jobs supported by exports all across the country. Additionally, the Administration has concluded negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement that will help expand U.S. agricultural exports to some of the fastest growing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and will now work with Congress to secure its passage into law. Last year, USDA also engaged trading partners to eliminate all remaining animal health barriers related to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) for U.S. export markets. Fourteen countries removed all BSE restrictions and granted access to U.S. beef and beef products, including Australia, Macau, Philippines, New Zealand, Singapore, Ukraine, Vietnam, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Costa Rica, Guatemala, St. Lucia and Iraq. The total value of U.S. beef and beef products exported to the 14 countries that lifted their BSE restrictions is in excess of $180 million. #

Information

Sugar Cane aphid in sorghum has started earlier than in the past in south Texas. 10 states have already been granted Section 18’s for the use of Transform in sorghum, just like last year. NM is NOT one of those states. The latest information I received from the NMDA is that they have not received any request for the use of Transform in sorghum. I would ask that if you anticipate the need of Transform as one of the two products that control the SCA, that you call the NMDA and let them know, otherwise they will not do anything. The EPA is very open to granting the Sec 18’s. In fact the process is much simplified after the granting of these request last year. Two points of contact. Dr Jane Pierce at the NMSU Ag Science Center in Artesia 575-748-1228 japierce@nmsu.edu Erica Millette 575-646-2133 emillette@nmda.nmsu.edu Pecan aphids; Same scenario, if you feel you need Closer for pecan aphid control, you need to contact the people listed below. Brad Lewis 575-646-2133 or 575-644-5737 blewis@nmda.nmsu.edu Dr Richard Heerema 575-646-2921 rjheerem@nmsu.edu An update on the full Section 3 label. We are pursuing the full labeling we had in the past. The EPA is now making decisions based on political considerations, in other words they are trying to avoid litigation from the activist groups. The activist groups are feeling very emboldened with the decisions rendered in their favor in the 9th Circuit court in San Francisco. They are challenging any decision made by the EPA regarding ANY pesticide use. It is a sad day for Agriculture when a few well-funded activist dictate what we do. Transform and Closer are one of the safest materials introduced in recent years, the court decision has made all of our tools targets. You have seen that Belt is now a target as are the new herbicide traits coming to the market via DAS and Monsanto. We are in a real battle. If we want these tools we need to be proactive with our regulatory agencies. If you have questions, Please call me. Regards and Thanks for your support. Greg

CES publication has been revised and is now available online in PDF format.

The following CES publication has been revised and is now available online in PDF format. Guide M-113: Septic Tank Maintenance Revised by Stephanie J. Walker (Extension Vegetable Specialist/Assistant Professor, Dept. of Ext. Plant Sci.) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_m/M113.pdf

The Humane Society of the United States Forms National Agriculture Advisory Council

May 6, 2016 The Humane Society of the United States Forms National Agriculture Advisory Council After making tremendous strides with the establishment of 11 state agriculture advisory councils over the past four years, The Humane Society of the United States announced the formation of its National Agriculture Advisory Council. The council is comprised of family farmers and agriculturalists who practice and promote higher animal welfare standards within their operations. Kevin Fulton, Nebraska farmer and chairman of the council said: “I am proud to serve alongside the distinguished farmers and ranchers for The HSUS’ National Agriculture Advisory Council. These individuals are proven leaders who represent the face of humane and sustainable agriculture in this country. We are fully committed to working with The HSUS to improve the welfare of farm animals in a way that benefits not only the animals, but the family farmer, the consumer and our environment.” Marty Irby, senior director of rural outreach and equine protection at The HSUS said: “The establishment of our National Agriculture Advisory Council is a tremendous accomplishment for the welfare of farm animals, the promotion of humane and sustainable farming practices and for the economic vitality and future of rural America. We are grateful for the support, encouragement and willingness to serve from each of these dedicated farmers and ranchers who promote and adhere to higher animal welfare standards as alternatives to factory farming practices.” Council members include Kevin Fulton of Nebraska, Chris Petersen of Iowa, Mike Callicrate of Colorado, Pete Eshelman of Indiana, Paul Muegge of Oklahoma, Carrie Balkcom of Colorado, Will Harris of Georgia and Joe Logan of Ohio. The formation of the council follows the release of The HSUS’ president and CEO, Wayne Pacelle’s latest book, The Humane Economy: How Innovators and Consumers are Transforming the Lives of Animals, which delves into the revolution in American business and public policy that is changing how we treat animals and conduct commerce. The book includes an in-depth discussion of how consumer demand for farm animal welfare improvements is transforming the animal agriculture model. The HSUS advocates compassionate eating – or the Three Rs: “reducing” or “replacing” consumption of animal products, and “refining” our diets by choosing products from sources that adhere to higher animal welfare standards.

Tell Your College Kids: These 4 Ag Fields Have Great Job Opportunities By Andrew Amelinckx on September 9, 2015

When you hear the word “agriculture,” images of a farmer atop his tractor may come to mind, but there are a slew of other related professions to pursue, from engineering to economics. Want A Job After College? Study Agriculture Job Opportunity: Become A Large-Animal Veterinarian Campus Dining Goes Local Earlier this year, a study led by Purdue University determined that in the next five years there would be close to 60,000 job openings annually in fields related to agriculture, food, the environment, and renewable natural resources. We spoke to three professors at Purdue—a major research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana, which is consistently ranked as having one of the top agricultural sciences programs in the country (and world for that matter)—on which professions are emerging in this field. Agricultural and Biological Engineering Agricultural engineers can focus on machine design, design, and processes of getting food produced at the farm to your plate, or environmental challenges working with soil, water, and air, says Bernard Engel, head of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Careers include working for equipment manufactures in the agricultural, forestry, construction, and military industries. On the environmental and natural resources end, there are jobs with various government agencies or consulting firms. Engel says the all of the programs in his department are in high demand right now. “Many of the advances in agriculture right now are coming in this area. The future looks bright as well, given expectations of even more technology being used in agriculture in the future,” he says in an email. Biological engineers deal with issues that include food processes, things like making food taste better or making it last longer; and cellular and biomolecular engineering, which concerns “finding better ways to get value from by-products or getting energy from biological materials.” The food industry is a major employer. Engel says there is also a demand in research and development for these graduates, not only in the food and pharmaceutical industries, but also in genetic engineering in plants. Agricultural Systems Management graduates help make agricultural technology easier to understand and use, says Engel, and students in this area are “highly sought after in careers with machinery, grain handling, and precision technology.” Soil Science Students can focus on soil ecology, chemistry, physics, conservation, and soil landscapes—mapping the soil attributes of a certain area—among other fields of study. John Graveel, an agronomy professor and director of the Natural Resources and Environmental Science program at Purdue, says job prospects for soil scientists right now are very strong. Job opportunities include working for state and federal agencies, environmental consulting firms, and other groups, like the Nature Conservancy. … because we’re entering an era of data-driven decision making, “the students who can position themselves to be strong from an analytical and problem-solving perspective are going to have an edge in the market.” “Soil science students are getting some training in geographical information systems [GIS],” Graveel tells Modern Farmer in a phone interview. (GIS is a computer system that is used for collecting and displaying data as it relates to geographic points on the Earth’s surface.) “It’s hugely in demand right now by consulting firms to have people on staff who know how to do GIS.” Agricultural Economics Agricultural economics is the practice of applying economic principles to public and private decisions made in the agricultural sector, explains Kenneth Foster, head of Purdue’s Agricultural Economics Department. The field includes sales and marketing, agribusiness, farm management, policy making, and natural resource and energy economics. Job prospects are “pretty strong” for graduates in this “heavily data and metric driven” field, Foster says. “We placed 98 percent of our graduates last May by the end of the summer. Well over 100 students got jobs.” Pro tip: Foster says because we’re entering an era of data-driven decision making, “the students who can position themselves to be strong from an analytical and problem-solving perspective are going to have an edge in the market.” All three professors agree on what students interested in these fields should be focusing on: math and science. You get a bonus for taking part in extracurricular activities that help build leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Startups Finally, let’s not forget the entrepreneurs out there who are tech savvy and like to go it alone. Agricultural technology startups are blooming right now. Last year the industry grew by 170 percent and had more than $2.36 billion in investment, according to the website TechCrunch. “I think the agricultural tech industry is doing well because it’s been overlooked for awhile. I think that’s really going to change and it’s going to continue to grow,” says Jason Aramburu, founder and CEO of Edyn, a startup that makes a smart watering sensor for crops.

NMSU Extension expert provides tips for mosquito-proofing your yard

NMSU Extension expert provides tips for mosquito-proofing your yard DATE: 05/11/2016 WRITER: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Jeff Anderson, 575-525-6649, lantz@nmsu.edu Unfortunately, the dry New Mexico desert doesn’t protect the state from mosquitoes. These bloodsuckers emerge each year and, according to Jeff Anderson, the Agronomy and Horticulture Agent for New Mexico State University’s Dona Ana County Cooperative Extension Service, the state’s mosquitoes are especially active in July and August, once the monsoon season rains kick in. Anderson warns the mosquitoes that carry the dangerous Zika virus, known as Aedes aegypti mosquitos, are found in Dona Ana County. And, unlike other mosquitoes, these are especially aggressive during the day, and only land on humans for a short time, making them harder to spot and swat. Anderson offers the following tips for mosquito-proofing your yard: 1) Find dry land. Get rid of any standing water around your home. Old tires, plastic buckets and toys left outside can collect rainwater where mosquitoes lay eggs. Taking care of your property won’t just help you; it will help the whole neighborhood. 2) Be water smart. Too much water on your lawn can make it a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Don’t overwater. It’s also a good idea to water in the morning, instead of in the evening, so the soil has an opportunity to dry during the day. 3) Spray the bugs away. Use mosquito repellent that contains DEET when you’re outdoors. For those allergic to DEET, stores often have natural repellents as well. 4) Use power plants. Some forms of eucalyptus, as well as lavender, can repel mosquitoes simply by being planted in an area. Other plants, such as basil and catnip, produce oils in their leaves, which can be crushed and used in sprays to repel mosquitoes. 5) Get an oil change. Essential oils, including citrus, lemon eucalyptus, cedar, garlic and citronella, are useful in keeping mosquitoes at bay and can be purchased locally or online. 6) Go all-natural. A number of granular mosquito prevention products for lawns and floating products for use in water features contain natural bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis, which is toxic to mosquitoes, but won’t hurt pets, humans or other animals. 7) Dress for success. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat, and dark-colored clothing tends to retain heat. During mosquito season, make sure to wear clothes that are light-colored, loose-fitting and long-sleeved. 8) Set some traps. Studies have found that commercial carbon dioxide mosquito traps can kill thousands of mosquitoes a night. Bug zappers, on the other hand, aren’t as effective. Zappers kill bugs indiscriminately, and only about one percent of the zapped bugs turn out to be mosquitoes. Stick with the CO2 traps. 9) Bring in the big guns. A number of chemical products specifically designed for mosquito control are available at local stores. Make sure to check for these products early, and stock up. They’ll sometimes run out before the end of mosquito season.

Registration for Produced Water Workshop in Carlsbad – May 24, 2016

Registration for Produced Water Workshop in Carlsbad – May 24, 2016 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 5:00 PM The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute is collaborating with academic institutions, government agencies, industry representatives, agriculturalists, and community leaders to better understand the potential beneficial uses of produced water. A workshop will be held May 24, 2016 in Carlsbad to bring these stakeholders together. This is the final workshop for the current project. While the first meetings of the project focused primarily on the research being conducted under this project, the final workshop will bring in experts from industry, governmental agencies, and community water planning groups to provide different perspectives on produced water. The workshop features a wide range of presentations covering the topics of treatment technology, regulatory framework, research, industry uses, oil and gas, and community water planning. The workshop is free of charge and lunch will be provided, however, those planning on attending must register by 5:00 PM on May 19 in order to receive lunch. What: Community Workshop on Produced Water in Lea and Eddy Counties Who: Open to the public When: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (*lunch sponsored by the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute) Where: Pecos River Village Conference Center, Carousel Room, 711 Muscatel Ave, Carlsbad, NM 88220 Click here to register * PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER BY 5:00 PM ON THURSDAY, MAY 19 IN ORDER TO RECEIVE LUNCH For more information contact: Robert P. Sabie, Jr. Research Assistant/GIS Technician NM Water Resource Research Institute Office (575) 646-5026 rpsabie@nmsu.edu

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Next Steps, Funding to Address Substance Abuse in Rural Communities

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Next Steps, Funding to Address Substance Abuse in Rural Communities ATLANTA, March 28, 2016 – At the Operation UNITE Summit in Atlanta today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a series of upcoming rural town halls as well as funding rural communities can use to conduct health and safety outreach around prescription painkiller and heroin abuse. Opioids, including prescription painkillers and heroin, accounted for 28,648 deaths in 2014, and rural communities are affected at higher rates than urban communities. This is in part due to a lack of outreach and treatment resources available in rural communities, and this year USDA is expanding its Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) competitive grants program to give rural communities the opportunity to use funds for programs that will address the opioid epidemic. In January, President Obama tapped Secretary Vilsack to lead an interagency task force focused on this specific challenge. Recent efforts have helped identify effective tools to reduce drug use and overdose, including evidence-based prevention programs, prescription drug monitoring, medication-assisted treatment and the overdose reversal drug naloxone. "The opioid epidemic is a fast-growing problem all across America, and we know that rural communities are facing an even higher burden than those in urban areas," said Vilsack. "We've identified ways to use existing resources to help rural towns and organizations address this challenge head-on and potentially save lives, and I look forward to meeting with community leaders to better understand how we can further support their efforts to create healthier, safer futures for families and individuals who may be struggling." Over the next several months, Vilsack will travel to New Hampshire, Missouri, Nevada, Mississippi and Appalachia to participate in town halls that will bring together local and state government partners, the health community, and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the issue and discuss possible solutions. Vilsack will encourage public and private organizations to commit to plans of action for their communities. Additionally, USDA is making available $1.4 million through its Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) competitive grants program. Administered through USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA), the program's goal is to enhance the quality of life in rural areas through improved health and safety education efforts, including expanding the focus to address the critical challenges of substance abuse in rural communities across the nation. For the first time, USDA is encouraging applicants to develop projects that specifically work to educate the public about opioid abuse and overdose. USDA will also consider projects that target other health outcomes. Since 2009, NIFA has awarded $10.6 million to the RHSE program for projects that support the health and safety needs of rural America. Fiscal year 2016 applications to the RHSE program should focus on supporting projects proposing to scale-up existing, outcome-based extension programs in the area of individual and family health education to rural communities, state-wide or regionally across state lines. Programs that apply for RHSE funding in fiscal year 2016 can focus on extension work in the realm of substance abuse, as well as nutrition and physical activity, healthy and safe homes, aging in place, as well as other behavioral health and human social topics. Applications are due June 1, 2016. More information is available in the online Request for Applications. Past projects funded through the RHSE program include an Oklahoma State University project that aims to improve health literacy among family and consumer sciences educators, rural hospital discharge planners, and family caregivers. A project from the University of Wisconsin seeks to increase cancer treatment education and access to services for rural residents, while also forming coalitions to address rural health disparities. Since 2009, NIFA has invested in and advanced innovative and transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA's integrated research, education, and extension programs, supporting the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel, have resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that are combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic growth, addressing water availability issues, increasing food production, finding new sources of energy, mitigating climate variability, and ensuring food safety. To learn more about NIFA's impact on agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates, or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts. #

New farm data coalition puts farmers in the driver’s seat Agricultural Data Coalition Apr 25, 2016

From WWESTERN FARM PRESS Thanks to precision agriculture and advancements in equipment and computing technology, America’s farmers are building a treasure trove of production information that will help fuel future innovation. A new organization, the Agricultural Data Coalition (ADC), plans to help farmers better control, manage, and maximize the value of their data. The ADC is the result of years of planning and coordination by AGCO, the American Farm Bureau Federation, Auburn University, CNH Industrial, Crop IMS, The Ohio State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Raven Industries, and Topcon Positioning Group. Its goal is to build a data repository where farmers can securely store and oversee the information collected by their tractors, harvesters, aerial drones, and other devices. Over time, the data can be scrubbed, synced, and transmitted in an efficient and uniform way to third parties - whether they be researchers, crop insurance agents, government officials, farm managers, input providers, or any trusted advisor the farmer chooses. “The key is that farmers are in complete control, and they decide who is allowed access to their data,” explained ADC Executive Director Matt Bechdol. “That’s what sets ADC apart. This is not about profit for others, it’s about streamlining data management, establishing clear lines of control, and helping growers utilize their data in ways that ultimately benefit them.” Bechdol says to understand ADC’s platform, it’s helpful to think of it like a bank. “Farmers deposit their asset into a secure location,” he said. “They manage that asset through the equivalent of an online banking system, and then just like an ATM or an online transaction, ADC is able to transmit the data on the farmer’s behalf wherever the farmer wishes.” Bechdol added, “Today, farmers have to store their own data, have to transmit it themselves, and have to deposit assets in a number of separate banks just to do business.” Few farmers are currently maximizing their data because the marketplace lacks a viable central repository like the one ADC is developing. Bechdol believes that ADC’s collaborative approach and ability to bring a critical mass to the data bank is what will enable it to succeed and demonstrate value. He explained that ADC is working with farm leaders and farmer-owned cooperatives to ensure the system is organized, structured, and positioned to operate in ways that will be most beneficial to growers and encourage farmer use. “And even if some people aren’t ready or sure how to use their data, it still makes sense for them to take time to deposit their information into this universal bank,” Bechdol concluded. “That way, they will be prepared when they need the data or choose to put it to work.” Farmers interested in learning more about data collection, and organizations interested in joining ADC’s efforts, should visit www.AgDataCoalition.org.

Arizona alfalfa industry gains acreage, tonnage, respect May 4, 2016

While California alfalfa acreage has declined in recent years largely tied to drought, the forage crop in Arizona is gaining in acreage, yield, and respect. Barry Tickes pegs Arizona alfalfa acreage at 300,000 acres. Add another 35,000 acres in other hays to bring the state’s total forage production acreage to about 335,000 acres.“Arizona is the most productive hay production state in the U.S. and one of the top areas in the world,” says Tickes, director of the University of Arizona’s (UA) La Paz County Cooperative Extension at Parker. La Paz County borders the Colorado River in west central Arizona. Tickes was the lead off speaker at the La Paz County Alfalfa Meeting held in late April. La Paz County growers currently farm about 65,000 acres of alfalfa, including a 40-mile long swath about five miles wide through the scenic Parker Valley on Mohave Road - also called Indian Route 1 - from Parker to Ehrenburg. The flat low desert farming mecca also includes desert durum wheat, cotton, and dehydrator onions. Arizona top yielder Tickes says Arizona alfalfa yields average 8.4 tons per acre – the highest yield in the nation. This compares to 6.5 tons in 2014 in neighboring California. The National Agricultural Statistics Service pegs last year’s average price for Arizona alfalfa hay at $161 per ton, compared to $248 per ton in the Golden State (2014). In its ‘hay day’ before the current four-year drought, Golden State alfalfa acreage was about 1.1 million acres. Today, the state’s acreage is about 835,000 acres. Water use Turning to water use in Arizona alfalfa, UA Extension Agronomist Mike Ottman said timely irrigation is critical to alfalfa quality and yields. Cutting off irrigation to the forage crop does not pencil out at current water costs and hay prices. When a grower shuts off the water, it’s sometimes to prevent scalding plants, though Ottman says laser leveling has helped reduced scalding. Other reasons to cut off water include weed control, a water shortage, a water transfer to municipalities, and to reduce production costs. Alfalfa is a drought tolerant plant so turning the water off is an option for growers, Ottman said, since the plant better tolerates water stress, it’s a perennial crop with multiple harvests per year, and alfalfa is not a high value crop. El Niño dying Paul Brown, UA agricultural biometeorologist, provided a weather update, including a review of the El Niño weather pattern which is now dying quickly and expected to end by summer.Brown said this was the strongest El Niño weather system since the late 1990s. For California, Brown said there was significant moisture improvement from this El Niño, yet he noted, “California is not out of the woods yet.” Colorado River update Brown then turned to the ongoing western drought’s impact on the Colorado River and falling water levels at Lake Mead. Current projections point to the increased likelihood of a Stage One drought call on the river - sooner rather than later - which would reduce surface water deliveries, primarily in Arizona. According to government estimates, there will be not be a Colorado River shortage call this year. Yet there is a 37 percent chance of a shortage call in 2017, a 59 percent chance in 2018, and the odds only increase the following years. “The bottom line is there is a fairly good chance we’re heading into a shortage call unless one of two things happen – it gets wet in a hurry, or water leaders in the lower basin states (California, Arizona, and Nevada) come up with a plan to prevent this.” Brown added, “There are major political discussions underway on proposed shortage alleviation policies that could delay or prevent a shortage declaration.” Among the ways to achieve this could be further water reductions now and in the near future which could basically keep more water in Lake Mead, above the 1,075 foot depth that could trigger a shortage call. Overall, El Niño brought more than expected rain and snowfall to much of California last winter and this spring, yet less than expected moisture to the Southern California desert, Arizona, and western New Mexico.Subsurface drip Representatives from several commercial companies spoke to the alfalfa crowd, including Pat Fernandez of Netafim who discussed subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) in alfalfa. On average, Fernandez says SDI increases alfalfa yields by 20 percent with some higher yields reported at 25 percent to 30 percent. Overall, yields can total 12 tons per acre with SDI.Overall, yields can total 12 tons per acre with SDI. Other advantages of SDI include rapid regrowth after cutting, improved alfalfa quality (supreme to premium), and fewer weeds. He pegged today’s per acre costs for a SDI system at about $2,500. Fernandez shared that SDI-irrigated alfalfa requires more management, including increased rodent control. He cited rodents as the No. 1 concern with SDI in alfalfa. Uncontrolled rodents can damage the SDI system, including holes in the underground tubing, and reduce yields up to about 30 percent. Fernandez said, “Bait and trap is the most effective (rodent control method) in Arizona whether in drip, flood, or sprinkler.” His advice to growers, “Start rodent control early.” He said SDI can increase the number of “cuts” (cuttings) during the year, noting that a grower near Eloy reported 18-19 cuttings a year. Low lignin varieties Don Miller of Alforex Seeds, the forage division of Dow AgroSciences, discussed the company’s conventional alfalfa breeding work and their new low lignin varieties now on the market. Lignin is a product in the plant which helps keep the plant erect but it has a drawback.plant erect but it has a drawback. “Lignin in mature plant tissue interferes with animal digestion and negatively affects forage quality,” Miller said. “Low lignin alfalfa creates a more digestible alfalfa.” He said lower lignin alfalfa fed to dairy cows can increase milk production by one gallon per cow per day, and produce more meat. In the 1970s and 1980s, most industry alfalfa research focused on pests and diseases. In recent years, Miller said the emphasis has been on alfalfa quality, including reduced lignin. In 2014, Alforex Seeds released the industry’s first low lignin variety, Hi-Gest Alfalfa. Miller says the variety reduces the plant lignin level by 7 percent to 10 percent, enough to increase forage quality without hindering the plant’s ability to remain upright. Alforex’s low lignin varieties include Hi-Gest AFX 960 and AFX 1060 for Arizona and Southern California, and Hi-Gest 660 for Central California. Latest news in western agriculture – Western Farm Press Daily e-news blast - delivered free to your inbox.

Why consumer sentiment matters May 5, 2016 by Nevil Speer BEEF

It’s difficult to get a solid read on the economy. That’s been an enduring theme ever since the start of the financial crisis. Any advances in the economy have seemingly come in fits and starts. Therefore, there remains a lot of uncertainty about the future economic direction and momentum, hence why there’s so much focus on central banking policies across the globe. That clearly has influence on the beef industry in terms of both domestic and global demand. Despite economic headwinds, the beef industry has enjoyed solid gains during the past several years. Beef demand has been robust, meaning more spending by consumers. For more on those trends see: Beef Demand vs. Beef Consumption and Beef Recapturing Market Share. However, it becomes more difficult looking forward. It’s challenging to assess how consumers will respond in terms of purchasing decisions. That’s especially true given the forecast for increased supply coming from all three major sources of protein. On that note, the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is a good measure of consumer perceptions of the economy over time. This week’s illustration highlights monthly readings along with the 12-month moving average since January 2000. Most important, the index has climbed steadily during the past several years. However, the outlook can be assessed from two different views. On one hand, the 12-month moving average is roughly equivalent to levels established prior to the financial crisis and heading in the right direction. On the other hand, April’s monthly assessment (89) is down sharply from the near-term high (98.1) established last January – thus heading in the wrong direction. How do you perceive the state of the consumer going into the summer? What impact might that have on beef spending? Do you foresee stronger demand versus 2015, or do you think consumers will begin to waver when it comes to purchasing beef? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.