Citizen advisors needed for Habitat Stamp Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 22, 2016: Citizen advisors needed for Habitat Stamp Program SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is seeking individuals to serve as volunteer citizen advisors to the Habitat Stamp Program. Advisors review and provide guidance to the department about proposed projects, planning documents and program direction. Advisors are appointed by the New Mexico Game Commission to serve on one of five committees around the state. Committees are composed of seven members. Members are selected to represent sporting and nonsporting conservation and public-land grazing permittee interests. Advisors serve three-year terms. The terms of current members expire Dec. 31. Those who intend to hunt, fish or trap on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management must purchase a $5.00 Habitat Stamp along with the appropriate license. Proceeds from stamp sales are used to fund wildlife habitat improvement projects throughout the state. Advisors meet with federal and state biologists each winter to discuss current habitat conditions, regional habitat plans and future habitat projects. They meet again in the spring to recommend projects to fund. Advisors also can attend optional field trips during the summer. The commission is scheduled to appoint 35 new citizen advisors at its meeting Nov. 17 in Grants. Those applying to serve will be evaluated upon: • Availability to attend meetings and participate in program activities. • Familiarity with the program and wildlife conservation or habitat restoration activities. • Knowledge of public lands and habitats. • Qualifications to represent a particular constituent group. To apply, please visit http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/conservation/habitat-information/habitat-stamp/. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 31, 2016. For further assistance, please contact Reuben Teran, (505) 476-8130 or ReubenS.Teran@state.nm.us. For more information about the department and its programs please visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Calling stock producers

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 Press Release CALLING ALL STOCK producers Due to a number of stock related issues a number of Eddy County Stock producers would like to reorganization of the Eddy County Stockman’s Association. A reorganization meeting is going to be held August 18th at 7:00 pm in the meeting room of the Eddy County Extension Office, 1304 West Stevens Carlsbad. If there is an interest we will move forward with this effort. There are lots of issues that an organized cooperative effort will make business better for all producers. If you cannot attend this meeting please call the Extension office and voice if you support such an effort or not. Thanks. 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.

Word from Dr. Urig about sick horses.

For clients - please feel free to share this information! I'm working with the assistant state veterinarian and our state diagnostic lab to get to the bottom of the equine respiratory disease that is spreading around town. At this time, only horses appear to be affected. They have symptoms of cough, snotty noses, fever (usually around 104), and some loss of appetite. Some have crusty eyes, as well. No horses have been reported dead at this time. Horses seem to be recovering from the worst of the symptoms within 2-3 days. I have sent in samples to try and identify what the infection is, but it will be next week before I get any results. If you have concerns about your horse being sick, I would highly recommend that you check its temperature first, as a fever will likely be the first symptom that your horse will have even if it doesn't seem sick. Normal horse temperature is around 99-100 degrees. Before you start any treatment of your horse, please call the clinic at 885-3399. I would like to get more samples if possible, as this will really help us to get a solid diagnosis. We can also help guide you in the best treatment for your horse. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to call us. If it is after office hours, our emergency phone number is 200-9399.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Substance Misuse Prevention Resources for Low Income Pregnant Women and Mothers In Order to Battle the Opioid Epidemic

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Substance Misuse Prevention Resources for Low Income Pregnant Women and Mothers In Order to Battle the Opioid Epidemic Columbia, Missouri, July 22, 2016 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged all State Health Officers to use the resources and opportunities provided through their Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) agencies in their substance misuse prevention efforts. Vilsack made this announcement at a town hall in Missouri to discuss the opioid epidemic, which accounted for more than 28,000 deaths nationwide in 2014. From 1993 to the 2013, opioid use has increased by 400 percent, exceeding 250 million prescriptions per year. Substance misuse may particularly impact the WIC population because the use of opioids can result in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a withdrawal disorder some babies experience after exposure to drugs while in utero. There was been a five-fold increase in NAS from 2000 to 2012. Research has shown that newborns with NAS are more likely to have low birthweight and respiratory problems. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal every 25 minutes, leading to an average hospital stay of 16.9 days versus 2.1 days for a non-NAS child and to $1.5 billion in additional hospital costs. "Because of the devastating toll that opioid misuse has taken on our communities, and particularly rural areas, I have tasked USDA with creatively using all of the resources at our disposal to stem the tide of this epidemic," said Secretary Vilsack. "For many women, WIC is their first point of entry into the health care system, and we have an opportunity to intercept and potentially prevent dangerous health outcomes for both the mother and the child. But just using our existing resources won't be enough to help the women and families who are already struggling. Congress recently missed an opportunity to pass new funding for addiction treatment and I am urging legislators to return to Washington to pass the President's budget request of $1.1 billion to help those who are struggling." WIC plays an important role in providing mothers and young children with access to nutritious food, while also serving as a useful conduit to other health resources. As an adjunct to healthcare, the WIC Program is uniquely positioned to help pregnant women and mothers who may be struggling with addiction to access the help they need. To assist WIC agencies in their substance misuse prevention and referral efforts, USDA released guidance in 2014 designed to help WIC agency staff integrate information on alcohol, drug and other harmful substance use and referrals to other treatment resources into their clinic activities. The recent guides, Substance Use Prevention: Screening, Education, and Referral Resource Guide for Local WIC Agencies and Give Your Baby a Healthy Start, the Dangers of Smoking, Drinking and Taking Drugs include a variety of educational materials and resources for WIC participants as well as training materials for WIC staff. The approximately 1,900 local WIC agencies and 10,000 WIC clinic sites nationwide can play a major role in increasing participants' awareness of the dangers of substance misuse during pregnancy and while breastfeeding since they are required to provide participating women with this information. About 85 percent of income-eligible infants participate in WIC in their first year of life, totaling approximately half of all infants born in the U.S. WIC local agencies are also required to coordinate with local alcohol and treatment services to maintain and make available a list of local resources for addiction counseling and treatment. WIC is one of FNS' 15 nutrition assistance programs, which also include the National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Together, these programs comprise America's nutrition safety net. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992(English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD)or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).

Ride for the Clover 2016!

Good afternoon, I am excited to announce the upcoming fourth annual motorcycle tour Ride for the 4-H Clover, August 26-28. Regent Mike Cheney will again be participating in this year’s ride. Regent Cheney’s vision for the motorcycle tour is to increase awareness of the importance of 4-H youth programs and the Cooperative Extension Service. This year’s ride will not only be a great opportunity to learn about Extension and Research programs in the College of ACES, but also an opportunity to support the New Mexico 4-H Program. You will experience great fellowship and the beauty of northern New Mexico. We currently have 64 riders registered for this year’s Ride for the 4-H Clover. If you have not yet registered, please consider doing so, we would love to have you join us. Anyone who wishes to participate but is not a motorcycle rider is certainly welcome. To find out more information about the motorcycle tour and to register for the ride visit the link at http://ridefortheclover.nmsu.edu or call 505-983-4615. Thank you again and hope you can join us for this year’s Ride for the 4-H Clover, Jon. Jon Boren New Mexico State University Associate Dean and Director Cooperative Extension Service P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3AE Las Cruces, NM 88003 (office) 575.646.3015 (fax) 575.646.7042 jboren@nmsu.edu

USDA Announces Additional Efforts to Make School Environments Healthier

USDA Announces Additional Efforts to Make School Environments Healthier Local School Wellness Policy and Smart Snacks among Four Regulations Ensuring Access to Healthy Food, Consistent Nutrition Standards for Foods Marketed and Served to Students, and Greater Program Integrity WASHINGTON, July 21, 2016 – Today, the Obama Administration is announcing four final rules that implement important provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) building on the progress schools across the country have already made in the improved nutritional quality of meals served in schools. As a key component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to raise a healthier generation, the rules will ensure that children have access to healthy snacks and that nutrition standards for the foods marketed and served in schools are consistent. The rules will also promote integrity across the school meals programs. "I am thrilled with the progress we continue to make in building healthier learning environments for our kids with science-based nutrition standards for all food sold and marketed in schools. As a mom, I know how hard parents work to provide nutritious meals and snacks to their kids, and we want to make sure we support those efforts with healthy choices at school," said First Lady Michelle Obama. "I am inspired by the tremendous work that's being done in schools across the country to provide our kids healthy food to fuel them throughout the day so that they can grow up healthy and fulfill their boundless promise." "Children's ability to learn in the classroom and reach their fullest potential depends on what we do right now to ensure their health," stated Secretary Vilsack. "The actions we are announcing today continue the Administration's unprecedented commitment to building a healthier next generation and institutionalize the positive changes schools across the country have already made." The Smart Snacks in School final rule aligns the nutritional quality of snacks sold to children during the school day with the science-based improvements made to school lunches and breakfasts over the last five years. These include using practical, science-based nutrition standards that ensure children are offered more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. States have the flexibility to allow limited exemptions to school-sponsored fundraisers during the school day. The Smart Snacks standards were implemented in the 2014 – 2015 school year in accordance with the interim final rule. This final rule makes modest improvements to those standards based on public comments and lessons learned from implementation. The Local School Wellness Policy final rule ensures that any food or beverage that is marketed on school campuses during the school day meets the Smart Snacks standards. According to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 70 percent of elementary and middle school students are exposed to some kind of food/beverage marketing through school. Many of the foods and beverages that are heavily marketed to children contribute to poor diet quality, high calorie intake, and excess weight gain. However, the majority of schools do not have policies restricting food and beverage marketing to children. This rule makes sure foods offered and marketed to students during the school day have consistent nutrition standards. The Local School Wellness Policy final rule also empowers communities to take an active role in the health of their children. It requires schools to engage parents, students and community members in the annual development and assessment of local school wellness policies. These policies guide a school district's efforts to establish school environments that support healthy eating and physical activity. States and local communities will have flexibility in developing a policy that works best for them. Also posted today were the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) final rule and the Administrative Review final rule. Under HHFKA, CEP allows schools and local educational agencies with high poverty rates to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students to promote access to healthy food and reduce administrative burdens on schools and families. The final rule streamlines administrative processes, making it easier to participate in the meal programs. More than 18,000 schools in high poverty areas currently participate in CEP, which is now in its second year of nationwide implementation offering nutritious meals at no cost to 8.5 million students. The Administrative Review final rule updates the administrative review process used by state agencies to monitor federally-funded school meal programs. It safeguards the integrity of the programs, ensures taxpayer dollars are being spent as intended, and increases accountability and transparency by publicly posting how well school food authorities are complying with various requirements. State agencies began implementing the updated review process in school year 2013-2014, and currently 95 percent of state agencies are already implementing the updated administrative review process. The rules announced today are part of implementing the HHFKA where more than 52 million children now have healthier school environments than ever before with over 98 percent of schools meeting the healthier meal standards. In addition, research shows that under the updated standards nearly 80 percent of schools offer two or more vegetables at lunch and consumption has increased by more than 16 percent. This is especially crucial for the approximately 15.3 million American children that live in food insecure households, many of whom rely on school meals as a consistent source of nutritious food. Key improvements to child nutrition programs implemented under the HHFKA include: • Improving the nutritional quality of all food in schools to reflect recommendations from the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; • The rapid growth of farm to school efforts to more than 42,000 participating schools; • Improvement of direct certification efforts with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to increase the number of eligible children enrolled in school meal programs; • Implementation of national professional standards for all school nutrition employees who manage and operate the school meal programs; • Expansion of the At Risk After School Meals Program to all states; • And the first major revision of the Child and Adult Care Food Program nutrition standards since the program's inception in 1968. To better assist schools with these improvements, USDA also implemented mentor-based training for school nutrition professionals through the Team Up for School Nutrition Success initiative. More information about USDA's efforts to improve access to safe, healthy food for all Americans and support the health of our next generation can be found on USDA's Medium chapter, Growing a Healthier Future. In total, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 nutrition assistance programs. In addition to National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, these programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the summer meals programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, which together comprise America's nutrition safety net. For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov. #

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Signing of the Global Food Security Act

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Signing of the Global Food Security Act WASHINGTON, July 20, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement on S.1252, the Global Food Security Act of 2016, signed by President Obama today: "Agriculture's vital role in our economic success and national security is a bond that we share with other nations all over the world. With agricultural development as a core component of his strategy, President Obama's Feed the Future initiative has achieved impressive results in combating poverty and hunger, reaching millions of small farmers with tools and technologies and delivering critical nutrition to millions of children. In effect, Feed the Future represents the best of our American values-compassion, innovation, collaboration, and progress toward a world free of hunger and inequality. As the world and our climate continue to change, we know that our work must continue. With the signing of the Global Food Security Act by the President today, we can be assured that this important work will carry on long past this Administration. USDA has been committed to ensuring that our contributions – through research and innovation, capacity building, technical assistance to build agricultural productivity, and school feeding programs– produced meaningful results. I am grateful that with the enactment of this legislation, the United States will continue to play a leading role in helping create a more food secure world and, therefore, a more secure United States of America." #

New state veterinarian brings broad animal experience

New state veterinarian brings broad animal experience Office of the State Veterinarian works to prevent, control disease in New Mexico’s livestock (ALBUQUERQUE) – After a six-month nationwide search, a new state veterinarian has been named for New Mexico. Ralph Zimmerman, DVM, will lead the Office of the State Veterinarian after seven years as head veterinarian at the Albuquerque Biopark Zoo. The Office of the State Veterinarian resides within the New Mexico Livestock Board. Zimmerman and his staff of field veterinarians will work with the Livestock Board and various other government and private-sector partners to ensure that New Mexico remains free of diseases affecting livestock. The office is critical in responding to and ending outbreaks like the equine herpesvirus outbreak that occurred at a southern New Mexico racetrack earlier this year. “In addition to his scientific background and expertise in both regulatory medicine and private practice, Dr. Zimmerman brings extensive experience in personnel management and public relations to this key position in the State of New Mexico,” said Bill Bunce, executive director of the New Mexico Livestock Board. “We all look forward to working cohesively on the myriad of state, domestic, and international issues that impact our livestock industry.” Throughout his career, Zimmerman has worked with animals both small and large, including dairy and beef cattle, horses, goats, and more. He graduated at the top of his class at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He first moved to New Mexico in 1987. Zimmerman’s first day as state veterinarian will be August 15. He said his goal is to have open, honest communication with the state’s livestock producers. “My job is to protect and promote the New Mexico livestock industry, and I intend to meet with the different producer groups to get a feel for what their needs are, and how the New Mexico Livestock Board and the State Veterinarian can better meet them,” Zimmerman said. “We may not always agree, but an open dialogue, with all treated evenly and respectfully, will better serve the industry’s needs.” New Mexico’s livestock sector is the top contributor to the state’s agricultural economy. The sale of New Mexico-produced, unprocessed livestock products (including meat animals, milk, wool, mohair, and honey) amounted to nearly $3 billion in 2014, the most recent year for which such data are available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That figure becomes larger when some of these items are processed into high-value products, such as when milk is turned into cheese and when wool is spun into yarn. The Office of the State Veterinarian plays a critical role within the New Mexico Livestock Board, the mission of which is to prevent disease in and theft of livestock in New Mexico. The Livestock Board’s 60 full-time inspectors and another 60 full- and part-time deputies patrol and perform inspections around the state to accomplish this mission. More information is at www.nmlbonline.com. ###

2016 Western Ag Industry Survey

2016 Western Ag Industry Survey In early 2016, the idea for the Agricultural Industry Survey originated from a similar effort administered by a group of Colorado Extension Specialists. Members of the Western Extension Committees (WEC) on Farm Management and Marketing, made up of Extension economists from 13 Western States, Guam, and the U.S. Pacific Islands then initiated a survey specific to agriculture in the west. The survey invitation was emailed to the WEC membership who distributed it through Extension contact channels. The survey report is now available… Agricultural Industry Survey (AIS) results indicate there is emerging financial stress in the west but to a slightly lesser degree than reported nationally. This is likely due to commodity diversification and the relatively wide use of irrigation which has helped to buffer climate risk. Western region price trends tend to be slightly higher than U.S. price trends with prices that are generally competitive or above U.S. values. However overall declines in price trends for major commodities in the west in 2015 and continuing into 2016 will persist and contribute to the gradual decline in farm income which is certain to exacerbate financial stress. The economic environment is experiencing substantial shifts with agricultural risks becoming ever more complex. An expedient response requires a solid infrastructure to address these needs and situations as they emerge. To read or download a copy of the survey report, point your browser to http://WEC.FarmManagement.org. For those receiving this message who contributed to the results, a big thank you. We could not have put together this report without your greatly appreciated contributions. Thank you.

EPA Research Shows Moderate or Severe Corrosion in Majority of Diesel Fuel Underground Storage Tank Systems Studied

CONTACT: Mollie Lemon lemon.mollie@epa.gov 202-343-9859 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2016 EPA Research Shows Moderate or Severe Corrosion in Majority of Diesel Fuel Underground Storage Tank Systems Studied Agency Calls on Tank Owners to Check for Corrosion WASHINGTON – In a report released today on corrosion inside diesel fuel underground storage tanks (USTs), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found moderate or severe corrosion that could affect metal components inside both steel and fiberglass underground tank systems. Corrosion inside USTs can cause equipment failure by preventing proper operation of release detection and prevention equipment. If left unchecked, corrosion could cause UST system failures and releases, which could lead to groundwater contamination. Underground tank releases have historically been a leading cause of groundwater contamination. Groundwater is a source of drinking water for almost half of the people in the U.S. EPA’s report shows that 35 of 42 – or 83 percent – of the USTs studied exhibited moderate or severe corrosion, but less than 25 percent of owners were aware of corrosion prior to the internal inspection. Although EPA cannot project the actual percentage of USTs storing diesel that are affected by corrosion nationwide, the Agency is alerting owners of USTs storing diesel fuel about risks from corrosion. EPA’s notification recommends owners check inside their tank systems and further investigate the condition of their diesel fuel tanks. Owners’ awareness and early actions could help protect them from higher repair costs and help protect the environment from contamination from releases. EPA’s UST website (https://www.epa.gov/ust) provides information on actions tank owners can take to minimize corrosion and associated risks. As part of EPA’s ongoing collaboration with the UST community, the Agency responded to concerns about reports of severe corrosion in USTs storing diesel fuel by working with industry and scientific experts to develop this research. The results are leading to a fuller understanding of the issue and possible causes, as well as laying the groundwork for future research efforts for identifying a solution. Scientific evidence has not identified a specific cause of corrosion in diesel tanks, although microbiologically-influenced corrosion is suspected to be involved. EPA is continuing to work collaboratively with partners in the UST community, industry, and scientific experts on additional laboratory research about the cause of corrosion. More information on underground storage tanks (USTs) and today’s report: https://www.epa.gov/ust More information on corrosion in USTs storing diesel fuel: https://www.epa.gov/ust/alternative-fuels-and-underground-storage-tanks-usts#tab-5 R120

We honor and celebrate the life of Mary Helen Jones Skeen.

We honor and celebrate the life of Mary Helen Jones Skeen who passed into heaven July 15, 2016. She is survived by her children, Mary Elisa and Mikell Lee, daughter-in-law Gail Skeen, three grandchildren, Ross Livingston, Tyler and Clint Skeen, great-grandson, Lane Skeen, her loving and beloved brother, Ralls “Punch” Jones, cousin Genevieve Yoder Richardson, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Skeen, son James Hardin Skeen; siblings Ladye Dee Jones Remmele, Dorothy Elizabeth Jones, and [auth] Amos Dixon Jones. A memorial service is pending, details to be provided by LaGrone Funeral Home. Contributions may be made to the Assurance Home for Children. As soon as we have more details, we will share them. Mary was born December 19, 1926, in Roswell, New Mexico. The daughter of Amos Dee and Portia Beard Jones, Mary grew up on the Jones ranch near Tatum, noted for Debouillet sheep, a breed originating in the United States and perfected by Mr. Jones. Mary married Joseph R. Skeen, also from Roswell, on November 17, 1945. They shared a wonderful 58 years together. Mary and Joe moved to the Buckhorn Ranch, south of Picacho, in 1951 where they raised sheep and cattle. Mary served on the Hondo Valley School Board, was a member of the New Mexico Wool Growers Association and the National Federation of Republican Women. She supported the Assurance Home for Children in Roswell for homeless and at-risk youngsters. An experienced ranch woman, Mary served a number of years on the Council for Agriculture Research Extension and Teaching (CARET). She was recognized as Sheepwoman of the Year in 2009 by the New Mexico Wool Growers and was featured in the Stockman magazine. A true lady, Mary was equally at home on the ranch and in Washington D.C where she would join Joe, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico’s 2nd District from 1981-2003. She was passionate about family and ranching. Her gracious charm and keen wit will be sorely missed.

NMSU researchers say milk works best to extinguish the heat from chile peppers

NMSU researchers say milk works best to extinguish the heat from chile peppers DATE: 07/18/2016 WRITER: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Paul Bosland, 575-646-5171, pbosland@nmsu.edu The next time you bite off more than you can handle in regard to a hot chile pepper, your best bet is to drink some milk. That’s according to research conducted by New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute. “Capsaicin is the chemical compound found in chile peppers that makes them taste hot,” said Paul Bosland, an NMSU Regents Professor and director of the Chile Pepper Institute. “It turns out that milk has a protein in it that replaces the capsaicin on the receptors on your tongue. It’s really the quickest way to alleviate the burning feeling.” Bosland said when capsaicin attaches to receptors in your mouth, it sends the same signal to your brain as it would if you had touched something hot. That’s why some people also begin to sweat when they eat hot peppers. Milk, and other dairy products like sour cream or even ice cream, will help to put out that fire. So, does anything else work? “Carbohydrates also replace the capsaicin on the receptors, just not as effectively as milk,” Bosland said. “These would be things like bread or sugar. Sugar is the better of the two. That’s why we see the traditional Mexican desserts like flan and sopapillas with honey. These are made from breads, sugars and milk.” Bosland often gets calls asking whether alcohol will help with the heat sensation from chile peppers. The answer is no, and water won’t work either. They both just wash the capsaicin around your mouth. Neither will block it. The very first chile peppers evolved around Bolivia in South America. The early wild peppers were very small and round and were probably spread by birds because they do not have the same heat receptors in their mouths as humans do. Experts believe that when the first humans arrived in the Western Hemisphere, probably around 15,000 years ago, they began to cultivate chile peppers and select them for various traits. The plants naturally cross-pollinate well, so new varieties are easily developed and constantly being made. Today, there are thousands of chile pepper varieties, from the super-hot Trinidad Moruga Scorpion to the standard bell pepper, which doesn’t have any heat at all. “People will often ask, which is hotter, red or green chile peppers,” Bosland said. “It depends on the variety, but generally, red won’t be as hot because red chile peppers will have more sugars in them, which helps to counter the heat.” An interesting situation happens when astronauts put hot sauce on their food in space, because it doesn’t taste as hot as it does on earth. Bosland said researchers are still trying to figure out why that is. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews

US EPA, US DOT, California’s Air Resources Board Issue Draft Technical Assessment Report of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Economy Standards for Model Year 2022-2025 Cars and Light Trucks

Every truck or car sold in NM has to be California complaint by NM Environment Department regulations: US EPA, US DOT, California’s Air Resources Board Issue Draft Technical Assessment Report of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Economy Standards for Model Year 2022-2025 Cars and Light Trucks WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the California Air Resource Board (CARB) today took the first step in the mid-term evaluation of the National Program for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards for light duty cars and trucks by releasing a draft Technical Assessment Report (TAR) for public comment. The release of the TAR delivers on a commitment that EPA made in 2012 as part of the rulemaking establishing a National Program for the 2017-2025 period. The draft TAR covers model years 2022-2025. The draft TAR shows that automotive manufacturers are innovating and bringing new technology to market at a rapid pace, and that they will be able to meet the MY 2022-2025 standards established in the 2012 rulemaking with a wide range of cost-effective technologies. Moreover, it indicates that these standards can be achieved by relying primarily on advanced gasoline vehicles. The report also shows that manufacturers will be able to meet the stricter standards at similar or even a lower cost than was anticipated in the 2012 rulemaking, with substantial savings on fuel costs for consumers. “Today’s draft report shows that automakers are developing far more technologies to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, at similar or lower costs, than we thought possible just a few years ago. And they are adopting these fuel-saving technologies into their fleets even faster than anticipated,” said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “This is simply great news for consumers, manufacturers, workers and the climate.” “Automakers have already implemented new technologies that are saving American drivers money and cut national fuel consumption and carbon emissions today,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. “The draft report supports that the administration’s fuel economy program can continue to incentivize innovation and reduce fuel consumption while also ensuring that consumers can continue to choose the vehicles they want to drive. The agencies welcome public comments to assist the agencies’ analysis and decision making.” “After almost four years of close collaboration on the draft Technical Assessment Report with our federal partners, the conclusions are clear: costs are lower for many technologies than we originally thought, market uptake is strong, and expected consumer benefits remain high,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. The National Program is designed to enable consumers to choose the car or truck they want, while ensuring that the vehicles they select will reduce carbon emissions and save on fuel costs. The program was developed jointly by the EPA and DOT, in coordination with CARB, and it applies to passenger cars and light duty trucks through model year 2025. It requires manufacturers to improve average fuel efficiency and reduce average greenhouse gas emissions over time. In recent years, and responding to the standards established in the National Program, automakers have been rapidly adopting fuel-efficient technologies like turbo charging, engine downsizing, more sophisticated transmissions, vehicle weight reduction, aerodynamics, and idle stop-start, along with improved accessories and air conditioning systems. There are over 100 car, SUV, and pick-up truck versions on the market today that already meet 2020 or later standards, suggesting that automakers should be well-positioned to meet future average standards through additional application of those technologies. Today’s draft report is the first of several steps the agencies will take as part of assessing the standards for new vehicles in the 2022-2025 model years (MY). The report itself is not a rulemaking and does not change any of the existing requirements under the existing National Program. The National Program does not set a single fuel economy target number for all vehicles, but instead it establishes separate footprint-based standards for passenger cars and light trucks. A manufacturer’s compliance obligation depends on the mix of vehicles that it produces for sale in each model year – if a manufacturer produces mostly larger vehicles, its average standard will be less stringent than if it produces mostly smaller vehicles, reflecting the reality that smaller vehicles often have better fuel economy and lower carbon emissions than larger vehicles. This approach ensures that consumers can continue to choose from the full range of fuel efficient vehicles on the market, and at the same time, it improves efficiency and emissions for all types of vehicles. While the Draft TAR analysis focuses on the MY 2022-2025 standards, the report also shows that auto manufacturers over-complied with the standards for each of the first three years of the program, and in 2014 outperformed the standards by 1.4 miles per gallon. This occurred during a period during which the automotive industry has seen six consecutive years of sales increases and a new all-time sales record in 2015, reflecting positive consumer response to vehicles complying with the standards. For more information on today’s announcement, visit: https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/climate/mte.htm R117

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT If like Asian cultures we named years this year should be the year of the rabbit. I have not seen as many rabbits as I have this year in a long time. The high rainfall and low predator count from years of drought is most likely responsible. Eddy County NM is home to one major species of jackrabbits and three cottontail species. The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) is found in Eddy county and most of the state. The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) occurs throughout the County and the state, while the mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) occurs primarily in northern New Mexico, but has been reported at higher elevations. Eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) inhabit most of the County and the state, with the exception of the northwestern quarter. The black-tailed jackrabbit is somewhat smaller, than the white tailed weighing only 3 to 7 pounds. It has a grayish brown body, large black-tipped ears, and a black streak on the top of its tail. The eastern cottontail is 14 to 17 inches in length and weighs between 2 and 4 pounds. The brownish or grayish ears are 2.5 to 3 inches long. The tail is cottony white. The desert cottontail is smaller (12 to 15 inches in length) and has longer ears (3 to 4 inches long). The body is pale gray washed with yellow. The mountain cottontail is similar to the eastern cottontail, but somewhat paler. The mountain cottontail also has shorter ears (about 2.5 inches long) compared to the desert cottontail. This all said rabbits have had a good time feeding on my garden this year. I have lost all my chile peppers to them and some tomatoes. Significant damage occurs when concentrations of rabbits are attracted to orchards, gardens, ornamentals, or agricultural areas. High rabbit populations also can damage range vegetation. Most damage to gardens, landscapes, or agricultural areas occurs in areas adjacent to rangeland normally used by rabbits. Damage may be temporary and usually occurs when natural vegetation is dry. Green vegetation can be damaged severely during these dry periods. Last year’s plentiful rain produced a lots of native vegetation and rabbits reproduced as well. Rangeland over-browsing and overgrazing can occur any time rabbit numbers are high. Jackrabbits consume 1/2 to 1 pound of green vegetation each day. It has been estimated that eight jackrabbits eat as much as one sheep, and 41 jackrabbits eat as much as one cow. In some areas heavily infested with jackrabbits, numbers have been estimated as high as 400 per square mile, extending over several hundred square miles. Range damage can be severe in such situations, especially in areas where vegetation productivity is low. I know I have at least 20-25 on my place; I have counted 12 on the front lawn one morning. Jackrabbits and cottontails are considered nongame animals in New Mexico and are not protected by state game laws. The white-sided jackrabbit (Lepus callotis) occurs in the southwestern corner of New Mexico but has not been reported in Eddy County is listed by the state of New Mexico as a threatened species. While looking similar to the black-tailed jackrabbit, the white-sided jackrabbit is stockier and conspicuously white along the sides of its body. If you are experiencing problems from this species please contact New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for assistance. For small gardens exclusion is accomplished the best control method most often by fences and gates installed around the area to be protected. Exclusion by fencing is desirable for small areas of high-value crops like vegetable gardens, but is usually impractical and too expensive for larger acreages. However, when considering cost, remember that damage to high-value crops can mean big losses. Also, the cost of fencing can be spread over several years. I am hoping to build a garden area soon that will have good fencing to keep my sheep and the rabbits out. Along with exclusion, using wooden cage traps is probably the most practical means of controlling problem cottontails. However, using wooden-cage traps is not effective for jackrabbits because they are reluctant to enter a trap or dark enclosure. In addition, live trapping is less effective during the summer months because abundant vegetation makes it more difficult to attract them. Therefore, exclusion is more feasible during the summer. Rabbit repellents often are unsatisfactory for protecting plants from rabbits, especially in the long term. However, chemical repellents may provide some temporary protection from rabbit damage to trees, vines, or farm and garden crops. There are a number of different repellents available. Something that seems to be working for me is a motion sensor sprinkler. As cats or other animals move around at night the sprinkler comes on for a few minutes and most animals do not like getting sprinkled. It does not work when windy however the sprinkler will be on while the wind is blowing. I have used this devise with birds as well. Other frightening units like electronic ultra sound etc. have not been proven to be effective. Shooting is a quick, easy, and effective control method. Of course this is not possible in the city limits or near houses. Make sure local firearms laws allow it and that it is done safely. Persistence is required if shooting is the only technique used. Removing rabbits in one year never guarantees that the population will be low the next year (this also is true for trapping). Encouraging the rabbit’s natural enemies may aid in reducing rabbit damage. Hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and snakes all help the farmer, gardener, and homeowner control rabbits. NMSU Extension has a new publication which was used to write this article and it is Guide L-210 on the web or at your local county extension office. 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. L-210: Rabbits and Their Control in New Mexico, http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/L210.pdf

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT If like Asian cultures we named years this year should be the year of the rabbit. I have not seen as many rabbits as I have this year in a long time. The high rainfall and low predator count from years of drought is most likely responsible. Eddy County NM is home to one major species of jackrabbits and three cottontail species. The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) is found in Eddy county and most of the state. The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) occurs throughout the County and the state, while the mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) occurs primarily in northern New Mexico, but has been reported at higher elevations. Eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) inhabit most of the County and the state, with the exception of the northwestern quarter. The black-tailed jackrabbit is somewhat smaller, than the white tailed weighing only 3 to 7 pounds. It has a grayish brown body, large black-tipped ears, and a black streak on the top of its tail. The eastern cottontail is 14 to 17 inches in length and weighs between 2 and 4 pounds. The brownish or grayish ears are 2.5 to 3 inches long. The tail is cottony white. The desert cottontail is smaller (12 to 15 inches in length) and has longer ears (3 to 4 inches long). The body is pale gray washed with yellow. The mountain cottontail is similar to the eastern cottontail, but somewhat paler. The mountain cottontail also has shorter ears (about 2.5 inches long) compared to the desert cottontail. This all said rabbits have had a good time feeding on my garden this year. I have lost all my chile peppers to them and some tomatoes. Significant damage occurs when concentrations of rabbits are attracted to orchards, gardens, ornamentals, or agricultural areas. High rabbit populations also can damage range vegetation. Most damage to gardens, landscapes, or agricultural areas occurs in areas adjacent to rangeland normally used by rabbits. Damage may be temporary and usually occurs when natural vegetation is dry. Green vegetation can be damaged severely during these dry periods. Last year’s plentiful rain produced a lots of native vegetation and rabbits reproduced as well. Rangeland over-browsing and overgrazing can occur any time rabbit numbers are high. Jackrabbits consume 1/2 to 1 pound of green vegetation each day. It has been estimated that eight jackrabbits eat as much as one sheep, and 41 jackrabbits eat as much as one cow. In some areas heavily infested with jackrabbits, numbers have been estimated as high as 400 per square mile, extending over several hundred square miles. Range damage can be severe in such situations, especially in areas where vegetation productivity is low. I know I have at least 20-25 on my place; I have counted 12 on the front lawn one morning. Jackrabbits and cottontails are considered nongame animals in New Mexico and are not protected by state game laws. The white-sided jackrabbit (Lepus callotis) occurs in the southwestern corner of New Mexico but has not been reported in Eddy County is listed by the state of New Mexico as a threatened species. While looking similar to the black-tailed jackrabbit, the white-sided jackrabbit is stockier and conspicuously white along the sides of its body. If you are experiencing problems from this species please contact New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for assistance. For small gardens exclusion is accomplished the best control method most often by fences and gates installed around the area to be protected. Exclusion by fencing is desirable for small areas of high-value crops like vegetable gardens, but is usually impractical and too expensive for larger acreages. However, when considering cost, remember that damage to high-value crops can mean big losses. Also, the cost of fencing can be spread over several years. I am hoping to build a garden area soon that will have good fencing to keep my sheep and the rabbits out. Along with exclusion, using wooden cage traps is probably the most practical means of controlling problem cottontails. However, using wooden-cage traps is not effective for jackrabbits because they are reluctant to enter a trap or dark enclosure. In addition, live trapping is less effective during the summer months because abundant vegetation makes it more difficult to attract them. Therefore, exclusion is more feasible during the summer. Rabbit repellents often are unsatisfactory for protecting plants from rabbits, especially in the long term. However, chemical repellents may provide some temporary protection from rabbit damage to trees, vines, or farm and garden crops. There are a number of different repellents available. Something that seems to be working for me is a motion sensor sprinkler. As cats or other animals move around at night the sprinkler comes on for a few minutes and most animals do not like getting sprinkled. It does not work when windy however the sprinkler will be on while the wind is blowing. I have used this devise with birds as well. Other frightening units like electronic ultra sound etc. have not been proven to be effective. Shooting is a quick, easy, and effective control method. Of course this is not possible in the city limits or near houses. Make sure local firearms laws allow it and that it is done safely. Persistence is required if shooting is the only technique used. Removing rabbits in one year never guarantees that the population will be low the next year (this also is true for trapping). Encouraging the rabbit’s natural enemies may aid in reducing rabbit damage. Hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and snakes all help the farmer, gardener, and homeowner control rabbits. NMSU Extension has a new publication which was used to write this article and it is Guide L-210 on the web or at your local county extension office. 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. L-210: Rabbits and Their Control in New Mexico, http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/L210.pdf

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT If like Asian cultures we named years this year should be the year of the rabbit. I have not seen as many rabbits as I have this year in a long time. The high rainfall and low predator count from years of drought is most likely responsible. Eddy County NM is home to one major species of jackrabbits and three cottontail species. The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) is found in Eddy county and most of the state. The desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) occurs throughout the County and the state, while the mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) occurs primarily in northern New Mexico, but has been reported at higher elevations. Eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) inhabit most of the County and the state, with the exception of the northwestern quarter. The black-tailed jackrabbit is somewhat smaller, than the white tailed weighing only 3 to 7 pounds. It has a grayish brown body, large black-tipped ears, and a black streak on the top of its tail. The eastern cottontail is 14 to 17 inches in length and weighs between 2 and 4 pounds. The brownish or grayish ears are 2.5 to 3 inches long. The tail is cottony white. The desert cottontail is smaller (12 to 15 inches in length) and has longer ears (3 to 4 inches long). The body is pale gray washed with yellow. The mountain cottontail is similar to the eastern cottontail, but somewhat paler. The mountain cottontail also has shorter ears (about 2.5 inches long) compared to the desert cottontail. This all said rabbits have had a good time feeding on my garden this year. I have lost all my chile peppers to them and some tomatoes. Significant damage occurs when concentrations of rabbits are attracted to orchards, gardens, ornamentals, or agricultural areas. High rabbit populations also can damage range vegetation. Most damage to gardens, landscapes, or agricultural areas occurs in areas adjacent to rangeland normally used by rabbits. Damage may be temporary and usually occurs when natural vegetation is dry. Green vegetation can be damaged severely during these dry periods. Last year’s plentiful rain produced a lots of native vegetation and rabbits reproduced as well. Rangeland over-browsing and overgrazing can occur any time rabbit numbers are high. Jackrabbits consume 1/2 to 1 pound of green vegetation each day. It has been estimated that eight jackrabbits eat as much as one sheep, and 41 jackrabbits eat as much as one cow. In some areas heavily infested with jackrabbits, numbers have been estimated as high as 400 per square mile, extending over several hundred square miles. Range damage can be severe in such situations, especially in areas where vegetation productivity is low. I know I have at least 20-25 on my place; I have counted 12 on the front lawn one morning. Jackrabbits and cottontails are considered nongame animals in New Mexico and are not protected by state game laws. The white-sided jackrabbit (Lepus callotis) occurs in the southwestern corner of New Mexico but has not been reported in Eddy County is listed by the state of New Mexico as a threatened species. While looking similar to the black-tailed jackrabbit, the white-sided jackrabbit is stockier and conspicuously white along the sides of its body. If you are experiencing problems from this species please contact New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for assistance. For small gardens exclusion is accomplished the best control method most often by fences and gates installed around the area to be protected. Exclusion by fencing is desirable for small areas of high-value crops like vegetable gardens, but is usually impractical and too expensive for larger acreages. However, when considering cost, remember that damage to high-value crops can mean big losses. Also, the cost of fencing can be spread over several years. I am hoping to build a garden area soon that will have good fencing to keep my sheep and the rabbits out. Along with exclusion, using wooden cage traps is probably the most practical means of controlling problem cottontails. However, using wooden-cage traps is not effective for jackrabbits because they are reluctant to enter a trap or dark enclosure. In addition, live trapping is less effective during the summer months because abundant vegetation makes it more difficult to attract them. Therefore, exclusion is more feasible during the summer. Rabbit repellents often are unsatisfactory for protecting plants from rabbits, especially in the long term. However, chemical repellents may provide some temporary protection from rabbit damage to trees, vines, or farm and garden crops. There are a number of different repellents available. Something that seems to be working for me is a motion sensor sprinkler. As cats or other animals move around at night the sprinkler comes on for a few minutes and most animals do not like getting sprinkled. It does not work when windy however the sprinkler will be on while the wind is blowing. I have used this devise with birds as well. Other frightening units like electronic ultra sound etc. have not been proven to be effective. Shooting is a quick, easy, and effective control method. Of course this is not possible in the city limits or near houses. Make sure local firearms laws allow it and that it is done safely. Persistence is required if shooting is the only technique used. Removing rabbits in one year never guarantees that the population will be low the next year (this also is true for trapping). Encouraging the rabbit’s natural enemies may aid in reducing rabbit damage. Hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and snakes all help the farmer, gardener, and homeowner control rabbits. NMSU Extension has a new publication which was used to write this article and it is Guide L-210 on the web or at your local county extension office. 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. L-210: Rabbits and Their Control in New Mexico, http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/L210.pdf

Eddy County is holding the second public meeting for the 2016 Eddy County Comprehensive Plan

Eddy County is holding the second public meeting for the 2016 Eddy County Comprehensive Plan. The meetings will be facilitated by the County’s consultant, Consensus Planning, and will review the draft Goals and Strategies and Future Land Use Scenarios that will guide Eddy County over the next 20 years. The Goals and Strategies will address each of the plan elements: land use, economic development, housing, transportation, infrastructure, water resources, public facilities, and hazard mitigation. In order to reach as many people as possible, the public meeting will be held at two different times and at two separate locations on Tuesday, July 26th in Artesia and Carlsbad, and will also be available through live stream. Citizens are welcome to attend either one of the meetings in accordance with their preferred time and/or most convenient location: • The public meeting in Artesia will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Eddy County North Road Department, 2611 S 13th Street • The public meeting in Carlsbad will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Eddy County Administration Building, Commission Chambers 2nd Floor, 101 W. Greene Street • The meetings will be live streamed and available for viewing at: https://livestream.com/rrv/ComprehensivePlan2 Please contact Wesley Hooper, Eddy County Community Services Director, at 575.885.6191 with any questions. A Spanish language interpreter will be available upon specific request at least 24 hours prior to each of the meetings. Please feel free to forward this email to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. We look forward to seeing everyone next week. Kind regards,

Fed relase new UAV rules By Logan hawkins SWfarm press

It's been a long time coming, and while more time is required before federal agencies are completely up and running efficiently on the issue, a number of high ranking government officials and advisers are applauding new rules for the commercial, educational and public use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) implemented last week by the White House. In a joint statement by Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta, Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, Deputy Director Jason Miller of the National Economic Council and Ed Felten, Chief Technologist for the Federal Trade Commission and Princeton professor of computer science, the new rules will pave the way to grow the nation's economy through new innovation. "America’s capacity for creativity, innovation, and invention is the envy of the world. Over the past seven years, the Administration has strengthened our foundation for innovation through investments and reforms to drive technological breakthroughs that will power the American economy and inspire the world for generations to come. Today, we’re building on that track record by finalizing new ground rules to govern the commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems," Secretary Foxx said. Of most concern to the agricultural industry, the rules have cleared the way for use of drones by farmers and ranchers and define the requirements and provisions to conduct remote sensing over farms and ranches. Other applications are being developed, including but not limited to expanded flights beyond current limits (distance between ground operator and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and possible applications of insecticides and fungicides in fields). The Federal Aviation Commission's new small UAS rule (Part 107) outlines specific operator requirements and restrictions for commercial use of UAVs including pilot certification requirements, aircraft and location requirements, and operating rules. “We are part of a new era in aviation, and the potential for unmanned aircraft will make it safer and easier to do certain jobs, gather information, and deploy disaster relief,” Foxx added. “We look forward to working with the aviation community to support innovation, while maintaining our standards as the safest and most complex airspace in the world.” According to industry estimates, the rule could generate more than $82 billion for the U.S. economy and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. The rule’s provisions are designed to minimize risks to other aircraft and people and property on the ground. The regulations require pilots to keep an unmanned aircraft within visual line of sight. Operations are allowed during daylight and during twilight if the drone has anti-collision lights. The new regulations also address height and speed restrictions and other operational limits, such as prohibiting flights over unprotected people on the ground who aren’t directly participating in the UAS operation. For the latest on southwest agriculture, please check out Southwest Farm Press Daily and receive the latest news right to your inbox. The FAA is offering a process to waive some restrictions if an operator proves the proposed flight will be conducted safely under a waiver. The FAA will make an online portal available to apply for these waivers in the months ahead. The rule officially takes effect on August 29, 2016. “With this new rule, we are taking a careful and deliberate approach that balances the need to deploy this new technology with the FAA’s mission to protect public safety,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “But this is just our first step. We’re already working on additional rules that will expand the range of operations.” Under the final rule, the person actually flying a drone must be at least 16 years old and have a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating, or be directly supervised by someone with such a certificate. To qualify for a remote pilot certificate, an individual must either pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center or have an existing non-student Part 61 pilot certificate. If qualifying under the latter provision, a pilot must have completed a flight review in the previous 24 months and must take a UAS online training course provided by the FAA. The TSA will conduct a security background check of all remote pilot applications prior to issuance of a certificate. SAFETY MEASURES Operators are responsible for ensuring a drone is safe before flying, but the FAA is not requiring small UAS to comply with current agency airworthiness standards or aircraft certification. Instead, the remote pilot will simply have to perform a preflight visual and operational check of the small UAS to ensure that safety-pertinent systems are functioning property. This includes checking the communications link between the control station and the UAS. At the recent 53rd annual Stiles Farm Foundation field day in Thrall, Texas, Texas AgriLife engineer and associate professor of practice in mechanical engineering Dale Cope staged a fixed-wing UAV demonstration over a cotton field. He talked with those in attendance about the new rule requirements and offered insights into the advantages of remote sensing for agriculture. He said until the new Part 107 rule is adopted on August 29, farmers may get recreational permits for drone use. Once the new rule is adopted, however, certification requirements for agricultural (commercial) rules will be enforced. PRIVACY ISSUES Although the new rule does not specifically deal with privacy issues in the use of drones, and the FAA does not regulate how UAS gather data on people or property, the FAA is acting to address privacy considerations in this area. The FAA strongly encourages all UAS pilots to check local and state laws before gathering information through remote sensing technology or photography. As part of a privacy education campaign, the agency will provide all drone users with recommended privacy guidelines as part of the UAS registration process and through the FAA’s B4UFly mobile app. The FAA also will educate all commercial drone pilots on privacy during their pilot certification process, and will issue new guidance to local and state governments on drone privacy issues. The FAA’s effort builds on the privacy “best practices” the National Telecommunications and Information Administration published last month as the result of a year-long outreach initiative with privacy advocates and industry. Part 107 will not apply to model aircraft. Model aircraft operators must continue to satisfy all the criteria specified in Section 336 of Public Law 112-95 (PDF) (which will now be codified in Part 101), including the stipulation they be operated only for hobby or recreational purposes.

New Extension Publication, Rabbits and their control

Guide L-210: Rabbits and Their Control in New Mexico Reviewed by Sam Smallidge (Assistant Professor/Extension Wildlife Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sci. and Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/L210.pdf

USDA APHIS proposed changes to NEPA

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures. These updates will clarify and modify the categories of action, expand the list of actions that would be categorically excluded from NEPA, and establish an environmental documentation process to use in emergencies. The White House Council on Environmental Quality directs agencies to periodically review and revise their NEPA-implementing procedures to ensure they are implemented properly and that the actions within the categories are accurate. Given this, APHIS is proposing to amend the regulations due to many advances that have taken place since the regulations were last updated in 1995. Many of those advances are not covered under the current NEPA regulations. Ultimately, the proposed amendments will clarify areas of regulations that have caused confusion about how and when to apply NEPA classes of action. For example, the proposed revisions will clarify and explicitly identify actions such as, but not limited to the following, as being categorically excluded from needing an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment: • use of pheromones to manage plant pests • collection of pest insects for surveillance purposes • issuance of permits for sterile insects • collection of biological samples for domestic livestock disease programs In addition, by establishing new categorical exclusions, APHIS will also eliminate the need to prepare more time-consuming, costly, and unnecessary NEPA documents for a number of program activities, including: Biotechnology and Regulatory Services’ extension of petitions for a determination of nonregulated status, and the Center for Veterinary Biologics’ authorization of field testing for product development and issuance of a license or permit for unlicensed veterinary biologics, including livestock vaccines. It is vital that APHIS updates its NEPA implementing procedures to ensure the Agency can effectively protect the environment while executing its mission of protecting American agriculture. APHIS will hold a virtual meeting during the comment period based on stakeholder response. The date for any future virtual meeting will be announced via another stakeholder announcement. A draft of this proposed rule can be viewed here. This notice will be published in the Federal Register in the coming days. Once published in the Federal Register, it will be available for review and comment at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0049 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

Hundreds to gather at NMSU for annual 4-H State Conference

Hundreds to gather at NMSU for annual 4-H State Conference DATE: 07/08/2016 WRITER: Peter Foreman, 575-646-6233, peterjay@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Amy Zemler, 575-646-5204, azemler@nmsu.edu Hundreds of 4-H members will be making their way to New Mexico State University for the 93rd annual 4-H State Conference, July 11-14 at Corbett Center. “This year’s theme is, ‘What imprint will you leave?’” Amy Zemler said, 4-H youth activities specialist. She said that it is based on footprints left in sand and relating to imprints left by actions. The conference will include dances, workshops, competitions, officer elections and more. Along with the many activities taking place, Zemler said there will be “quite a spread of contests” that will give attendees the opportunity to win state titles in their respected events and the opportunity to compete for national titles. The conference will also be joined by Joe Fingerhut, a youth speaker and author of “Permission to Play: How Teens Can Build a Life that is Fun, Fulfilling, and Promising.” There will also be a STEM program workshop along with workshops held by the 4-H Leadership Team from Colorado. For more information on the conference at NMSU, visit http://aces.nmsu.edu/4h/conference.html.

Government has three years to rule on ESA protection for monarch butterfly

Government has three years to rule on ESA protection for monarch butterfly Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. By Bill Tomson The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed Tuesday to render a decision by June 30, 2019, on whether or not to protect the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Claiming that milkweed - the only food source for monarch caterpillars - is being destroyed by farmers who use Monsanto's Roundup herbicide on their crops, the Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Food Safety filed a petition in August 2014, for federal protection. After an initial review of the petition, the Fish and Wildlife Service concluded four months later that protection under the Endangered Species Act “may be warranted

BLM's Planning 2.0 proposal comes under fire at House hearing

ime to comment on BLM's proposed land-use planning rule, House lawmakers and representatives of Western states said at a hearing today. The process laid out in the proposed Planning 2.0 rule would diminish the role of elected officials and give authority to an “unaccountable Washington, D.C., bureaucracy” to make decisions on Western land-use planning, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, said. Gohmert chairs the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. BLM Resource Management Plans guide decisions on grazing and mineral development on the bureau's 250 million acres out West. Ranchers and energy companies have both expressed concern over the proposed planning process. Better Food Better World Gohmert and two other GOP lawmakers - Rob Bishop of Utah, who chairs the Natural Resources Committee, and Raul Labrador of Idaho - each took turns questioning James Lyons, deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management at the Interior Department, which includes BLM. In between those exchanges, the lawmakers sought and received agreement from three of the witnesses - Kathleen Clarke, director of Utah's Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office; Jeff Fontaine, executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties; and Jim Ogsbury, executive director of the Western Governors' Association (WGA). The only witness who agreed with Lyons was Chuck McAfee, a member of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union from Montezuma County, Colorado. The BLM proposal seeks to involve local stakeholders earlier in the process - what it calls a “planning assessment” phase - and places an emphasis on landscape-level plans. The bureau says it is trying to speed up the process, which now can take a decade or more, and make it more transparent. But Clarke, who headed BLM during the George W. Bush administration, said the new process would give “unelected special interest groups … an equal seat at the table.” “I believe that in this early public assessment phase, state and local governments can participate, should they choose, but their voice will be marginalized,” Clarke said. “They have a right to sit as an elevated partner because they are sovereigns and they should not be relegated to sharing a position among the crowds.” Fontaine, representing counties, said BLM has not done enough outreach in counties with large tracts of public lands. And Ogsbury, representing WGA, said the new process would limit the scope of governors' reviews of BLM plans and give them less time to do the reviews. Lyons, however, said extensive outreach was conducted starting in 2014, including “a series of public listening sessions in Colorado and California.” BLM also “presented information on its efforts to improve the planning process and the proposed rule at multiple stakeholder events, including: the 2014 and 2015 North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, webinars hosted by the National Association of Counties, and Western Governors' Association meetings.” In addition, he said BLM's proposal preserves “the special role of state, tribal, and local government entities” in the process. Responding to requests to reopen the comment period, which closed May 25, Lyons said, “Now is the time to finalize the rule based on all the input we received.” He did say, however, that he and BLM Director Neil Kornze had spoken following a recent Senate hearing and agreed that BLM should allow more time for comment at various stages of the planning process. McAfee, the only witness who supported the proposed rule, said he could not understand “why some county commissioners are so opposed to enabling greater public participation.” Like what you see on the Agri-Pulse website? See even more ag, rural policy and energy news when you sign up for a four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription. “Sometimes our elected officials are too busy jockeying with the BLM about who is in control of our federal lands to even represent us at all,” he said, asserting that in Montezuma County, commissioners “spent a long time refusing to even come to the table” when BLM wanted to discuss a master Leasing Plan. Bishop did not ask McAfee any questions. Instead, he told him that if he doesn't like what the commissioners are doing, he should try voting them out of office. “I suggest you try that in the future, it's much more beneficial. We have 200 years of practice with that.” Then, directing his remarks to Lyons, he said, “By contrast, is anyone going to vote for Mr. Lyons - absolutely not.” #30 For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com

Growers, shellers poised to expand pecan marketing through FMO Jul 6, 2016 Greg Northcutt, Contributing Writer

Following the nation’s pecan growers’ overwhelming approval in March of a historic federal marketing order (FMO) for pecans, the American Pecan Council (APC) has been organized as the governing board to oversee the implementation and operation of the new program. The council could open its doors for business as early as October and collect assessments from handlers on the 2016 U.S. pecan crop. The assessment ranges from 1 cent to 3 cents per pound in-shell depending on the pecan category and grade. It’s designed to strengthen and expand the U.S. pecan market through improved pecan marketing. This process will include collecting data; conducting research and promotion activities; and regulating the grade, size, quality, pack, and containers for pecans grown in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. “It’s a self-help program, developed and administered by the industry, which will use pecan industry money, not government funding, for the benefit of the industry and our consumers,” says Texas pecan grower Mike Adams who lead the five-year effort to establish the FMO. Adams says the marketing order resembles other marketing orders used by almond, walnut, pistachio, avocado, citrus, and other commodity groups designed to build demand for the crops, even as acreage expands. “The pecan industry has always had a preferred product and a great story to tell, but we haven’t told it very well,” he says. “By unifying our industry, this marketing order will allow us to catch up with other farm commodity groups and more effectively promote our product than any one group of pecan growers or shellers have done in the past.” The APC will consist of 17 members and 17 alternates. Each pecan-growing region (East, Central, and West) will have three growers and two sheller members, and the same number of alternates. They will select the remaining two members (an accumulator and a public member) and two alternates as at-large members. Nominations will begin once the FMO’s final rule is published in the Federal Register which could be as early as this month. Growers and shellers would vote on the nominees. A staff directed by the APC will conduct the actual day-to-day FMO operations. “Never before had we had an organization representing all constituents of the pecan industry which goes to work every day on our behalf. This will benefit growers and shellers, and our consumers,” says Adams. Several previous attempts were made over the last 50-plus years to improve pecan marketing by uniting constituent groups within the pecan industry. Each effort came up short - until now. The successful FMO effort began in 2011 when a handful of growers met informally in Dallas, Texas, including Louie Salopek of New Mexico, former president of the Western Pecan Growers Association. “The writing was on the wall,” Salopek says. Pecan growers in the U.S., Mexico, South Africa, and other countries were planting more pecan trees. “We were looking at the potential for worldwide production to potentially double in the near future and we wanted to get ahead by expanding the pecan market.” Salopek notes, “We (U.S.) didn’t have a smooth-working industry. Growers and shellers in one region didn’t share much information with those in other regions.” The meeting sparked conversations with growers and shellers across the nation which led to the formation of the American Pecan Board (APB) in May 2013. The volunteer board included three growers, three shellers, three grower-shellers, and two independent advisors, representing all three pecan regions. “For the first time, we had a single entity of growers and shellers who represented all segments of the pecan industry,” says Adams, who was elected board president. “This group of individuals has worked unselfishly to advance the industry.” Six months later, APB board members met with USDA officials to consider various alternatives for funding a strategic, industrywide marketing program. Adams says, “We came away convinced that a federal marketing order was the best fit for our industry. It offered more promise of succeeding than the four previous attempts.” The APB spent the next year discussing the proposed program with growers and shellers across the country. “It was a ‘listening tour,’” says Adams. “We wanted to learn what different stakeholders in the industry wanted in a marketing program.” Board member Salopek took part in the effort, including one-on-one meetings with growers and shellers. “It involved a lot of work and travel and was about as close as I’ll ever get to politicking,” he says. “It was a great experience and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Based on the findings from listening sessions, the Board met with USDA officials and marketing specialists in January 2015 to begin the process to develop proposed FMO rules. Four months later, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and agency Under Secretary Edward Avalos agreed to proceed with the proposal. In July 2015, public hearings included 55 witnesses and 60 hours of testimony in Tifton, Ga., Dallas, Texas, and Las Cruces, N.M. where the industry supported the proposed FMO. This March, Secretary Vilsack called for a FMO grower referendum. Once the votes were tabulated, 77 percent of the voting growers, representing 88 percent of the volume, supported the marketing order. The referendum overwhelmingly passed. Adams says, “This vote was very encouraging. It affirmed the hard work of the American Pecan Board members in developing the FMO. Now, our industry is more unified than ever before and is ready to move forward.”

USFS promises to meet area ranchers halfway

USFS promises to meet area ranchers halfway Artesia News By Brienne Green U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., and State Rep. Jim Townsend, R-Artesia, travelled to Cloudcroft to advocate for area ranchers with the goal of providing the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) with a first-hand look at how restrictions on water rights affect the industry and the state’s economy. Both emerged optimistic their concerns, and the voices of New Mexico’s ranchers, were finally heard. The legislators, along with members of the U.S. Forest Service, met with ranchers Spike and Kelly Goss in the Penasco Pens electrified fencing area in the Sacramento Ranger District to discuss potential solutions to ranchers’ concerns over grazing allotments and restrictions to water access points that resulted from the closure. Both Pearce and Townsend pointed out the Forest Service hasn’t spotted mouse activity near the streams affected in the most recent closure and blocked some areas due simply to their habitat potential. Pearce said the legislators asked the service to provide its findings on the subject. More here **************** El Paso Water buying Dell City ranch El Paso Inc. By David Crowder El Paso Water Utilities is making its first big buy in Hudspeth County’s Dell Valley, reviving worries among residents and small landowners about the future of the farming oasis in the desert. Once purchased, the land will be leased out for farming. El Paso just wants what lies beneath it. And that purchase will be followed by others as El Paso Water – the utility’s new name – moves ahead with its long-term plan to import water from counties to the east in West Texas. El Paso Water, a semi-autonomous utility governed by the Public Service Board, already owns 101,706 acres of land, which includes 26,159 acres in El Paso County and 868 acres in New Mexico. More here

Will increase in pecan acres lead to busted market? Jun 29, 2016 Lenny Wells, UGA Extension Pecan Specialist | Southeast Farm Press

I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked about or heard someone comment on the great potential for the pecan market to bottom out a few years down the road thanks to all the new acreage being planted. Make no mistake, anything that goes up is bound to come down at some point, but just how far down do you expect pecan prices to fall? The answer to this question depends on your level of optimism. There are a number of things to consider in all this to truly make an educated guess about the future of the pecan market. Click to read more articles in this special financial management series for Southeast farmers. Foremost on this list of considerations would have to be our export market, which as everyone knows is currently driven by China. China’s economy has many people concerned but the Chinese demand for pecans has remained strong in the face of this downturn in their economy. In addition, the fundamentals for long-term growth of the tree nut market, including pecans, in China are in place. There is an excellent article explaining the details of the optimistic outlook for the tree nut market in China available at “China’s Potential as an Export Market for Tree Nuts.” The greatest unknown factor we face in the Chinese export market is our future political relationship with China. We all hope this remains strong but if anything goes wrong here all bets are off. In addition to China, aggressive marketing of pecans is taking place in India, Turkey, and South Korea among others to help grow the worldwide demand for pecans. Another important aspect that many of the naysayers are probably not considering is the potential of the Federal Marketing Order for pecans and the impact this could have for domestic consumption. The FMO was passed and should go into effect for the 2016 crop. With the FMO, pecans now have a significant way to launch a national marketing campaign on par with some of the other tree nuts, which have reaped great rewards with their own programs. This will allow the pecan industry to get the message out regarding the remarkable health benefits of pecans on a large scale, which is a necessity for increasing domestic demand. The other necessity for increasing domestic demand for pecans (and this may be the trickiest part) is a solid, consistent supply of pecans. Currently, we do not have the pecans available in the U.S. to develop as large and sustainable a market as we would like to see. This makes it difficult to coax large companies within the food industry to develop, produce and market products using pecans as ingredients. I hear people constantly groaning that when all these trees we’ve planted come into production, we won’t be able to give pecans away. If we continued down the same path marketing our crop as it has been done for the last 100 years, they would be correct. But, the fact is, we need the increased production to develop the market we need for pecans. There will likely be growing pains along the way, as we try to balance increasing the demand for the crop with increasing our production, but this is a good problem to have. The Georgia factor And what about that increasing acreage? Just how much is it increasing and what does this mean for the future volume of pecans produced? Other states are planting pecans but from what I hear, probably not at the scale Georgia is planting. So, let’s look at Georgia to illustrate this point since Georgia produces about 30 percent of U.S. pecans. It is extremely difficult to pin down exactly how many acres of pecans we have because of orchard turnover, new plantings, unclear distinctions between managed and hobby orchards, and the complications brought about by the proliferation of yard trees and their inconsistent production. All this makes Georgia’s pecan acreage virtually impossible to accurately determine. The most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture (2012) placed Georgia’s pecan acreage at 123,415 acres. That same year, the UGA Farm Gate Survey accounted for 163,933 acres. So, let’s shoot for somewhere in the middle and say we have 140,000 producing acres. Georgia tends to average somewhere around 95 million pounds of pecans annually. If you do the math using the 140,000 acres, that’s an average of only 678 lbs/acre. This number obviously takes into account production from hobby and non-managed orchards. Commercial producers in Georgia produce much more than this—usually close to twice that amount—but this brings into question, just how many of these trees being planted now will contribute significantly to future production? Our survey estimates indicate somewhere around 20,000-25,000 new acres have been planted over the last 5 years in Georgia. At 678 lbs/acre, that’s only another 17 million pounds, which would bring us up to an average annual production of 112 million pounds. With a growing market, I don’t think this number is any kind of death toll for the pecan industry. We need this production to develop the market we are striving to have. And besides, tell me what other agricultural commodity appears to have this much potential.

El Paso Water Utilities is making its first big buy in Hudspeth County’s Dell Valley,

sted: Tuesday, July 5, 2016 8:10 am | Updated: 12:27 pm, Tue Jul 5, 2016. By David Crowder El Paso Inc. staff writer | 0 comments DELL CITY – El Paso Water Utilities is making its first big buy in Hudspeth County’s Dell Valley, reviving worries among residents and small landowners about the future of the farming oasis in the desert. The utility was scheduled to sign the deal last Thursday, buying the 26,470-acre Chambers Lynch Ranch for $50 million, but advised El Paso Inc. that the closing was postponed and pushed into this week. Once purchased, the land will be leased out for farming. El Paso just wants what lies beneath it. And that purchase will be followed by others as El Paso Water – the utility’s new name – moves ahead with its long-term plan to import water from counties to the east in West Texas. The pending acquisition of the Lynch Ranch became public two weeks ago when the Hudspeth County Underground Water Conservation District board unanimously approved transferring the ranch’s water-use validation permits to the El Paso utility. Responding to El Paso Inc.’s questions about further acquisitions, the utility issued a statement: “We are in negotiations with several property owners in Hudspeth County to purchase land at this time. “Since we are in negotiations, we are not at liberty to disclose any specifics, including property owner names.” John Balliew, the utility’s president and CEO, later elaborated, in a phone interview, saying, “We have sent letters to probably a dozen different property owners in the Dell City area asking them if they would be interested in selling their property. “Some, of course, said no. Some of them have resulted in starting conversations.” El Paso’s need One of the best-known members of the Lynch family in Hudspeth and El Paso counties is Laura Lynch, who stays busy renting cabins in Dell City to tourists – cabins she is renovating herself, one by one. She has a friendly take on the sale of the ranch her father and his two brothers started in 1950. It’s still run by her 93-year-old uncle, James Lynch. The website www.theclranch.com describes the ranch. “It could not go into better hands,” she said, referring to El Paso Water. “They are the gold standard in the United States for water utilities when it comes to stewardship. “That’s what created this opportunity, and the city needs the water.” The $50 million to buy the ranch comes in the form of a low-interest loan approved last year by the Texas Water Development Board from the state’s $2 billion State Water Implementation Fund, better known as the SWIFT Fund. The utility has applied to borrow $100 million more for additional land purchases in Dell Valley and future pipeline rights of way. In all, the utility expects to spend $600 million on land acquisition and infrastructure in coming years before it starts importing water. Green fields Dell City is 95 miles east of El Paso on the way to Carlsbad and 12 miles north of Highway 62 on Farm Road 1437. It’s all cactus, creosote and sandy dirt until the farm road rises to the valley’s edge, revealing an expanse of green fields as far as the eye can see. There are 21,000 acres under cultivation in Dell Valley, almost all of it in alfalfa. Fields are watered by low, pivoting sprinkler arms – some half a mile long – that gush onto thirsty fields. Mounted on wheels, the arms move so slowly, it’s hard to tell they are moving at all. But the valley is not a quiet place. The guttural rattle and roar of big, unmuffled motors that power the many wells is everywhere. A Dell City sign says the population is 413, but residents know it’s really about half that today. It was bigger in its early days, as described in a Life Magazine article from December 1950: “Last fortnight, plunk in the center of what had been a desert, the 1,000 citizens of a thriving new town called Dell City opened a new highway to the outside world.” Inside the town’s only eatery, the Spanish Angel Café, four men sit at their regular table a little after noon, talking about anything and everything. It doesn’t take much to turn the conversation to water and the sale of the second biggest ranch in the district to El Paso. Craig Gentry, a member of the local school board, said he and other farmers are concerned that they didn’t get purchase offers from El Paso Water. “They did the big ones, but there’s a bunch of us guys that have smaller acreages and nobody approached any of us,” he said. “If all these big outfits sell out, that could hurt us.” His father, Gerald Gentry, added, “They could squeeze us out.” Steve Rader is the owner of a small plant that packages specialty hay originally from New Zealand called Chaffhaye. He said he needs to expand but wonders if he should do it somewhere else. “This just throws a bunch of uncertainty into play,” he said. “People who have businesses out here might want to sell, and the first thing the buyer’s going to ask is what’s the water situation? “And you go, well, I don’t know.” Assurances Balliew has offered assurances to property owners that the utility’s interest in buying land now does not signal a shift in the utility’s long-range plan to begin water importation in the year 2050 or later. “It does not represent any kind of change,” he told El Paso Inc. last week. “You can’t just go from zero to importation in a short period of time. “What we’re doing is we’re taking advantage of the low cost of borrowing money at this point in time, which not only is reflective of the economy in general but also the availability of the SWIFT fund, to use that to purchase water-rights land that is available right now in the Dell City.” El Paso Water, a semi-autonomous utility governed by the Public Service Board, already owns 101,706 acres of land, which includes 26,159 acres in El Paso County and 868 acres in New Mexico. Then there are two sprawling water ranches and a working farm amounting to 74,677 acres that the utility has acquired in the past 25 years in Hudspeth, Presidio, Jeff Davis and Culbertson counties. “There are three principle pieces of property,” Balliew said. “There’s one in the Valentine area, one more or less in the Van Horn area and one that is southeast of Dell City that we generally refer to as Diablo Farms.” Known for looking 50 years into the future, El Paso Water laid plans more than a decade ago to link the water ranches by pipeline running north to the Dell Valley and then down to El Paso, 95 miles away. An earlier version of the plan called for importation to start sooner, but the utility’s construction of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant in 2007 and other water-stretching measures made it possible to push importation to 2050 or later. But it could come sooner depending on El Paso’s growth and the availability of water from the Rio Grande, which has furnished more than half of El Paso’s annual needs in most years since 1990. The 2016 Far West Texas Water Plan projects that El Paso County’s population, now at 835,600, will reach 925,500 by 2020 and 1.5 million by 2070. Owens Valley One of the wonders of Dell Valley’s Bone Springs-Victorio Peak Aquifer is that it recharges each year, replacing the water extracted for agricultural purposes. Some Dell Valley residents are afraid that El Paso Water will own enough land and take enough water to effectively end farming in the valley. They point to Las Angeles’ appropriation of Owens Valley water in the early 1950s. Balliew said that is not the utility’s aim at all. The land the utility acquires that is now being farmed will be leased out for farming – to the current owners, if they’re interested in staying in business, he said. “What I would tell you about how the future would look is probably not much different than it looks today,” Balliew said. “Once we start importation, we’re not going to start full blast and the whole thing dries up overnight. “There is renewable water there, which means it’s recharged, and we would use it to the extent that it is recharged. There will be a long period when we’re not taking any water.” The Far West Texas Water Plan for 2050 calls for the utility to acquire enough land to export 10,000 acre-feet of water a year. “Then, there will be a long period of time even after we start that there’ll be enough water for the exportation and the local agriculture production,” Balliew said. In recent years, Dell Valley farms have been using more than 90,000 acre-feet a year – more than the 75,000 acre-feet than is considered sustainable. Email El Paso Inc. reporter David Crowder at dcrowder@elpasoinc.com or call (915) 534-4422, ext. 122 and (915) 630-6622. © 2016 El Paso Inc.. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten

Identifying and Preserving Wildlife Tracks

The following CES publication has been reissued and is now available online in PDF format. Circular 561: Identifying and Preserving Wildlife Tracks Reviewed by Sam Smallidge, Extension Wildlife Specialist LINK CORRECTION! http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR561.pdf To order printed copies, you will need to submit the PDF to the printer for processing.

Behavioral Health Resources on Zika

Behavioral Health Resources on Zika Since news about the Zika virus broke early this year, hundreds of travel-related cases in the continental United States and mosquito-borne cases in U.S. territories have been reported, including in pregnant women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that infection with the virus during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other birth defects. The developing news and updates may cause stress and anxiety for some. To help pregnant women, their families, those who work outdoors primarily, and the public, the SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) has created resources you can use to learn about how to cope with feelings of anxiety caused by Zika, and understand the risks to you and your family. • Behavioral Health Resources on Zika: This special section of the SAMHSA DTAC website provides tips and resources about reducing stress and anxiety related to Zika. • Zika Virus Resources DBHIS Installment: This installment of the SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series (DBHIS) focuses on the behavioral health aspects of Zika virus disease. It offers guidance to public officials developing and delivering appropriate messages about Zika to support the best possible public health outcomes. • Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks: This tip sheet explains common signs of stress, how to recognize when to get help, and practical ways to manage and relieve the stress by taking care of oneself. It is also available in Spanish. Watch for more SAMHSA DTAC materials on the Zika virus and other disasters and public health emergencies by signing up to receive the SAMHSA DTAC Bulletin

Section 18 request for Closer - Sulfoxaflor on pecans to control aphids (16NM01)

Section 18 request for Closer - Sulfoxaflor on pecans to control aphids (16NM01) The NMDA specific exemption (16NM01) for use of sulfoxaflor (Closer) on pecans to control aphids is currently under review. The Agency’s Biological Economic and Analysis Division (BEAD) has preliminarily reviewed your application. Additional information is needed from the state to substantiate an urgent and non-routine emergency situation. The request is deficient in meeting the criteria for a section 18 request for the following reasons: 1) The black-margined aphid and black pecan aphid can reportedly be controlled by a number of active ingredients such as chlorpyrifos, clothianidin, pymetrozine, acetamiprid, and dimethoate (among others). These alternatives are not mentioned in the request. 2) Resistance management is not a criterion for a section 18 emergency exemption request; the situation does not appear to meet the thresholds for an emergency situation. While the absence of sulfoxaflor may be non-routine, the emergency situation does not appear urgent as there are alternative chemistries to control these pests. 3) The economic data are insufficient to determine significant economic loss. NMDA did not provide any information on: • yields with sulfoxaflor (routine situation) and with the best available alternative (necessary for Tier 1 analysis), • prices (if needed, for Tier 2 analysis) to estimate revenue and distinguish any quality impacts between use of sulfoxaflor and the best available alternative, and • production costs (if needed for Tier 3 analysis) which might include changes in cost with the use of an alternative or additional sorting costs if there are quality impacts. At your earliest convenience, please respond via email to the request for more data detailed above. This data will support your application that EPA received on 6/24/16. (1) Provide more information on why these other active ingredients (registered alternatives) are insufficient to control black pecan aphid and black margined aphid? (2) Provide more information on economic loss from the absence of sulfoxaflor? Without this information, it will be difficult for the Agency to determine if an emergency situation exists. Thanks,