Enivironmental conditions of the Animas watershead.

Call for Abstracts and Papers Deadline: April 7, 2017 2nd Annual Conference Environmental Conditions of the Animas and San Juan Watersheds with Emphasis on Gold King Mine and Other Mine Waste Issues June 20-22, 2017 • San Juan College • Farmington NM The June 2017 conference includes a Call for Abstracts and Papers on topics related to the theme of the conference, Environmental Conditions of the Animas and San Juan Watersheds with Emphasis on Gold King Mine and other Mine Waste Issues. Particularly relevant topics include the following: • Geology, minerology, ore bodies and natural sources of contamination • Analysis of Animas and San Juan watersheds as a result of Gold King Mine spill • Effects of acid mine drainage after more than a century of mining • Effects of historical mill-waste discharges • Effects of historical spill events • Effects of the Gold King Mine spill • Differentiating geologic and legacy mining and milling contaminants from Gold King Mine spill contaminants spill contaminants • Transport and fate of mining and milling contaminants in the Animas and San Juan watersheds • Contaminant uptake into the food web • Mining and milling contaminant impacts on surface water, sediment, groundwater, agriculture, livestock, wildlife, and humans • Long-term monitoring • Existing corrective measures to control mine seepage and hydraulic consequences • Options for additional source control, spill prevention, and remediation • E. coli and other organisms in nutrients • Streamflow and water quality sensitivity to climate change • Groundwater and surface-water geochemistry and their interaction with the hyporheic zone Visit the conference website at: https://animas.nmwrri.nmsu.edu/2017/ for abstract guidelines. All abstracts must be submitted online using the provided abstract form.

New Mexico Clean Water State Revolving Fund

________________________________________ New Mexico Clean Water State Revolving Fund ________________________________________ March 30th, 2017 through April 28, 2017 the New Mexico Clean Water State Revolving Fund is accepting applications for funding. Eligible entities include any municipality, county, mutual domestic water consumer’s association, water and sanitation district and Indian tribes. Fundable projects must be publicly owned and include: • Construction or renovation of wastewater treatment works including treatment plants, pipes, pumps, force mains and other associated items; • Construction, repair or replacement of decentralized wastewater systems that treat municipal wastewater or domestic sewage; • Projects that manage, reduce, treat or recapture storm water or subsurface drainage water; • Measures to reduce the demand of wastewater treatment works capacity through conservation, efficiency or reuse; • Development or implementation of watershed projects that include at least one of the following areas: watershed management of wet weather discharges, storm water best management practices, watershed partnerships, integrated water resource planning, municipality-wide storm water management planning, or increased resilience of treatment works; • Measures to reduce the energy consumption needs for treatment works; • Projects involving reuse or recycling of wastewater, storm water or subsurface drainage water; • Projects to increase the security of the treatment works; If you are not sure if your project is eligible, please call us at 505-827-2806 and we will be happy to review it with you. Bonus points are awarded for Green projects; information regarding Green projects can be found on our website. Technical Assistance is provided throughout the project. For an application click HERE, save the application to your computer to see fillable features. For more information click here or call the Construction Programs Bureau at 505-827-2806. ________________________________________ Stay Connected with New Mexico Environment Department Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe All | Help ________________________________________ This email was sent to whoughto@nmsu.edu using GovDelivery, on behalf of: New Mexico Environment Department · Harold L. Runnels Building · 1190 St. Francis Drive · Suite N4050 · Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

NM wetlands Roundtable.

Greetings all, You are invited to the spring New Mexico Wetlands Roundtables. These events will be combined government agency/non-governmental organizations roundtables that are organized geographically, one in the north in Santa Fe (April 27, 2017) and one in the south in Las Cruces (May 16, 2017). You are invited to attend one or both of the meetings as they usually have different agendas and speakers.  Santa Fe, Thursday, April 27, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Toney Anaya Building, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Rio Grande Room (2nd Floor) Santa Fe, NM (Note the Northern Wetlands Roundtable is not at the State Library but the Toney Anaya Building to the north on Cerrillos Road.)  Las Cruces, Tuesday, May 16, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Las Cruces City Hall, 700 North Main Street, Room 2007-B&C (2nd floor), Las Cruces, NM We are in the process of developing agendas for these meetings so if you have any suggestions for topics to be discussed or would like to present, please let us know. We would include timely wetland topics as part of the presentation line-up. If you would like to present your wetlands-related work or initiative, please contact us so we can get you on the agenda. The New Mexico Wetland Roundtables are conducted as part of a Wetlands Program Development Grant from EPA Region 6 to foster partnerships and collaboration for the restoration and protection of wetlands and riparian resources in New Mexico. The roundtables are conducted on a semi-annual schedule and if you have not attended in the past, we would like you to see what the New Mexico Wetlands Roundtables are all about. There is no cost to attend. If your organization would like to sponsor refreshments, please let us know. For more information, contact Karen Menetrey (Karen.Menetrey@state.nm.us; 505-827-0194) for the Northern Roundtable or Emile Sawyer (Emile.Sawyer@state.nm.us; 505-827-2827) for the Southern Roundtable. The agendas will be sent to you soon. RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. We look forward to seeing you at one or both of these meetings. Thank you, Maryann McGraw, Karen Menetrey and Emile Sawyer The NMED/SWQB Wetlands Program Team Maryann McGraw Wetlands Program Coordinator New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau 1190 St. Francis Drive, Rm 2059 N P.O. Box 5469 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-5469 Phone: 505-827-0581 FAX: 505-827-0160

EPA Administrator Pruitt Denies Petition to Ban Widely Used Pesticide

This is Lordsban and Cobalt the two product we need for cut worm and weevil. EPA Administrator Pruitt Denies Petition to Ban Widely Used Pesticide 03/29/2017 Contact Information: U.S. EPA Media Relations (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt signed an order denying a petition that sought to ban chlorpyrifos, a pesticide crucial to U.S. agriculture. “We need to provide regulatory certainty to the thousands of American farms that rely on chlorpyrifos, while still protecting human health and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Pruitt. “By reversing the previous Administration’s steps to ban one of the most widely used pesticides in the world, we are returning to using sound science in decision-making – rather than predetermined results.” “This is a welcome decision grounded in evidence and science,” said Sheryl Kunickis, director of the Office of Pest Management Policy at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “It means that this important pest management tool will remain available to growers, helping to ensure an abundant and affordable food supply for this nation and the world. This frees American farmers from significant trade disruptions that could have been caused by an unnecessary, unilateral revocation of chlorpyrifos tolerances in the United States. It is also great news for consumers, who will continue to have access to a full range of both domestic and imported fruits and vegetables. We thank our colleagues at EPA for their hard work.” In October 2015, under the previous Administration, EPA proposed to revoke all food residue tolerances for chlorpyrifos, an active ingredient in insecticides. This proposal was issued in response to a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council and Pesticide Action Network North America. The October 2015 proposal largely relied on certain epidemiological study outcomes, whose application is novel and uncertain, to reach its conclusions. The public record lays out serious scientific concerns and substantive process gaps in the proposal. Reliable data, overwhelming in both quantity and quality, contradicts the reliance on – and misapplication of – studies to establish the end points and conclusions used to rationalize the proposal. The USDA disagrees with the methodology used by the previous Administration. Similarly, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture also objected to EPA’s methodology. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) also expressed concerns with regard to EPA’s previous reliance on certain data the Agency had used to support its proposal to ban the pesticide. The FIFRA SAP is a federal advisory committee operating in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and established under the provisions of FIFRA, as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. It provides scientific advice, information and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on pesticides and pesticide-related issues regarding the impact of regulatory decisions on health and the environment. To view the petition: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides R044

USDA Announces Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops

USDA Announces Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops 03/29/2017 12:00 PM EDT WASHINGTON, March 29, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2017 marketing assistance loan rates by county for wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, soybeans and each “other oilseed” (canola, crambe, flaxseed, mustard seed, rapeseed, safflower, sesame seed and sunflower seed), loan rates by region for pulses (dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas and large chickpeas), and loan rates by state for rough rice. The rates are posted on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website at www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/price-support/commodity-loan-rates/index

How does health insurance affect farmers and ranchers?

I got this in February so sorry I lost it for awhile the link is still active however. Greetings, Please help in promoting this USDA funded survey. It would be great to have New Mexico represented. In Appreciation, Sonja How does health insurance affect farmers and ranchers? Help influence rural health policy in upcoming survey Farmers and ranchers: How does health insurance affect you? Help influence rural health policy by participating in an upcoming USDA funded survey. Your responses will help researchers understand how health-insurance policy affects farmers’ and ranchers’ decisions to invest, expand, and grow their enterprises. Selected participants received a letter about the survey in February. If you would like to participate follow this link: https://survey.uvm.edu/index.php/132344?lang=en This survey is a chance for farmers and ranchers to make their voices heard about their experiences with health insurance and how that affects both their economic development and family’s quality of life. "We’re interested in hearing from multi-generation, beginning, and first generation farm and ranch families across all ages and sectors of agriculture. We want to understand what parts of health insurance are working well for farmers and ranchers and what types of policy and program modifications need to be made. Results will be shared with agriculture and health policy makers,” said lead researcher, Shoshanah Inwood, rural sociologist and professor at the University of Vermont. All responses will be confidential and only summary statistics will be reported. "We know from our prior research that farmers identify the cost of health insurance as a key barrier to growing their farms or farming full-time,” said Inwood. This study is a joint effort with the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Policy, and the four USDA Rural Development Centers. Findings will be used to guide the development of training materials for professionals who work with farmers and ranchers—such as Extension Educators, farm consultants, and tax accountants—so that they can support farmers’ and ranchers' ability to make well-informed decisions regarding health insurance. The survey questions are based on interviews conducted in 2016 with smaller groups of farmers and ranchers in the 10 states being researched. This study is a four-year national project exploring how health insurance options impact the farm and ranch population in the U.S. The project, titled “Health Insurance, Rural Economic Development and Agriculture” (HIREDnAG), is funded by a $500,000 USDA Rural Communities and Regional Development grant. States included in the study are California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Project partners include the Northeastern, North Central, Southern and Western Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs); University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies; University of Vermont Extension; Center for Rural Affairs; University of Maryland Extension; and, the Farm Foundation. For more information, visit the HIREDnAG website: http://www.hirednag.net/ Or contact Katlyn Morris, HIREDnAG Project Coordinator at katlyn.morris@uvm.edu or by phone at 802-656-0257. ****************************************************************************** Dr. Sonja Koukel Community & Environmental Health Specialist

Understanding Western Soils, For Agriculturislist like Farmers, Ranchers, and others.

Free Resources for teaching or learning about soil properties in the arid west. There are a number of short video demonstrations by respected professionals: such as Visualizing soil properties like water holding capacity and textures, reducing erosion, sampling soil. Great animations to make visable some hidden aspects of arid westerns soils. Like how do salts compete with plants for water; what is SAR?; Reason to use the olsen P when soil testing . Check it out at: http://westernsoil.nmsu.edu/ If you would take a short 15 second online survey to help improve this resource.

Guide H-171: Iron Chlorosis

Guide H-171: Iron Chlorosis Natalie P. Goldberg (Extension Plant Pathologist/Distinguished Achievement Prof., Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences) Jason M. French (Plant Diagnostic Clinician, Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/H171.pdf

National Poison Prevention Week – EPA Urges Public to Keep All Pesticides in Original Containers to Prevent Accidental Poisoning

EPA Pesticide Program Updates From EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs www.epa.gov/pesticides March 21, 2017 In This Update: National Poison Prevention Week – EPA Urges Public to Keep All Pesticides in Original Containers to Prevent Accidental Poisoning National Poison Prevention Week is March 19-25. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is highlighting the dangers of removing pesticides and other household chemicals from their original containers and storing them in bottles or cans that can be mistaken for drink. Poison Control Centers have reported cases of accidental poisonings from ingestion of chemical substances stored in soda and juice bottles and cans, coffee cups, baby bottles and various other beverage containers. One of the simplest ways to prevent poisonings is to always keep products in their original containers. Product labels contain valuable use instructions and important precautions and first aid needed in case of an emergency. National Poison Prevention Week is a time to raise awareness about simple steps that can be taken to prevent poisonings. Most poisonings happen in people’s homes and are preventable. Here are tips to reduce exposure: • Post the Poison Control Centers’ national helpline number, 1-800-222-1222, near your phone. Program the number into your phone's "address book." • Read the product label first and follow the directions to the letter. • Never transfer pesticides and other household chemical products to containers that may be mistaken for food or drink. • Re-close products if interrupted during application (e.g., phone call, doorbell, etc.). • Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container tightly after use. • Make sure all of your household cleaning and pesticide products are stored out of children’s reach and use childproof locks on low cabinets. • Remove children, pets, and toys before applying pesticides (inside or outside the home). Follow label directions to determine when children and pets can re-enter the area that has been treated. More information about poisoning prevention in your home: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-02/documents/children.pdf https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/reduce-your-childs-chances-pesticide-poisoning See this for more information on poison-proofing your home and safely controlling pests in an around your home: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/roombyroom-checklist.pdf https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/got-pests-control-them-safely EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest in the agency's pesticide program activities and decisions. This update service is part of EPA’s continuing effort to improve public access to federal pesticide information. For general questions about pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), by email at npic@ace.orst.edu or, by visiting http://npic.orst.edu. For information about ongoing activities in the Office of Pesticide Programs, visit our homepage at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides.

Celebrate National Agriculture Week with NMDA

Celebrate National Agriculture Week with NMDA For Immediate Release: Contact: Shelby Herrera 575-646-3007 office (LAS CRUCES, N.M.) – In celebration of National Agriculture Week, March 20-24, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture is inviting all New Mexico residents to celebrate with them. On March 21, National Agriculture Day will be celebrated across America for the 44th year. Here in New Mexico, New Mexico Department of Agriculture is asking you to celebrate with us for the whole week as we see how New Mexico’s agriculture is spreading from “Local to Global.” We want to recognize the important contributions farmers and ranchers make to our dinner plates and communities all over the world. It's a time to celebrate the abundance that agriculture provides for us, 365 days a year. “New Mexico agriculture not only provides for our local communities, we now reach over 44 countries who enjoy New Mexico products every day,” Jeff Witte, the New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture, said. “We truly have much to celebrate,” he added. AgriCulture in our state is as diverse as our people. Our rich agricultural history began with corn, which was harvested in New Mexico by 4000 B.C. Squash and beans were being harvested by 3000 B.C. Today, the agricultural industry in New Mexico has put our state on the map, globally! New Mexico food products are used by several national fast food chains. Our state also ranks ninth in total milk production and fourth in total cheese production, nationally. During the celebration of Ag Day/Week we hope to tell the story of American agriculture and remind citizens that agriculture is still a part of ALL of us. This is very evident in New Mexico, with 98% of our state’s farms and ranches being family owned, many handed down through multiple generations. Join New Mexico Department of Agriculture as we tell our story through photos, facts and stories shared through our social media sites, and by sharing your agricultural experiences using #LocaltoGlobal and #NMAgWeek. Follow along with us throughout the week by following us on Twitter at NMDeptAg and like our Facebook by searching NMDepartmentofAg. To celebrate this week, New Mexico Department of Agriculture encourages every New Mexican and American to: • Enjoy locally grown products. • Visit a farmers market in your community. • Understand how our food and fiber products are produced. • Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products for each of us. • Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy. • Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry. Most importantly, THANK our local producers for their contributions to our tables and local communities. So fill your glass with some of the highest-quality milk produced in the nation, and if you’re of age, raise a glass of New Mexico’s award-winning wine or beer in a toast to the people who produce the things we love to eat and drink.

Eddy County Ag News: BEEF QUAILITY ASSURANCE MEETING

Eddy County Ag News: BEEF QUAILITY ASSURANCE MEETING: DR. Wenzel NMSU Extension veterinarian Will be conducting a BQA class this thursday at 3:00 pm in the Extension Office. I learn something n...

BEEF QUAILITY ASSURANCE MEETING

DR. Wenzel NMSU Extension veterinarian Will be conducting a BQA class this thursday at 3:00 pm in the Extension Office. I learn something new every time Dr. Wenzel does a program. Call and let us know you are coming. Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. BQA guidelines are designed to make certain all beef consumers can take pride in what they purchase – and can trust and have confidence in the entire beef industry. BQA programs have evolved to include best practices around good record keeping and protecting herd health, which can result in more profits for producers. When better quality cows leave the farm and reach the market place, the producer, packer, and consumer all benefit. When better quality beef reaches the supermarket, consumers are more confident in the beef they are buying, and this increases beef consumption. The efforts of BQA across the nation have been instrumental in recent successes that continue to re-build and sustain beef demand. Through BQA programs, producers recognize the economic value of committing to quality beef production at every level - not just at the feedlot or packing plant, but within every segment of the cattle industry. The guiding principles of BQA are based on these core beliefs: WE BELIEVE production practices affect consumer acceptance of beef. WE BELIEVE the BQA Program has and must continue to empower beef producers to improve the safety and wholesomeness of beef. WE BELIEVE these fundamental principles are the fabric of the BQA Program. Empowering people…because producers can make a difference. Taking responsibility…because it’s our job, not someone else’s. Working together…because product safety and wholesomeness is everyone’s business.

New Mexico Wool

________________________________________ Mike's Corner I trust this newsletter finds everyone healthy and happy. I’m glad to see the rains in California have finally come, the drought’s broken, and we’re excited that you guys are going to have some green grass out there. I also want to let everyone know, and thank everyone, and ensure everyone that my new position with ASI is not going to affect my performance in marketing your wool. You guys are my customers and friends. You mean the world to me, and I will make sure that your wool will get all the exposure it deserves and achieves the best prices possible. As my motto says, “My integrity is my reputation.” There’s been a lot of news in publications around the country talking about the wool market the past couple to three weeks, that the wool market’s higher and higher, it’s looking better and better, and it is. I want to make that perfectly clear. We definitely have a better market than we did this time last year. However, there are things you need to be aware of. That is this is the first year in several years that the micron of your wool is more important than it has been in the past. For example, 19-20 micron wools this year as of right now will bring anywhere from 15-20 percent more than they did this time last year, but 21-23 micron wools are just 5-10 percent higher than last year on today’s market. And if you move courser, to the 25 micron type wools, those wools, and courser, are actually even to 5 percent less than last year. So, I just stress that micron grade this year is much more important. You’re even actually going to see a case possibly where some guys that pull their short wools this year, their short wool may actually outsell their main line, because nine times out of ten those short wools are finer than their main line and could bring more money just because of the grade. So keep that in mind. Also, our dates for our Spring Sales this year are March 23 and our second sale will be April 25-26. Keeping in mind the finer wools are bringing more money, I would encourage everyone while they’re shearing to do a better job of pulling the course wool off the bottom end of your clip. In other words, fine it up a little bit by getting out some of that courser wool. I’m not saying going after the finer wool. I’m saying get the courser wools out. Try to fine it up from the bottom up and I think you’ll be much better off. We’re definitely seeing more interest from buyers this year. Buyers are calling; they’re wanting to buy wool. They have orders for as much wool as they can get their hands on. And that’s just completely opposite from what we had this time last year. Last year I could sell a load here and a load there. Soon as a guy got his load filled, then the buyers were done. They didn’t want any more, or if it was under 23 micron they didn’t want it anymore. So, it’s a little different atmosphere this year, particularly due to China. The Chinese are back in the market for the first time in two or three years, so, that’s a pleasant sight to have. It also goes without saying, that when wool buyers start showing up at your doorstep it’s usually because they’re trying to buy your wool before the wool prices go any higher, especially when they leave you a greasy price with no core results. This tells me that they have plenty of room and they have a comfort level that the market’s not going to go any lower; it’s going to go higher. That’s the reason they leave these greasy prices laying around. So, I just caution you there to keep your eyes open. Roswell Wool prides itself in offering your wool to the most buyers in the country that are available. In a year like this is when our auction system shines the best. We get the most competition and it’s convenient for the buyers, particularly the foreign buyers, to come to our facility that we have there at Bakersfield. They can load the wool and take it straight overseas. Our Calcot facility there in Bakersfield is becoming an export facility for the entire United States. Buyers are sending their wool there as well to comingle their purchases from other areas. It’s become a very valuable asset, not only for Roswell Wool, but for the California producers and the western half of the country. So, with that, I’ll close and say “Thank You very much” for your friendships, and I look forward to seeing you later in the spring. Thank You. Mike Corn

Protecting Ag and Your Ranch

I have a few Agri Guard sign if you want one come be the office and get it. ________________________________________ Protecting Ag and Your Ranch Protecting your operation from anti-ag activists is an increasing concern. The Animal Agriculture Alliance offers information and assistance through its website and phone app at security.animalagalliance.org Here they offer some practical advice. Vigilance is Key - Take these simple steps to strengthen facility security Activists operating as undercover employees, computer system sabotage, website hacking, destruction of property, vandalism, “liberation” of animals, and threats of poisoning food products in grocery stores are hallmarks of radical animal rights efforts to stop your company from doing what it’s supposed to do – sell products. Here are a few measures you can take to be vigilant: - Train your long time employees to be your “eyes and ears” for these kinds of behaviors and inform them they need to report potentially suspicious behavior or conversations to management. They can be your key to recognizing a plant and preventing your company from being the next victim of animal rights set-ups. - Pay attention to cafeteria or break room discussions about new hires who “don’t fit in” or those who seem to be overly curious about the company for a temp or short-timer. “Plants” may even hang out with employees off hours, again usually trying to find out more about the company and how it operates. - Also important - train your employees and inform them it is their duty and responsibility to report any mistreatment or mismanagement of animals to management. Any acts of cruelty should be stopped and prevented if possible, and all such acts should be reported. - Lastly, periodically operate your own undercover operation to ensure animals are being handled properly and company policies are being implemented. Mike's Advice: “Most importantly, know who is on your place and watch for suspicious behavior. Also, be very careful with strangers that want to take pictures or videos. Animal welfare is fundamental to the work we do as farmers and ranchers. It’s an ethical responsibility – for the animal and the safety of our food supply.” 1. Do the right thing. Implement scientifically-verified animal care programs. Conduct training, as well as in-house and third-party audits to ensure all policies are being followed at all times and by all employees. Act swiftly to correct any problems. 2. Be cautious. Thoroughly vet any new hires. Require that all employees, starting with new hires, sign an animal care code of conduct. Train your longtime employees to watch for suspicious behavior. 3. Plan ahead. Build relationships with your community, local law enforcement, and media. Create a crisis management plan in advance in the event that you become a target of an activist group. Three more things to keep in mind: - Trucks parked at plants or behind offices overnight are favorite targets for spray-painting, sand/sugar in gas tanks or vandalized engines. - Routinely back up your computer files. Add extra firewalls to your website and computer system. Store backup files for your system in a fireproof area. - If mail or packages appear suspicious, return them to the post office, unopened. Take precaution in opening all mail – some animal businesses have been targeted with razor blades hidden in envelopes. Don’t be paranoid, be vigilant.

China drives cost higher for Superfine wool

China drives cost higher for Superfine wool There are two key reasons why prices for superfine wool will be strong this season says Robert Wang AWI China Manager. Mills in China believe that there is not enough available. ‘The Chinese domestic market is expected to be busy for at least the next two years in relation to finer wools and woolen mills building up their stocks’. ‘We are talking about fine and superfine wool at 19.5 micron and finer, apparel fleece. Looking at production forecasts and marrying this to the potential increase in demand processors in China believe that there is insufficient superfine wool to supply to requirements for the next 12 months.’ The demand in China is being driven by the renewal of uniform tenders and an increased demand by the Chinese consumer for garments made in lighter fabrics. Mr Wang further commented that based on wool testing data alone testing of superfine wool has increased dramatically since December, but production has not. This will see wool prices strong for the foreseeable future. ‘We are only two months into the new year and prices are already very firm,’ he says. 20-24 micron wool will also be firm to very firm he says. Again this is due to limited supply. But at least in this range there are other grower countries that can supply, including Argentina, South Africa, and Uruguay. ‘Even the cheap end of the supply market, such as skirtings, will also be firm as topmakers look for cheaper wools to blend.’ The same cannot be said for coarser wools that are really struggling at present due to luke warm demand. But a colder than usual winter in Europe and the USA should help clear stock and encourage demand. Another thing to watch in China this year that will affect the domestic market, in particular, is the 19th Party Congress. This Congress will decide the economic direction for the next 5 years and is expected to make a major shift from its anti-corruption focus to encourage faster economic development. ‘This focus will boost the domestic economy and the Congress will also spell out how it plans to deal with the Trump administration and any trade wars with the USA,’ he says. - See more at: http://www.woolnews.net/news/china-drives-cost-higher-for-superfine-wool/#sthash.NANMnEgy.dpuf

Australian Wool Growers Welcomes Strong Start to New Year

Australian Wool Growers Welcomes Strong Start to New Year Recent wool prices have been a welcome start to the 2017 calendar year, with the EMI (Eastern Market Indicator) reaching well above 1400 ac clean/kg. The market has been marked by record highs and even ‘peak’ wool values, yet it is important to understand the previous times wool has achieved these values. This month we place some historical context around the current market and explore supply versus demand. It has been great to see the current wool market give such a well-deserved return for Merino given that cardings, when combined with skirtings, make up to 25% of a grower’s wool clip. It is clear that it is not just the fleece wools that are now attractive to buyers, the whole clip is sought after. Prices have been increasing gradually and consistently since 2012 and production has stabilised. January 2017 the supply of wool continues to be tight, but there is no doubt that demand is largely driving this improved market and has been for about six years as seen in the chart below. The overseas teams that AWI/Woolmark has in key markets take particular interest in what appears on catwalks and can report large amounts of wool coming down runways. These conceptual shows manifest themselves in retail stores 12 months after being first sighted in fashion shows. In context, the 2017 prices should give some confidence to growers given these levels have not yet exhausted previous highs, and there is further capacity to build on the prices locally, especially when expressed in US dollar terms (the currency wool is bought in). Given the historically high forward markets for wool, the short to medium term future for wool appears optimistic for woolgrowers. Source: AWI

Corn Takes Leadership Role

________________________________________ Corn Takes Leadership Role The 2017 American Sheep Industry Annual Convention wrapped up on Saturday, Jan. 28, with the election of New Mexico sheep producer Mike Corn as the organization’s new president. Benny Cox (Texas) was voted to serve as vice president and Susan Shultz (Ohio) will serve as secretary/treasurer. Corn’s son, Bronson, nominated his father for the top position by saying, “My dad has worked his entire life for the betterment of this industry and I know that he will do a great job as your president.” Corn said he is humbled to lead the organization and that “It is an honor to be selected to lead the industry that my family has worked in for four generations. We have a great opportunity in the coming year to make some changes for this industry. I feel that there are positive things ahead for us and we have a great executive team in place that is up to the challenge.” The Corn family has been raising sheep in the Roswell area since the 1880s. He owns and operates his own ranch and raises white-faced, fine-wool sheep, mainly a merino cross. Corn is also the majority owner of the Roswell Wool Warehouse. ASI executive board regional elections resulted in the selection of Don Kniffen (N.J.), Region I; Jimmy Parker (Ala.), Region II; John Dvorak (Minn.), Region III; Jeff Ebert (Kan.), Region IV; Bob Buchholz (Texas), Region V; Steve Osguthorpe (Utah), Region VI; Ken Wixom (Idaho), Region VII; Reed Anderson (Ore.), Region VIII and Steve Schreier (Minn.), Lamb Feeder Representative. Source: Sheep Industry News

Beef Reproduction Symposium

Beef Reproduction Symposium NMSU & OSU Coopertive Extension Service April 4, 2017 Civic Center, Clayton, NM $25.00 Registration fee (pay at the door) Please RSVP by March 24th 9:30-9:50 Registration (Donuts and coffee provided) 9:50-10:00 Introductions 10:00-10:30 Anatomy of the Bovine Reproductive Tract —Dr. Marcy Ward, NMSU Extension Livestock Specialist 10:30-11:30 Estrous Cycle of a Cow & Estrus Synchronization - —Dr. Craig Gifford, NMSU Beef Cattle Specialist 11:30-11:45 Questions and Hands on Lab 11:45- 1:00 Lunch provided by First National Bank of NM catered by the Sale Barn Cafe 1:00-1:30 Reproductive Diseases- —Dr. John Wenzel, NMSU Extension Veterinarian 1:30-2:30 Beef Nutrition & Body Conditioning Scoring- —Dr. Britt Hicks Oklahoma State Extension Specialist 2:30-3:00 How Reproduction Management Pays —Dr. Paul Gutiérrez, Extension Agriculture Economics Specialist This program is brought to you by Union County (NM) and Cimarron County (OK) Extension Please contact Talisha Valdez to RSVP at 575-374-9361 or by 575-760-8685 or Sug Farrington at 580-544-3399 New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S.D.A cooperating

4 Governors Seek Grazing Assistance Because of Wildfires

4 Governors Seek Grazing Assistance Because of Wildfires US News & World Report Associated Press The governors of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and New Mexico are seeking temporary suspension of grazing restrictions for farmers and ranchers because of wildfires. The fires have burned more than 2,300 square miles in the four states, forcing farmers and ranchers to move their livestock. The letter from the governors to acting Secretary of Agriculture Mike Young asks that the restrictions in the Conservation Reserve Program be lifted to provide more land for grazing. The program is a voluntary land conservation program of the Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land

Tucumcari Bull Test

Good Morning, The Tucumcari Bull Test will host its annual sale on Saturday, March 11th, 1 pm. (preview @ 10 am, lunch @ noon). In an effort to assist with the Wildfire Relief, some producers will be donating a percentage of their sale proceeds to a Wildfire Relief Fund. Cornerstone Ranch will donate 50% of proceeds on the highest index Hereford, Lot 1, Test ID 2-4. J-C Angus Ranch will donate 10% of proceeds on the highest index Angus, Lot 21, Test ID 5-3. In addition, we are taking bids on two Tucumcari Bull Test vests, (1) Medium-$30 current high and (1) XL-$100 current high. Before the sale, we will contact the highest bidders for their cap bid, then open it to those attending. Please share this info and visit the website http://tucbulltest.nmsu.edu for video and data of all bulls in the sale. If you would like to make a bid on the vests, or would like info on the sale or contact info for our producers, email me or Marcy Ward, maward@nmsu.edu Please share this information with anyone that may have interest in assisting. We will also share and update through social media channels, primarily the Extension Animal Sciences & Natural Resources Facebook page and shares from my individual page. Have a wonderful day,

Dan Lathrop

Dan was from Chaves county but he work hard on our regional water plan. lathrop obit Services for Dan Lathrop, who died December 21, 2016, will be held January 14, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 201 5th Street, Dexter, New Mexico. Dan C. Lathrop was born March 18, 1957, to Charles Lawrence Lathrop and Annie Lee Blanchard. He lived for a short time in Hagerman and then moved to a house on the family farm and lived there all his life. He loved farming. He loved plowing, night irrigating and baling hay under a full moon. He loved growing chile. He loved castles, elephants and owls. He studied history, especially military history, and enjoyed Louis L’Amour westerns. Marty Robbins tunes and just about any country western ballad were on his play list — especially the sappy songs. His favorite sci fi novels were about a deformed wise guy named Miles Vorkosigan in books by Lois McMaster Bujold. He loved chick flicks — the tear jerkers. Dan attended public schools in Hagerman and Dexter, graduating Dexter High School as a National Merit Scholar and Valedictorian, class of 1975. He attended New Mexico State University graduating with highest honors and double Bachelor of Science degrees in Agri-Business Management and Farm & Ranch Management in 1979. He farmed from 1979 until [auth] 2002 raising chile, cotton, alfalfa and grain crops for cattle feed. When he became manager of the farm in 1986 he expanded its acreage. On August 1, 1992, he married Marilyn Woodburn, mother of four children, an instant family. The couple had two more children of their own. Dan loved children and could set them at ease with his warm, easy manner. He was Cub Master of Pack 19 in Dexter for 13 years and was willing to don any number of absurd get-ups for advancement ceremonies: plastic crown and velvet cape; a Samurai helmet and carrying the samurai sword his uncle had liberated in WWII; Indian headdress or a bear mask, just to name a few. He was Committee Chairman Troop 19, Rio Hondo District, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and a Commissioner, Rio Hondo District, BSA. He helped many young boys become men. Dan represented the Hagerman Irrigation Company on the Pecos Valley Water Users Organization board starting in 1998. He chaired a sub-committee on the history of the Pecos and the Hagerman Canal. Woods Houghton describes Dan as a “voice of reason” in the sometimes heated arguments over water use in the lower Pecos Valley. Along with Dick Smith, Dan represented Region 10 on the Interstate Streams Commission’s advisory committee and was instrumental in the completion of the comprehensive plan for water use in the lower Pecos Valley in 2002. You’ll find him quoted in Patrick Dearen’s book, Bitter Waters: The Struggles of the Pecos River, a history of the Pecos River commissioned by the Pecos River Resolution Corp, an organization founded to study the Pecos River and report the findings. Dan served on the Pecos River Resolution advisory board. Few people know as much about the hydrology of the Pecos River and its history as Dan did. Dan began attending meetings with his father and later became president of the Hagerman Irrigation Company in 1992. Other positions in which Dan served: president of the Greenfield Mutual Domestic Water Users’ organization beginning in 1995; trustee, Hagerman Cemetery Association; Elder and member of session at the First Presbyterian Church, Dexter, and commissioner to Sierra Blanca Presbytery. Before that, Dan served as vice president of the church council for the First Methodist Church, Dexter. Dan was a member of the Dexter School Board for 12 years. In 2001, Dan suffered an aortic dissection of his entire aorta. The survival rate for such an event is zero, except for Dan. God performed many miracles to keep Dan here until his race was finished. He was a walking testimony of the power and love of God. The aortic dissection and the aneurysm that appeared the following year eventually pushed Dan out of farming. He lived with a constant headache for 16 years and most of the time nobody knew it. Even as he mourned forced retirement from farming, he kept true to his motto, “Do what you can do.” Now, as King David said, “He cannot return to me, but I may go to him.” In that hope we live and carry on the work of the Kingdom of God — which is Serve Others in Love. Dan’s parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother, Robert Lathrop and sister-in-law, Karen; wife, Marilyn; children, Philip Killough, Eve (Turkle) Wisniewski, John Turkle, Aaron Turkle, Charles Lathrop and Daniel Lathrop; daughters-in-law, Cynthia (Baca) Killough and Elisabeth (Pacheco) Turkle and future daughter-in-law, Adriana Gonzales; grandchildren: Nathan and Natalie Turkle; Arayla and Max Wisniewski. Also surviving him are many cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online registry can be accessed at ballardfuneralhome.com.

NMPF Recommends Changes to Margin Protection Program to Make It Viable Safety Net for Farmers

NMPF Recommends Changes to Margin Protection Program to Make It Viable Safety Net for Farmers NMPF Press Release The National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors today unanimously approved a series of recommended changes to the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) that will restore several key elements first proposed by NMPF during development of the 2014 Farm Bill. These changes to the MPP will ensure an effective safety net for the nation’s dairy farmers – if the recommendations are adopted by Congress. The recommendations range from changing the way dairy feed costs are calculated, to providing farmers greater flexibility in signing up for coverage and using other risk management tools. The four-point plan was developed by NMPF’s Economic Policy Committee, and reflects feedback from dairy producers, economists and members of Congress.

2017 New Mexico Ag Expo

2017 New Mexico Ag Expo Press Release The 25th Annual Ag Expo will be held at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds in Portales, March 24-25th. The free event features agricultural vendors, home and garden vendors, seminars, demonstrations, food and drawings. Agricultural vendors come from all over the country and even Canada to display their products in the farming, ranching, equipment, and dairy industry. The show hours will be Friday 9 am - 5 pm, and Saturday 9 am - 3 pm. More here

RITF-85: An Introduction to NEPA: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

RITF-85: An Introduction to NEPA: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 RITF-85: An Introduction to NEPA: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 Douglas S. Cram (Assistant Professor/Extension Forestry and Fire Specialist, RITF, NMSU) Nicholas K. Ashcroft (College Assistant Professor/Extension Range Management Specialist, RITF, NMSU) Samuel T. Smallidge (Associate Professor/Extension Wildlife Specialist/RITF Coordinator, RITF, NMSU) Les P. Owen (Director of Conservation Services Division, Colorado Department of Agriculture) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_ritf/RITF85.pdf

NMSU Grad Student Studying Economic Impact of Water Conservation, Storage Capacity Development

NMSU Grad Student Studying Economic Impact of Water Conservation, Storage Capacity Development, and Crop Diversity in the Tucumcari Project of East-Central New Mexico by Catherine Ortega Klett, NM WRRI Program Manager The Tucumcari Project surrounding the city of Tucumcari, NM, includes about 41,000 acres of irrigable land. Principal features include the Conchas Dam and Reservoir, built on the South Canadian River, plus the Conchas and Hudson Canals, and associated distribution and drainage systems. This water storage and distribution facility constitutes an irrigation district named after Mr. Arch Hurley, who lobbied for its creation in the 1930s. For over half a century, the Arch Hurley Conservancy District (AHCD) has used the approximately 40 miles of main canal and 350 miles of smaller ditches and laterals constructed as part of the Tucumcari Project to deliver water, on average, to almost 700 different parcels of irrigated lands. And for just as long it has been recognized that there are significant water losses in the system, due to such realities as evaporation, canal seepage, and evapotranspiration by canal bank vegetation. Befekadu Habteyes, a PhD student in the NMSU Department of Ag Economics and Ag Business and in the Water Science Management Program, in collaboration with his faculty advisor, Dr. Frank Ward, is conducting a field survey and economic modeling analysis of the AHCD, taking into account the possible effects of different crop choices and of water conservation and storage policies. Read more

Pecos Valley Water Users Organization Meeting

The next quarterly meeting will be March 10 Friday at 10:00 am in the conference room of the Artesia Agriculture Science Center. Proposed Agenda: Pecos Valley Water Users Organization Meeting Agenda March 10, 2017 10:00 Type of Meeting: Quarterly business meeting Meeting Facilitator: Woods Houghton Invitees: all water users in lower Pecos. I. Call to order II. Roll call III. Approval of minutes from last meeting IV. Open issues a) Current balance b) Dialog group state water plan 12 January17 - Eric c) Texas Horn shell muscle, does anyone have an update? V. New business a) Where do we go from here b) Elect Officers for 2017-18 c) From the group VI. Adjournment If you have another agenda item e-mail me. whoughto@nmsu.edu

New Publication n Controling Nuisance Birds

The following CES publication has been revised and is now available online in PDF format. Guide L-212: Controlling Nuisance Birds in New Mexico Revised by Sam Smallidge (Extension Wildlife Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sci. and Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/L212.pdf

NMSU program guides leaders in food, agriculture, natural resources

NMSU program guides leaders in food, agriculture, natural resources DATE: 03/01/2017 WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Claudia Trueblood, 575-646-6691, nmal@nmsu.edu Who will be the next leaders in the food, agriculture and natural resource industries in New Mexico? The 4-H and FFA youth development programs instill leadership qualities in school- and college-age youth that they may then call upon in their daily lives or in the future during their careers. But how will these leaders step up now and have the skills to translate the industries’ concerns into proposals for change, agreements or laws? That question is being addressed by the New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program, housed at New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. “The purpose is to identify and support effective leadership within sectors of food, agriculture and natural resources in New Mexico,” said Claudia Trueblood. Trueblood is the coordinator of the NMAL program that was founded in 2001 by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and transferred to NMSU in 2008. “The program aids participants in the development of skills so they can become stronger and more effective leaders in their industry and communities,” she said. This goal is accomplished by exposing class members to direct experiences and interactions with a variety of businesses, social settings and political environments, both domestically and internationally. “We want to develop knowledgeable, multicultural leaders for New Mexico’s food, agricultural and natural resources industries,” Trueblood said. Alumni of past classes include Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte and NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service director Jon Boren, as well as other NMSU College of ACES faculty. The list includes employees of New Mexico Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Farm Credit of New Mexico, Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, Dairy Producers of New Mexico, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau and New Mexico Hay Growers Association. Class members have also been from private industry including ranching, farming, banks and farm equipment and supply companies. The current class members are Lacy Levine, NMDA program manager, agricultural programs and resources division in Las Cruces; Dustin Ptolemy, Farm Credit of New Mexico, vice president, business development manager in Roswell; Valerie Huerta, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, regional director in Mora; Newt McCarty, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service agricultural agent in Valencia County; Ryan Garcia, NAPI assistant corn crop manager in Farmington; Cheri Lujan, East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District district manager in Estancia; Alicia Briggs, New Mexico Cattle Growers Association deputy director in Albuquerque; Shannon Norris, NMSU College of ACES recruiting and retention coordinator; and Toby Boone, Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District district manager in Truth or Consequences. During the 15-month program eight seminars include meetings with experts in their respective fields, on-site tours and meetings with business and government leaders. “This program is designed for individuals interested in improving their leadership skills for their current and future careers,” Trueblood said. “The participants have the opportunity to deepen their understanding about themselves and about issues relevant to our state.” Through the seminars participants enhance their knowledge and understanding of major issues relevant to leaders in their fields. Topics include economics and policy, national and international trade, cultural awareness, energy including renewable and oil and gas, water issues and management, urban vs. rural agriculture and the role of institutions. “On-site tours allow the class members to broaden their perspectives by understanding processes through asking questions directly to the people responsible for the operation,” Trueblood said. The tours take them to all parts of the state from the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners region to the oil fields of southeast New Mexico. They also spend time in Santa Fe visiting with state leaders about issues affecting the industry. “The people we have met have different concepts of agriculture in the wide range of industry. This has broadened my mind,” Garcia said. The seminars include trips to Washington, D.C., and a foreign country; this year it will be Belize. During the trip the members meet business and government leaders and learn about the national and international issues impacting the food, agricultural and natural resource industries. “This program helps us to not only expand their knowledge in the fields around the state, nationally and internationally, but also it helps us to develop and improve our leadership skills,” McCarty said. “Prior to taking this class I had never had any formal leadership training,” Ptolemy said. “One of the first seminars was about figuring out your leadership style. Once I became comfortable with my leadership style, I’ve been able to build my skills around that.” “It has helped me create and enhance my leadership skills to better interact with people, colleagues and our membership,” Huerta said. “One of the greatest things about this program is that it allows the participant to take what you learned from each of the seminars and meetings, and take it back to their local program so the leadership skills don’t just stay with the individual but it goes to the company or businesses we represent as well,” Norris said. The application period for the next class of the New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program is currently open. To learn more about the program and to apply visit aces.nmsu.edu/nmal/. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews