USDA Announces Enrollment Period for Safety Net Coverage in 2018

USDA Announces Enrollment Period for Safety Net Coverage in 2018 10/30/2017 03:00 PM EDT WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that starting Nov. 1, 2017, farmers and ranchers with base acres in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net program may enroll for the 2018 crop year. The enrollment period will end on Aug. 1, 2018.

Guide B-709: Milkweed Poisoning of Horses

Guide B-709: Milkweed Poisoning of Horses Jason L. Turner (Professor/Extension Horse Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) Kert Young (Extension Brush and Weed Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) PDF: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B709.pdf

3 hazards of grazing forages after the first frost

3 hazards of grazing forages after the first frost Amanda Radke 1 | Oct 11, 2016 With the calves weaned and corn stalks still standing, we plan to turn the cow herd out on a field of cover crops we planted earlier this year. The mixture includes sudangrass, turnips, rape, radishes, clover, millet and lentils. We think the new feed should distract the mama cows from their babies and lessen the stress that comes with weaning time. Additionally, this field of cover crops should tide the herd over for a month or so until we are able to graze corn stalk residues after harvest. Pending the amount of snowfall we receive, these forages should last us until the New Year, with some supplemental hay offered on particularly cold and nasty days. One thing to keep in mind with grazing fall forages is the frost. Last week, we received our first overnight freezing temperature of the season. At that time, cattle could not graze our cover crops because of the hazards that are present with a freeze. READ: More profit from fewer cows? Here's the secret According to Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension forage specialist, “When plants freeze, changes occur in their metabolism and composition that can poison livestock. But you can prevent problems.” Here are three things to know about the effect of freeze on forages: 1. Prussic acid Anderson writes, “Sorghum-related plants, like cane, sudangrass, shattercane, and milo can be highly toxic for a few days after frost. Freezing breaks plant cell membranes. This breakage allows the chemicals that form prussic acid, which is also called cyanide, to mix together and release this poisonous compound rapidly. Livestock eating recently frozen sorghums can get a sudden, high dose of prussic acid and potentially die. Fortunately, prussic acid soon turns into a gas and disappears into the air. So wait 3 to 5 days after a freeze before grazing sorghums; the chance of poisoning then becomes much lower.” READ: Are you the best ranch manager you can be? 2. Nitrate build-up “Freezing also slows down metabolism in all plants,” says Anderson. “This stress sometimes permits nitrates to accumulate in plants that are still growing, especially grasses like oats, millet, and sudangrass. This build-up usually isn't hazardous to grazing animals, but green chop or hay cut right after a freeze can be more dangerous.” 3. Bloat Anderson warns, “Alfalfa reacts two ways to a hard freeze, down close to 20 degrees F, cold enough to cause plants to wilt. Nitrate levels can increase, but rarely to hazardous levels. Freezing also makes alfalfa more likely to cause bloat for a few days after the frost. Then, several days later, after plants begin to wilt or grow again, alfalfa becomes less likely to cause bloat. So waiting to graze alfalfa until well after a hard freeze is a good, safer management practice.” Cover crops and alternative forages are still excellent options in colder weather, but proactive risk management can negate the dangerous hazards. Be aware of the risks, so you can carefully offer safe feed to your cattle this fall and winter.

New Mexico agricultural development, promotional funds available Application deadline is Nov. 15

New Mexico agricultural development, promotional funds available Application deadline is Nov. 15 (Las Cruces, New Mexico) – Are you part of the New Mexico agriculture industry? Do you have a development, marketing or promotional idea for your product or business? Or do you belong to a group that has an innovative idea? The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its Agricultural Development and Promotion Funds Program. Grant amounts range from approximately $500 to $10,000 for individual applicants and up to $30,000 for joint initiatives. The application deadline is Nov. 15. The ADPFP was designed to promote agricultural growth and rural stability, maintain or increase market share for products already on the market, develop markets for new products and develop value-added products. “Agriculture in New Mexico is diverse, and our products have become popular across the world,” said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. “These limited funds allow our producers and processors an opportunity to develop and expand markets and help produce jobs and economic growth, especially in rural areas of New Mexico.” Not only may funds be applied to specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops, but funds may also be used for projects that support the marketing efforts of the livestock industry including beef, sheep and wool, poultry and other livestock. Funds may not be used for start-up costs or common costs of doing business, and projects must be completed before June 30, 2018. Payment is on a reimbursement basis. If you have a project you believe qualifies for funding, please contact the NMDA Marketing and Development Division at 575-646-4929 or specialtycrops@nmda.nmsu.edu. A brochure is available at www.nmda.nmsu.edu under quick links, and an application template is available at www.nmda.nmsu.edu by selecting divisions, then marketing and development, then competitive grant programs. Letters announcing funding decisions will be mailed by Dec. 15. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NMDepartmentofAg and follow us on Twitter @NMDeptAg. - NMDA -

Veterinary Feed Directive information.

Since January 2017, provisions related to Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) became an even more important part of feeding antimicrobial drugs. That’s when a number of over-the-counter drugs transitioned to VFD status. The VFD rule places the authority for determining when to use certain drugs – including antimicrobial drugs important for human health – under control of a veterinarian who has knowledge of the animals to be treated. As a County Agent I have been called on to advise animal producers about the VFD rule, it’s important to understand that VFD feeds are to be fed only during the time frame specified on the VFD order, i.e., before the VFD order expires. The expiration of a particular VFD order is set either specifically by regulation (e.g., for 90 days) or by default for up to 6 months. The expiration date of a VFD order is the date until which the animal producer can obtain and feed the VFD feed. Once that time period has expired, the animal producer must stop feeding the VFD feed or obtain a new VFD order. The veterinarian may shorten this time period for a particular VFD order, but cannot make it longer. In addition to the expiration date for the VFD order, another thing to keep in mind is the approved length of time, or duration, for feeding a VFD feed, which will be specified on the feed label. For example, the label can call for the VFD feed for continuous use, which means that feeding such feed is not limited in duration and could be fed to animals for long periods of time. In such case, the VFD feed could be fed for the entire period covered by an unexpired VFD order. In other cases, the label will call for the VFD feed to be used for feeding for a specific length of time (e.g., 5 days). In such case, the VFD feed could be fed to the same group of animals only one time, for a total of 5 days. There are other deadlines in the VFD requirements, too. But, whatever the situation, VFD feed must not be fed under an expired VFD order. The expiration date set in months should be calculated by the expiration month’s calendar date, not the number of days. For instance, a 6-month expiration date beginning on July 10 should end January 10 of the following year, or for a VFD issued on July 10 with a 3-month expiration date will end on October 10. Also, if the VFD order was written on August 31 for 6 months, it will expire on the last day in February (28 or 29, the last day of February), and not 2 or 3 days later in March. A question that might come up is what to do if a VFD order expires before the course of treatment is completed. Keep in mind that in no situation can you anyone can use a VFD feed beyond the expiration date on the VFD order. Instead, the client will need to contact the veterinarian to request a new VFD order, so treatment can be continued. Another requirement of the VFD rule is that a veterinarian must be working within the context of veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) before issuing a VFD. Working within that context means the veterinarian: • Must engage with the client to assume responsibility for making clinical judgments about the patients’ health • Has sufficient knowledge of the patients by virtue of the examination of the patients or visits to the facility where the patients are managed, and • Provides for any necessary follow up evaluation or care. In some cases, states will define a valid VCPR. In other cases, it will be the federal government. Here is information about state and federal VCPRs: https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/ucm460406.htm. Regardless of whether a VFD was issued within the context of a valid state or federal VCPR, your producers must follow the requirements of the VFD. It’s also important that your producers keep a record of all VFDs. A veterinarian doesn’t send producers the original VFD order. Instead, the veterinarians must keep the original order, in its original format, regardless of whether it is a hardcopy or an electronic format. The veterinarian is required to produce two copies of the VFD order, one for the client and one for the distributor. The veterinarian keeps the original VFD and the client and producer keep their copies for 2 years. Veterinarians cannot call the producer or feed distributor on the phone with a VFD order. It cannot be a spoken order. It must be in writing. The written format can be hardcopy or an electronically transmitted copy. This requirement for a written VFD order is important because it documents the trail from the veterinarian to the distributor and to the animal producer or client. Another point to remember is that extralabel use of a VFD medicated feed or a combination VFD medicated feed is not permitted. Extralabel use means any use that’s not on the label. “For example,” a document published by FDA says, “feeding the animals VFD feed for a duration of time that is different from the duration specified on the label, feeding VFD feed formulated with a drug level that is different from what is specified on the label, or feeding VFD feed to an animal species different than what is specified on the label would all be considered extralabel uses.” A specific exception to this provision is for the use of VFD drugs in minor species such as sheep or bees. More information about this exception can be found at https://www.fda.gov/downloads/iceci/compliancemanuals/compliancepolicyguidancemanual/ucm529668.pdf. At any time, questions about VFD feed come up, please come to our www.FDA.gov/safefeed page and look for the VFD link. It will give you a significant amount of information about the VFD rule. Also, you can send questions to us at AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov. Center for Veterinary Medicine U.S. Food and Drug Administration

New or revised publicaion available on Locoweed Poisoning of Horses.

Guide B-713: Locoweed Poisoning of Horses Jason L. Turner (Professor/Extension Horse Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) Kert Young (Extension Brush and Weed Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) PDF: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B713.pdf

Analysts: Water Needs, Spend To Escalate Susan Klann Friday, June 23, 2017 - 7:00am

Analysts: Water Needs, Spend To Escalate Susan Klann Friday, June 23, 2017 - 7:00am Horizontal drilling and upsized completions have fast-forwarded the oil and gas industry’s demand for water. At the same time, the lower for longer oil price recovery has placed ever more pressure on operators to cut costs, including for water, according to a new report, “Water for U.S. Hydraulic Fracturing,” from Bluefield Research. The report forecasts that at a flat rig count of 650, 20.8 billion barrels (bbl) of water will be required for hydraulic fracturing from 2017 through 2026. Last year, fracturing consumed more than 1.3 billion bbl of water and produced 574 million bbl of water for disposal. Investors and industry players are positioning to play a role in this growing water market. With operators drilling faster, and employing longer laterals, completions now require as much as 12 million bbl of water per frack—triple the volumes of five years ago, the Bluefield authors said. They project that water management, including water supply, transport, storage, treatment and disposal, will total $136 billion from 2017 to 2026 for the U.S. hydraulic fracturing sector. High reuse rates in the Marcellus and scaling Permian activity—where water per frack ratios are the highest—drove treatment spending to about $198 million in 2016 with an annual spend of $307 million expected for 2017. “Demand is rising exponentially, particularly in West Texas,” the authors said, “because of increased water volume per frack and an almost 30% reduction in time required to complete a well.” With water transport, both supplied and produced, rising in importance, the industry craves more pipeline networks and transport services, and a new midstream water sector is developing in response. “Several firms—Antero Midstream, Noble Midstream, Rice Midstream, NGL Energy—are leveraging their holding companies’ E&P footprints,” the report said. “At the same time, a new crop of market entrants, often backed by private equity, are staking out positions in select basins to capitalize on demand for water services.” The water company rolls have been diminished by the downturn, but a “select few” are rising from the ashes, according to Bluefield’s report. “Select Energy Services has filed an IPO, Nuverra remains on the edge of Chapter 11, while Fountain Quail and GreenHunter Resources have merged.” Texas and Oklahoma led the U.S. completed horizontal well count from 2011 to 2017, making them the most active markets for hydraulic fracturing and water demand. Bluefield excluded DUCs (drilled but uncompleted wells) from its forecasts; at the end of March 2017, 5,512 DUCs remained, according to DOE estimates. In Texas, oil prices, financial stress and rain have “eased the regulatory pressures in some instances,” the report said, making cost of transport the top concern. Some producers are tapping alternative supplies to enhance sustainability. In Oklahoma, earthquake concerns due to salt water disposal practices are fueling recycling efforts. Annual water demand by basin is led by the Permian, with 45% overall, the Eagle Ford, 12%, the Marcellus, 12%, the Cana Woodford, 8%, and the Haynesville, with 8%. In basins with plentiful access to saltwater disposal wells, like those in Texas and Oklahoma, treatment and reuse remains below 10%. Pennsylvania and Ohio, which have limited disposal well options and more challenging topography, have seen transportation and disposal costs rise as high as $20/bbl, according to Bluefield. This has prompted E&Ps to buy injection well assets, and another “key area of investment” has been the networking of disposal wells with pipelines across shale plays. E&Ps are investing in projects connected to wastewater plants, water recycling facilities and pipeline transport. As this still nascent water management and services value chain evolves, Bluefield is tracking several trends in particular: private water utilities leveraging their local presence; pure-play water service providers focusing on transport logistics, treatment and disposal; companies providing centralized treatment in the Marcellus; and increasingly, midstream energy service providers moving into water markets, often by leveraging their related E&P divisions. In other instances, private equity firms are backing midstream entities focused on the water value chain, with some carving out niches in individual basins. With only 6% of produced water currently being treated and reused, Bluefield projects this share will rise to 16% by 2026. Recycling of flowback water should hit 90% by the same period. And the dollars needed to fund this effort will continue to seed opportunity for investors. Susan Klann Susan Klann has more than 30 years of publishing experience, with more than half of those spent in oil and gas publishing with Hart Energy, most recently as group managing editor of Oil and Gas Investor.

Permian Basin Produced Water May Hit 1B Barrels Per Day Experts say produced water from the Permian Basin may hit 1 billion barrels per day within the next decade. July 4, 2017, at 10:53 a.m.

HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — Experts say produced water from the Permian Basin may hit 1 billion barrels per day within the next decade. The Hobbs News-Sun reports (https://goo.gl/zJXnaA ) New Mexico EnergyPlex Conference panelist Nathan Zaugg told attendees last week that the billion barrels per day estimate could fill Elephant Butte Lake in around 21 days. Produced water also contains heavy metals including zinc, lead, manganese, iron and barium. Zaugg, industrial group leader for Carollo Engineers of Salt Lake City, said his company and a New Mexico company are working together to address the problem with urgency. Ken McQueen, secretary for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, says companies now know the importance of recycling water, realizing brackish water as a source rather than using fresh water.

PECAN WEEVIL REGULATION DISCUSSION

PECAN WEEVIL REGULATION DISCUSSION New Mexico Department of Agriculture and Eddy, Chaves and Lea County Extension Service will be conducting a discussion with Pecan growers and related industry business owner on October 26: Roswell 9:30 am Farm Bureau building Eastern Fair grounds. Artesia CVE 1:30 pm community room 13th and Richey street Carlsbad Eddy County Extension Office 6:30 pm 1304 West Stevens The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the current situation with Pecan weevil in New Mexico and proposed emergency regulations to contain this pest. There is limited space so if you wish to pre-register or if you are in need of special assistance due to a disability please contact the Eddy County Extension Office 887-6595 at least 1 day before the class. This and all programs are available to everyone regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating “to put knowledge to work”.

The livestock was/were found at: Kevil and Haston Road south of Carlsbad

The Following Found Livestock Notice Has Been Posted on the NMLB Website: NOTICE ID 2960 - 10/20/2017 The following described livestock was/were found by the NMLB without ownership being known: One sorrel mare with star, small snip and left front sock. The livestock was/were found at: Kevil and Haston Road south of Carlsbad - Carlsbad, NM 88220 Brand(s) described on livestock: No Brand Please Contact Inspector Kenneth Whetham at 575-840-5374 if you have information regarding ownership of the described livestock. NOTICE EXPIRATION DATE: 10/25/2017 Livestock are being held in Eddy County DOCUMENTS AND/OR IMAGES: Notice ID 2960 Pic 1.JPG Notice ID 2960 Pic 2.JPG Notice ID 2960 Pic 3.JPG If you did not sign up for this mailing list or would like to be taken off of the list Click Here and your email address will be removed from our list.

Senate Passes Udall-Heinrich Amendment Directing Congress to Provide Mandatory Full Funding for PILT

Senate Passes Udall-Heinrich Amendment Directing Congress to Provide Mandatory Full Funding for PILT PILT funding helps counties in NM and across the West provide important services like police, fire and roads WASHINGTON — Last night, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment by U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich that directs Congress to fully and permanently fund the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which helps local governments in New Mexico and across the West pay for critical services like schools, police, and roads. The amendment to the Republicans’ Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution passed 58 to 41 and was the only amendment offered by a Democrat to pass on a roll-call vote. New Mexico is the third-highest recipient of PILT payments in the country, but PILT provides critical resources to nearly 1,900 counties across 49 states and supports thousands of jobs across America, particularly in the rural West. Despite the need to provide predictable funding for counties, Congress currently does not fund PILT on an automatic, permanent basis. Instead, Congress makes discretionary annual appropriations, creating uncertainty each year as communities wait to learn whether they will receive the funding that they rely on. Udall, the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the Department of the Interior, and Heinrich secured 2017 PILT funding for New Mexico counties in the omnibus appropriations bill that passed the Senate in May. In June, Udall and Heinrich announced that N.M. counties received $38.5 million in funding through the program. More information about PILT, including the formula that is used to determine how much each county will receive, is available here: https://www.doi.gov/pilt “Rural communities across New Mexico shouldn’t have to wonder whether they will get the PILT funding they are owed – and that they rely on – to pay for basic services like public safety, schools, and roads. Last night, at a time when the Trump administration has proposed cutting funding for PILT, senators from both sides of the aisle showed that they understand the need for full and permanent funding for this essential program,” Udall said. “Last night’s vote was an important step forward that lays the groundwork for future congressional action to fully fund PILT in 2018 and beyond. As the ranking member on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Interior Department’s budget, I will keep working to build on this important step and to provide the full resources that the PILT program needs to keep benefiting New Mexicans.” “Long-term, predictable funding is tremendously important to rural counties across New Mexico,” said Heinrich. “Rural communities use PILT funds to provide for emergency response, maintain roads and bridges, and support local jobs. I am proud that we were successful in securing bipartisan support for permanently and fully funding PILT and will continue to fight to ensure counties have the economic security they need to succeed.” Congressional budget resolutions are non-binding statements of budget priorities intended to lay the groundwork for future legislation and appropriations bills. In 2008, legislation was passed to authorize full, mandatory funding for the PILT program to ensure that this vital funding was not subject to annual discretionary decisions in appropriations legislation. However, that legislation has since expired and PILT is now funded on a year-by-year basis. Senators Udall and Heinrich have supported stand-alone legislation to permanently set full, mandatory payments for PILT, a position supported by the National Association of Counties (NACo). ###

Lawsuit: Bighorn Sheep Threatened by Domestic Sheep Grazing

WOODS NOTE: I operated the Medical Veterinary Entomology Lab at NMSU 1979-1985. Desert bighorn sheep contacted scabies at white sands missile range and eventual killed off that population. They, US Fish and Wildlife, NM Game and Fish want to blame domestic livestock. Even though there was very limited access to the range by livestock and even more limited interaction between domestic livestock and wild desert bighorn sheep. I had at the lab desert bighorn sheep and other wildlife and we did cross transmission studies, Dr. Kinzer was the Principal Investigator, I was the technician. We did this for a number of years, physical moving mite from one species to another, in such a manner the mite had absolute advantage. We could not accomplish it there was no transmission. Think how absurd this is. Domestic livestock are vaccinated, and well cared for. Sick animals are isolated and treated. I do believe that it is more likely that wildlife will expose domestic livestock to disease, and because of best management practices, what I grew up as animal husbandry, the disease is contained or mitigated. I think that domestic livestock may help reduce impact of disease on wildlife. Where there is livestock insect vectors are control to reduce transmission of diseases. Eliaophera in Elk, cause Elk to go blind, in the Gila wilderness in the early 70's cause as much a 2/3 of all elk death. This disease is a parasitic disease with a complicated life cycle which required transmission by green headed horse fly. By controlling the fly population, treating livestock with insecticide, this disease has been significantly reduced. Lawsuit: Bighorn Sheep Threatened by Domestic Sheep Grazing The New York Times The Associated Press The U.S. Forest Service is illegally jeopardizing a small herd of bighorn sheep with deadly diseases by allowing thousands of domestic sheep to graze in eastern Idaho as part of agricultural research activities, environmental groups have said in a lawsuit. Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians in the lawsuit filed Tuesday contend the grazing of sheep owned by the University of Idaho via permits issued to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Sheep Experiment Station risks transmitting diseases to bighorn sheep. "It's unjustifiable for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Idaho to expose wild bighorn to deadly pathogens for the sake of a few months of free forage on the national forest," Scott Lake, Idaho director for Western Watersheds Project, said in a statement. "The value of native wildlife far exceeds whatever the state and federal government will get out of taking this chance." The lawsuit challenges the Forest Service's authorization of the grazing allotments in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, an area also used by a herd of about 36 South Beaverhead Rocky Mountain bighorns. Environmentalists say disease has prevented the herd from growing and that allowing the domesticated sheep to graze there increases health risks for bighorns because they could be sickened through contact with the domesticated sheep. The groups contend the federal agency is violating environmental laws by allowing the grazing this fall and winter before completing an environmental analysis. The groups in the lawsuit noted that courts have previously recognized the high risk of disease transmission from domestic to wild sheep. The groups are asking the court to prevent any sheep from being released into the area until after the environmental analysis is finished. Currently, domestic sheep can start grazing on Nov. 6.

Eddy County Catlle Growers host Meeting on privite lands and trespass during hunting season.

There will be a meeting October 25th at 6:30pm at the Eddy County Sheriff's office with the ECSO and New Mexico Game and Fish about landowner rights and criminal trespass by hunters and what our legal recourse is, what we can and cannot do, and how to deal legally with the issue. Please plan to attens. Tell your neighbors. Better yet, just bring them with you!

We have a lot of Natural gas piplines in Eddy County

Woods note: We have a lot of Natural Gas pipelines in Eddy County, I have been called out to issues in Agriculture field, Cotton, Alfalfa, Pecans as well as homeowners. So while this articles was written for hurricane recovery areas it good information for here too! As hurricane clean up is well underway, there is a chance the utilities buried below may be damaged. As we mentioned last month, removing trees and stumps is a major threat to buried utilities. Erosion can also impact utility depth and position, but identifying the warning signs and following proper emergency response procedures can help protect farmers and ranchers in the event of a leak or damage. Recognizing a Pipeline Leak Identifying potential leaks is an important message to remind your clients about, especially as hurricane cleanup and harvesting is underway. When a pipeline is hit, there are key sights, smells and sounds that all farmers and ranchers should be aware of. Seeing • Oily sheen on water surfaces • Dirt or liquid blowing into the air • Vapor stream or mist-like cloud over pipeline • Unexpected frost or ice on ground or exposed pipeline facility • Water continuously bubbling in wet or flooded areas • Dead or dying vegetation in an otherwise green area • Dry area in a wet field • Flames from the ground or burning aboveground • Liquid on ground Smelling • Gasoline or diesel fuel smell • Rotten eggs scent • Sharp acidic smell • Strong sulfur scent • Unusually strong "skunk" odor Hearing • Unusual hissing sound • Loud blowing or roaring noise What if I Hit a Pipeline? If you hit a pipeline or suspect you hit a pipeline while digging, immediately take the following steps: • Leave the area immediately on foot in an upwind and uphill direction whenever possible • Extinguish any possible sources of ignition, turn off equipment, put out cigarettes • Warn others to evacuate the area • Call 911 from a safe distance • Call the EMERGENCY phone number for the pipeline operator which can be located on pipeline markers along the ROW What NOT to do: • Do not touch any liquid or vapor cloud that might have come from a pipeline leak • Do not start your vehicle or any equipment that could be a potential ignition source • Do not turn on or off anything that may create a spark, including cell phones, pagers, flashlights, keyless entry remotes, vehicle alarms, and light switches • Do not smoke or light a match • Do not attempt to alter the flow of product by turning pipeline valves; this could make the situation worse Click here to view the article in the PASA Farm & Ranch Excavation Safety Guide. Working Together Last month we shared some of the great initiatives agents are taking part in across the country. Here are more ways they are spreading the safe digging word: Shawn Banks, County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent at North Carolina State University, shared an 811 pirate safety video to get people excited for the upcoming Beaufort Pirate Invasion event in Beaufort, NC. Karen Cox, Ohio County Agent - Agriculture and Natural Resources at WVU Extension Service, helped protect a 10" water line on Monday, August 28 when a local group was installing fence posts for a garden. After a call to 811 was made and the utilities were located, Karen got a call from the water company thanking her, as the fence posts were in the area of a 10" water line. This is a snapshot of some of the great efforts by ag agents across the country. We encourage you to send us the initiatives you take part in. Each time you share a message using PASA resources, you will receive a gourmet coffee shop gift card and will be entered into a drawing for an iPad that will be given away at the 2018 NACAA Conference. If you're looking for something to share during your next meeting or on your social media page, the "811 for the Ag Community" video is a great resource, containing testimonials from farmers who have experienced a pipeline damage, to covering the 811 process and common myths associated with digging. As always, thank you for your continued support and if there is anything we can do to assist in your educational efforts, please let us know. Chris Thome Program Director Pipeline Ag Safety Alliance P: 952-428-7968 C: 612-386-8858 Whitney Price Program Coordinator whitney@emailir.com Pipeline Ag Safety Alliance P: 952-428-7990 Resources Pipeline Ag Safety Alliance Call Before You Dig Info Find Pipelines in Your County Let Us Know! Click here to send us a link to any media posts you have made using PASA resources and we will send you a gourmet coffee shop gift card! Click here to request 25 FREE copies of PASA's Farm & Ranch Excavation Safety Guide. Click the image to view the digital Guide.

USDA Invests in Research on Next Generation of Agricultural Technology

USDA Invests in Research on Next Generation of Agricultural Technology Media Contact: Selina Meiners, (202)734-9376 WASHINGTON, D.C., October 17, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 17 grants for research on the next generation of agricultural technologies and systems to meet the growing demand for food, fuel, and fiber. The grants are funded through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Technology is front and center in agricultural production,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA is investing in research on precision and smart technologies to maximize production efficiencies, including water and fertilizer use, and to produce nutritious food, new biofuels, and bioproducts.” AFRI is America’s flagship competitive grants program for foundational and translational research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. AFRI’s Agriculture Systems and Technology grants support the design and engineering of agricultural production systems and research on the burgeoning field of biomass, biofuels, feedstock, bioenergy, and bio-based products. These projects are expected to spur innovation in rural America and contribute to rural prosperity. Included among the grants announced today is a University of California Riverside project that uses electronics and chemistry to recover high-quality water, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and energy from agricultural wastewater. Also, researchers at the University of Nebraska are developing an efficient irrigation system that combines imaging sensors on unmanned aerial vehicles, predictions of crop water use, and water sensors in soil. Fiscal Year 2016 grants totaling $7.3 million included: Agricultural Engineering • University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, Kentucky, $500,000 • University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, Kentucky, $498,726 • Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, $149,983 • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, $499,998 • University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, $499,978 • University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, $499,916 • University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, $499,896 • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey, $50,000 • Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, $312,238 Bioprocessing and Bioengineering • Auburn University, Auburn University, Alabama, $481,539 • University of California, Riverside, California, $480,843 • University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, $472,965 • Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, $482,905 • Sustainable Bioproducts LLC, Bozeman, Montana, $482,829 • The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $482,448 • University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, $482,905 • University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, $482,752 Project details can be found at the NIFA website. Previously funded projects include an Oregon State University project to develop wireless sensors to study flight behavior of native pollinators associated with agricultural crops. This project will shed light on bumble bees’ flight patterns to help efforts to sustain their populations. Researchers at Iowa State University are developing a low-cost electronic sensor to monitor, in real-time, excess nitrate levels in surface water that are a major environmental and health concern. This technology may help landowners and governments in their conservation efforts by circumventing the need to collect water samples for lab analysis. NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA support for the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel has resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood obesity, improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues, increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate climate variability and ensure food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts. USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider and employer. ###

APHIS Adds South Carolina to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Regulated Area

Subject: APHIS Adds South Carolina to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Regulated Area To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adding all of South Carolina to the list of regulated areas for the emerald ash borer (EAB). APHIS is taking this action in response to the detection of EAB in Greenville, Oconee, and Spartanburg Counties and because the state has decided to establish a full state quarantine. To prevent the spread of EAB to other states, the attached Federal Order outlines specific conditions for the interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from South Carolina. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from South Carolina is regulated, including firewood of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species. EAB is an invasive wood-boring beetle that is native to China and other areas of East Asia. The beetle is present in some portions of the United States, and because of its continuing spread, APHIS has established regulated areas that are designated in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 7 CFR 301.53-3 and the Federal Orders located at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/eab_quarantine APHIS works with state cooperators and foresters to prevent the human assisted movement of EAB, develop biological and other controls for EAB, and raise public awareness about this pest and the potential threats associated with the long-distance movement of firewood. For more information about the EAB program and federal EAB regulations, please contact EAB National Policy Manager Robyn Rose at 301-851-2283. Osama El-Lissy Deputy Administrator Plant Protection and Quarantine FEDERAL ORDER Domestic Quarantine of South Carolina for Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) DA-2017-32 October 13, 2017 This Federal Order expands the list of regulated areas for emerald ash borer (EAB) to include all of South Carolina. This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article, if the Secretary determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States. This Federal Order is also issued pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Plant Protection Act found at 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 301.53. Effective immediately, this Federal Order quarantines all of South Carolina for EAB. This action responds to the detection of EAB in Greenville, Oconee, and Spartanburg Counties. Thus, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finds it necessary to regulate this State to prevent the spread of EAB. Effective immediately, all interstate movement of EAB regulated articles from South Carolina must be done in accordance with any applicable provisions of this Federal Order and the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Plant Protection Act found at 7 CFR 301.53 et seq and the Federal Orders located at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/eab_quarantine Section 7 CFR 301.53-3 (b) provides for the temporary designation of new quarantined areas pending publication of a rule to add counties to the list shown in 7 CFR 301.53-3(c). Section 7 CFR 301.53-3 (b) further requires written notification to the owner or person who possesses a newly quarantined area. This is the responsibility of the federal and/or state regulatory personnel who are responsible for the EAB program in the affected state. Previous Federal Orders pertaining to the expansion of quarantined areas in the EAB domestic regulations have been necessary due to the continuing spread of EAB. This Federal Order further expands the quarantined areas as described in the previous EAB Federal Orders. If you wish for more details on the federal EAB regulatory program, you may call EAB National Policy Manager Robyn Rose at 301-851-2283. For information on the regulatory requirements to move articles out of quarantined areas in South Carolina, please call APHIS State Plant Health Director Carl Lightfoot at 843-480-4334. We appreciate the cooperative relationship with South Carolina in our effort to prevent the spread of EAB.

New Extension Publications now available.

The following new CES publication is now available online in PDF format. Circular 686: Grazing and Biodiversity Christopher D. Allison (Rangeland Scientist, Linebery Policy Center for Natural Resource Management) Louis C. Bender (Senior Research Scientist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR686.pdf

Regents to hold listening sessions across the state in preparation for chancellor search

WOODS Note:If you think Agriculture is important, Agriculture Science Stations and County Extension you need to show up and voice that! NMSU Regents to hold listening sessions across the state in preparation for chancellor search DATE: 10/12/2017 WRITER: Justin Bannister, 575-646-5981, jbannist@nmsu.edu The New Mexico State University Board of Regents will conduct a series listening sessions in communities across New Mexico to seek input from university employees, alumni, supporters, community members and other stakeholders regarding the search for the university’s next chancellor. “New Mexico State University has an enormous impact on communities around our state,” said NMSU Regent Mike Cheney, who is chairing the chancellor search process. “We want to hear from all stakeholders as we move forward with this process. This input will be valuable as the Board of Regents moves forward in selecting a chancellor who has a great vision for NMSU and can lead our land-grant university through the next decade of success.” Public listening sessions include: • Carlsbad – 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 at NMSU’s Carlsbad campus, Room 153, • Alamogordo – 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 at NMSU Alamogordo’s Townsend Library, • Las Cruces – 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at Dona Ana Community College’s East Mesa Campus Auditorium, • Grants – Thursday, Nov. 2 at NMSU’s Grants campus, time and room to be determined, • Albuquerque – 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the CNM Workforce Training Center, Room 103. An additional listening session for NMSU faculty and staff is set for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the university’s Las Cruces campus, at Domenici Hall, in the Yates Auditorium. Various members of the NMSU Board of Regents, potentially constituting a quorum, will be in attendance at each listening session. No votes or official actions will take place at any of these events. Please contact the Office of the Board of Regents at 575-646-5997 if you need additional information. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact the Board of Regents Office at 575-646-5997 at least three days prior to the meeting, or as soon as possible. - 30 -

Water Research Stake Holders meeting

Public meetings will address trespassing on private land NMGF

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Dan Williams: (505) 476-8004 dan.williams@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCT. 11, 2017: Public meetings will address trespassing on private land ALAMOGORDO – Representatives of the Department of Game and Fish and the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office serving Otero and Lincoln counties will conduct public meetings Oct. 16-17 to address trespassing on private lands and the obligations of landowners, hunters and anglers. District Attorney John Sugg and department conservation officers will discuss various issues regarding trespass laws, including sign posting requirements, written permission to use private lands for hunting and fishing, and possible penalties for violations. Meeting times and sites: Oct. 16 • Corona: 9 to 11 a.m., Corona Senior Center, 451 Main St. • Capitan: 1 to 3 p.m., Capitan Senior Center, 115 Tiger Drive. • Hondo: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Hondo High School, 111 Don Pablo Lane. Oct. 17 • Alamogordo: 9 to 11 a.m., Otero County Sheriff’s Office, 3208 N. White Sands Blvd. • Mayhill: 1 to 3 p.m., Mayhill Fire Department, 11 Civic Center Drive. • Pinon: 4:30 to 6 p.m., Pinon Community Club, 2337 N.M. 24. For more information about the meetings, please contact Sgt. Jason Kline, (575) 973-0233. ###

Federal legislation proposed to crack down on fake organics

Federal legislation proposed to crack down on fake organics FoodDive.com By Cathy Siegner A bill introduced in Congress would toughen inspections of imported organic produce to ensure the food items are genuine. Reps. John Faso, a New York Republican, and Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat from New Mexico, are pushing for the Organic Farmer and Consumer Protection Act to provide more money for enforcement and compliance to USDA's National Organic Program…Among other provisions, the bill would require currently uncertified importers, brokers, ports and online auctions to become organic-certified or lose their organic labeling. This would close a loophole in current law that permits organic agricultural products fumigated for pests at U.S. ports to still be admitted and sold as organic. More: http://www.fooddive.com/news/federal-legislation-proposed-to-crack-down-on-fake-organics/506398/

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

The following CES publications have been revised and are now available online in PDF and HTML formats. H-327: Pruning the Home Orchard Revised by Shengrui Yao (Extension Fruit Specialist, Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences) PDF: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/H327.pdf HTML: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/H327/welcome.html Z-501: Economic Importance of the Pecan Industry Revised by Don Blayney (Gerald Thomas Chair, Dept. of Ag. Econ. and Ag. Business) Paul Gutierrez (Extension Specialist, Dept. of Ag. Econ. and Ag. Business) PDF: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_z/Z501.pdf HTML: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_z/Z501/welcome.html Circular 597: Chemical Weed and Brush Control for New Mexico Rangelands Revised by Kert Young (Extension Brush and Weed Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR597.pdf Guide A-325: Managing Weeds in Alfalfa Leslie Beck (Extension Weed Specialist, Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences) Mark Marsalis (Extension Forage Specialist, Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences/Ag Science Center at Los Lunas) Leonard Lauriault (Forage Crop Management Scientist, Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences/Ag Science Center at Tucumcari) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_a/A325.pdf Guide B-804: Control Cholla Cactus Revised by Kert Young (Extension Brush and Weed Specialist, Dept. of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B804.pdf Guide A-152: Reducing Tillage in Arid and Semi-arid Cropping Systems: An Overview John Idowu (Extension Agronomist, Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences) Sangu Angadi (Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences) Murali Darapuneni (Asst. Professor, Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari) Rajan Ghimire (Asst. Professor, Agricultural Science Center at Clovis) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_a/A152.pdf Guide M-114: Nitrate in Drinking Water Revised by Rossana Sallenave (Extension Aquatic Ecology Specialist, Dept. of Ext. Animal Sciences & Natural Resources) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_m/M114.pdf 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 Guide H-707: Landscape Water Conservation: Principles of Xeriscape Revised by Bernd Leinauer (Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences) http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/H707.pdf

PESTICIDE TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERED

PESTICIDE TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERED Eddy County Extension Service will be conducting pesticide applicator training on October 19 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Cost is $10 per person. This class is good for 5 CEU’s. Private applicator testing will not be available if you need to test call and arranged with NMDA 575-646-3007. The information presented may help you prepare for the exams however. These will be in Carlsbad at the Eddy County Extension Office. Dr. Sam Samallidge Extension Wildlife Specialist will be presenting information on gopher control, rodent control, keeping pack rats out of trucks, rattle snakes and more. There is limited space so if you wish to pre-register or if you are in need of special assistance due to a disability please contact the Eddy County Extension Office 887-6595 at least 7 days before the class. This and all programs are available to everyone regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating “to put knowledge to work”.

Optimizing Water Use to Sustain Food Systems

Optimizing Water Use to Sustain Food Systems Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project Website The challenges faced by Ogallala aquifer region producers are not confined by state lines. Neither are the solutions. Water. Whether it falls from the sky or is pumped from the Ogallala aquifer, is of central importance to the High Plains economy and way of life. Groundwater pumped from the Ogallala aquifer (the principal formation of the High Plains aquifer system) has transformed the region from a Dustbowl to an agricultural powerhouse. More than 30% of U.S. crops and livestock are produced in this region, significantly impacting domestic and international food supplies…The Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project, a multi-disciplinary collaborative effort funded by USDA-NIFA, is focused on developing and sharing practical, science-supported information relevant to best management practices for optimizing water use across the Ogallala region. More: http://ogallalawater.org/

Meeting informs public about water application

Meeting informs public about water application El Defensor Chieftain By John Larson ...One question caught the co-facilitators off guard. “If this application from a multi-national company is approved, could [they] sell it to another multi-national company, say from Russia?” Besides questions, Myers read comments from the cards submitted. “This water appropriation should not happen...ranchers have senior water rights,” Socorro County rancher Randell Major commented. “This mining application has been unable to prove their pumping will not harm existing water rights. This has been going on for ten years and should be put to an end now.” More at; http://www.dchieftain.com/news/meeting-informs-public-about-water-application/article_12e769be-a946-11e7-9b0d-77c54c89c6b6.html

Public meetings will address proposed changes in pronghorn rule

Public meetings will address proposed changes in pronghorn rule New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Press Release The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the pronghorn rule. The Department is proposing changes to how pronghorn are hunted in New Mexico, structuring pronghorn hunts similarly to how deer are hunted in the state. This will provide increased opportunity for public and private-land hunters…Additionally, the department has heard various concerns regarding the current Antelope Private Land Use System (A-PLUS). To gather public comments, four public meetings will be conducted: • Albuquerque: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Department of Game and Fish office, 3841 Midway Place, NE. • Las Vegas: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the New Mexico State Police Office, 520 South Commerce. • Roswell: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Department of Game and Fish office, 1912 W. Second St. • Las Cruces: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Department of Game and Fish office, 2715 Northrise Drive. The proposal can be viewed http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/

Happy National 4-H Week

Happy National 4-H Week Friday, October 6, 2017 Happy National 4-H Week Opportunity to Share Your Thoughts on Positive Youth Development and other NIFA Supported Programs USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Needs Stakeholder Input on Food, Agriculture Priorities The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting input from stakeholders regarding research, extension, and education priorities in food and agriculture. A series of four in-person listening sessions hosted in different regions across the country and submission of written comments will offer two ways to share your thoughts and ideas. Stakeholder input received from both methods will be treated equally. NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives” focuses on answering to two questions from stakeholders: • What is your top priority in food and agricultural research, extension, or education that NIFA should address? • What are the most promising science opportunities for advancement of food and agricultural sciences? NIFA wants to hear from you about priorities and opportunities in agricultural sciences. This will help NIFA prioritize science emphasis areas, identify gaps in programming, and determine which programs are redundant or underperforming. To contribute your ideas online and to register for in-person listening sessions, fill out our input form. You have the option to give a five minute oral presentation and submit written content; however, it is not required to do both. • Individuals wishing to attend in-person listening sessions must complete the RSVP in the input form no later than Thursday, October 12, 2017. If you are making a five minute oral presentation, you must submit a short 250 word abstract describing your topic. • Submissions of written comments will be accepted through Friday, December 1, 2017. The input form is one opportunity to share written comments. Please take time to consider and clearly form your answers to the questions above before filling out the form. You will be allowed 600 words for each question. You may also submit written comments via NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov. Four regional in-person listening sessions will be held: • Thursday, Oct. 19, Kansas City, Missouri • Thursday, Oct. 26, Atlanta, Georgia • Thursday, Nov. 2, Sacramento, California • Wednesday, Nov. 8, Hyattsville, Maryland Each session is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. The sessions will be webcast live, transcribed, and made available for playback. All submissions, regardless of the mode, are processed in the same manner. Additional details, including livestream information, will be added as they become available. To stay informed on “NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives,” sign up for the NIFA Update, a weekly compendium of news and information that may be of interest to land-grant and non-land-grant universities, NIFA stakeholders, and other subscribers.

Are you interested in New Mexico’s Water Future?

Are you interested in New Mexico’s Water Future? Save the dates of December 13th-14th for an important town hall on the 2018 State Water Plan. As many of you know, the state water plan sets the policy agenda for water use in New Mexico. This upcoming town hall deliberation provides the primary opportunity for the public to develop policy priorities for the plan. The town hall will take place in Albuquerque. Registration will open by November 2017.