THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEW MEXICO FARM AND LIVESTOCK BUREAU®
COVID’s Effect on New Mexico’s Sheep Industry
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NMF&LB President’s Column TRACTOR SEAT DAYDREAMING
BY CRAIG OGDEN
Thankful for Another Year
As we start out the new year, I would like to thank the members and voting delegates for allowing me to serve them for another term. I always feel like I should be doing more, but our organization’s successes are made by working as a team. The staff has been terrific, for without them, the board, and the volunteers around the state we couldn’t have got done what we did. Last year was a challenging year with many obstacles, but everyone is constantly making adjustments as we navigate these uncertain times. Our Annual Meeting was done virtually for the first time in our history. Officers Larry and Boe helped immensely for I wasn’t able to be Ogden cont. on page 17
AFBF President’s Column BEYOND THE FENCEROWS
BY ZIPPY DUVALL
A Sustainable Harvest
As farmers and ranchers, we know we are part of a bigger story. We are caretakers of the land for a time, following in the footsteps of generations before us. My farm didn’t start with me and, God-willing, it won’t end with me either. Sustainability is personal for me as a farmer: I’ve got my hands in the dirt that my parents and their parents before them farmed. And that soil, the lifeblood of my farm, is healthier now than ever before because of the care we have taken to farm better each day. Agriculture’s sustainability story is one of progress, and it’s not finished yet. Duvall cont. on page 22
NMF&LB CEO’s Column CHATTING WITH CHAD
BY CHAD SMITH
Good Riddance 2020
As we reflect on the year, for many of us, our New Year’s toast will wish 2020 a good riddance. What a year it has been, a year that many cannot wait to put behind them. This will certainly be an unforgettable year and as quickly as we all want to soon forget, let’s not ignore the many things this year has taught us. It is also a good time to reflect on the many reasons to be grateful. 2020 has not only forced many of us out of our comfort zones but challenged us as well. Challenged us all to adapt. Agriculture is no stranger to adapting. Producers have adapted for centuries and as the CEO of your New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, I reflect back Smith cont. on page 22
On the cover: Bronson Corn, NMF&LB Young Farmers and Ranchers District 3 Representative and NM Wool Growers President, on his ranch near Roswell. Page 2
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Dwight Menefee
Farm Credit of New Mexico has been farmer and rancher owned for over a century. Year in and year out, we’ve provided financial services to family-owned businesses of all sizes, helping them grow and prosper. That’s the difference between being a bank and being customer owned. What can we do for you? farmcreditnm.com 1-800-451-5997
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How COVID is Boosting the Lamb Market By Dalene Hodnett, NMF&LB Director of Communications and Media Relations
Bronson Corn is a 5th generation rancher and raising sheep has been his family’s legacy since 1878. As such, he’s seen a lot of ups and downs in the lamb market. So how has the pandemic affected the lamb industry? “Right now it’s a positive since the restrictions on imports meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus also slowed imports of lamb from Australia and New Zealand,” says Corn. “That meant there was a greater demand for domestic lamb, which is good for us.” Imports have been overwhelming the US lamb market, depressing prices and causing many growers to switch to cattle or get out of the business altogether. But when the pandemic first hit the US in mid-March, sheep markets were gearing up for the busiest time of the year when sales are boosted by Easter, Passover and Ramadan which traditionally creates high demand for mutton. Unfortunately for the lamb industry, with the closing of restaurant dining many finer cuts like rack of lamb are suffering from lack of demand. Corn runs around 700 ewes, enough for a full truck load of lambs each year. The wool goes to Roswell Wool and Mohair, owned by his father Mike since 1992. It’s the largest wool warehouse in the US marketing over 4 million pounds of wool all over the world. Corn sends his lambs go to Manchester, Michigan to a sale barn and then packing plant. There’s a cultural demand for lamb in Michigan making it the best market for mutton. Donald Martinez, (shown here) is the owner of Naturally New Mexico Food Products in El Rito. He also saw a bump in business due to COVID. Meat shortages caused by the pandemic spooked families who then purchased animals to feed out. As one of only four USDA inspected meat packing plants in the state, demand for his services grew. “We specialize in sheep and receive locally grown lambs as well as those from Texas and Colorado,” says Martinez.
“We’ve been here for over 30 years and can process up to 50 lambs a day. We saw lots of new customers during the early fall, both bringing us sheep to process and wanting to see if we had meat to sell.” According to New Mexico Ag stats, there are approximately 100,000 head of sheep raised annually in the state valued at a total of $19.1 million. The wool was worth $1.313 million. Page 4
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Katelin Spradley Joins NMF&LB New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau is pleased to welcome Katelin Spradley as a Regional Director. Katelin is a fifth-generation rancher from northern New Mexico and grew up on her family’s commercial cow-calf operation near the town of Cuba. She was deeply involved in 4-H and FFA and also served as a Beef Ambassador on the state and national level. As a child, Katelin regularly attended New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau meetings with her parents Craig and Casey Spradley. These experiences prompted Katelin to pursue a degree in agricultural communications and animal science at Oklahoma State University. After graduating from OSU, Katelin attended Texas Tech University were she obtained a master’s in agricultural communications. “NMF&LB influenced a large portion of my early life decisions by inspiring me to choose a career focused on advocating for agriculture and providing me with my first internship that helped reinforce my career goals,” says Spradley. “After spending some time away from New Mexico broadening my experiences and learning about agriculture in other parts of the world, it feels right to come back to where I started and I am excited about the opportunity.” “Katelin brings a wealth of knowledge to this position given her background and education,” says Chad Smith, NMF&LB CEO. “She’s a great fit for us and will be a beneficial member of the team.”
Planning the Future for your Family Ranch/Farm By Katelin Spradly, NMF&LB Regional Director
I was Christmas shopping when my parents called to have a serious chat with my brother and I about the ultimate future of our cow-calf operation in northwest New Mexico. The phone call caught me off guard and the hour-long conversation that followed was uncomfortable, but it opened my eyes to the importance of succession planning for the ranch. Many of us can recall or have experienced at least one instance of love, land, and legacy lost between family members trying to sort out affairs after the loss of a loved one. My personal experience working with my family to plan for our ranch’s future has taught me a few things about succession planning. First, I think it is important to start the conversation about succession planning for your family’s farm or ranch early. I took the initiative to express how important the ranch was to me and to share that I was ready to have a conversation about the future. Do not force people in your family to discuss the future of the farm or ranch as it can be an uncomfortable conversation and not everyone may be as ready as you are to talk. Make time and space for productive conversation. This is not a conversation to have at kitchen table while eating holiday dinner. Meet instead in person, if at all possible, and in a neutral location, such as a hotel conference room. This may seem extreme, but I will always feel like a child sitting at the kitchen table with my dad at the head. Eliminate those feelings by meeting in a neutral location. Ensure everyone’s attention is focused on the task at hand by planning ahead for distractions, such as young children or business calls, and set an appropriate, strict time limit. This process will take time so plan to meet with your family multiple times as people will need time to process and reconsider. In the actual process of deciding who gets what, the best piece of advice I received was to keep it equitable not equal. Splitting all assets, including land, right down the middle can be tempting but this easy solution often does not do justice to the desires of the involved parties, especially if one or more want to take over the operation in the future, and neglects the needs of a functioning farm or ranch. Think holistically about farm or ranch assets that can provide equitable compensation without crippling business operations. My final piece of advice is to create a succession planning team. This team could include an accountant, lawyer, and your Farm Bureau Financial Services agent. Be willing to ask for help from a mediator who can serve as an unbiased, third party to the planning process when it is needed. I believe involving a team trained in succession planning is worthwhile to ensure family relations remain harmonious and the family farm and ranch is enjoyed by future generations. Page 5
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NEW MEXICO FARM & LIVESTOCK BUREAU
This is a great time of year to count our blessings and be thankful for the generosity of our sponsors. This has been a tough year for everyone, but these organizations made agricultural literacy a priority and made a world of difference!
The Brighter Future Fund New Mexico Agriculture in the Classroom was one of five organizations that was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Brighter Future Fund that supports efforts to expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, increase economic opportunity, and reduce hunger in communities across New Mexico. The Brighter Future Fund is supported by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, the American Petroleum Institute (API), and their members. The Albuquerque Community Foundation administers the application and award processes and helps ensure funds are invested strategically in communities throughout New Mexico. NMOGA is a coalition of more than 1,000 oil and natural gas companies and individuals operating in the state of New Mexico. NMOGA is the oldest and largest organization representing the oil and gas industry in New Mexico and its members include all facets of oil and gas production, transportation, and delivery. The oil and gas industry is the greatest economic contributor to the state of New Mexico, supporting more than 134,000 jobs and $16.6 billion in annual economic activity. Taxes and royalties from the industry account for 39% of the State of New Mexico’s annual budget, including over $1.4 billion for public schools. Visit NMOGA.org to learn more about the importance of oil and natural gas to New Mexico. CoBank CoBank is a $152 billion cooperative bank serving agriculture and other vital industries across rural America. The contribution is part of the bank’s corporate citizenship program which, in 2019, provided more than $11.3 million in aid to charitable organizations throughout the country. As part of the program, CoBank allows its employees and board members to direct bank donations to their choice of non-profit organizations and programs, benefitting local communities where its employees and directors live and work.
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New Mexico Department of Agriculture NMDA promotes a fair marketplace, food protection, marketing, and economic development; supports the beneficial use and conservation of natural resources; and works cooperatively with the public and private sectors. New Mexico agriculture is very diverse culturally and in production. This is a great source of pride for our state and is a prime reason to excite the next generation to become involved in agriculture and appreciate the uniqueness of our culture.
Dairy Farmers of America Dairy Farmers of America is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative focusing on quality, innovation and the future of family dairies. While supporting and serving more than 7,500 family farms nationwide, DFA manufactures a variety of dairy products, including fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, dairy ingredients and more that connect our Cooperative’s family farms to family tables with regional brands such as Country Fresh, Meadow Gold, Friendly’s Ice Cream, Borden Cheese, Plugra Butter and Kemps to name a few. On a global scale, we work with some of the world’s largest food companies to develop ingredients their customers are craving, while staying committed to social responsibility and ethical farming.
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Industrial Weed Control Co., Inc. Industrial Weed Control Co., Inc. in Mesilla Park, continues to partner with New Mexico Agriculture in the Classroom (NMAITC) to help further agricultural literacy. Industrial Weed Control Co., Inc. is a 4th generation family-owned vegetation management company whose mission is to improve rangeland, grasslands and conservation program lands throughout the southwest. It is through their work in containing invasive species that owners, Boyd and Helen Prouty, have seen the need to help students build their understanding of the agricultural sciences and vegetative interactions within our ecosystems. Winter 2021
Understanding Eplus By Valerie Huerta, NMF&LB Director of Organization
Landowners, farmers, ranchers and hunters - it doesn’t matter what hat we wear, one thing is for certain. Understanding the Private Land Elk License Allocation License Rule (EPLUS) is important. The EPLUS Program was created, “In recognition of the important benefits that private lands make to the elk population and hunting opportunities in New Mexico” (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish). It is basically a way for private landowners and hunters to work together to manage elk herds on private lands. The EPLUS Program is based on a set of guidelines approved by the State Game and Fish Commission and involves a written agreement between the NMDGF and the private landowner. Landowners are given authorization from the NMDGF to offer elk tags for purchase by hunters. Under the previous EPLUS rule there were two main zones, the Core Occupied Elk Range (COER) and outside the COER. In 2018, the Game and Fish Commission made significant changes to the rule. Some of these changes included simplifying terminology to improve clarity and changing the management zones from two to three management zones – primary, secondary and special. The primary management zone includes designated areas of the state which elk management goals and harvest objectives are based. Special management zones are areas not in the primary or secondary management zones and meet the requirements of the program. Secondary zones are areas not part of the primary or special management zone. Elk authorizations are issued in the primary and special management zones to the landowner who participates in the EPLUS Program and have an agreement with NMDGF. To purchase an elk permit under these zones a hunter must have an authorization number, hunt code and ranch number from the private landowner or authorized ranch contact (ARC). Elk licenses within the secondary management unit can be purchased over the counter with a ranch code and agreement from the registered landowner or ARC. Landowners who participate in the EPLUS program and meet the program qualifications will receive an agreement annually. New or existing ranches that do not meet or no longer meet the requirements for the EPLUS program have the opportunity to review the department’s findings as to why they do not qualify and may request commission review should they feel the decision was reached in error. It is important to note that anytime during active participation in the EPLUS program, the department may request ownership documents and conduct audits. Failure to submit requested documents within the required time can result in termination of a ranch’s participation in the program. To participate in the EPLUS program or to view the rules and guidelines please visit http://www. wildlife.state.nm.us/hunting/ maps/elk-private-lands Page 8
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A LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW BY TIFFANY RIVERA, NMF&LB DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
This year has been a very active year for our state’s legislators, a regular 30-day budget session was followed by two virtual special sessions to address the continuous issues brought forth by the pandemic. On top of all that, every single legislative seat was up for re-election this year in both the House and Senate. This year’s elections have truly changed the way the NM legislature looks. New Mexico has a democratic state government trifecta which occurs when a single political party holds the Governor’s office, and majorities in both chambers of the legislature. The Senate beginning in January will be comprised of 27 Democrats and 15 Republicans, while the House will be comprised of 44 Democrats and 26 Republicans. Both chambers have appointed their respective leadership positions which are listed below. The NM Legislative session is scheduled to convene on Tuesday January 19, 2021 at noon. The session is scheduled run for 60 days with all matters being considered germane. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there is still much uncertainty as to what the session will look like in terms of operations. The previous two special sessions have provided a good indication that the upcoming session will mostly likely be held entirely virtually. Up to this point, discussions on session operations include an entirely virtual approach, a hybrid approach where the Santa Fe convention center may be utilized to allow for limited public participation, or an entirely in-person session for legislators as is traditional with years past. Page 13
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Whichever approach is approved, there is one thing they'll have in common, the public will not be allowed in the NM Capitol this year to participate in the legislative session. This poses a major question as to how, and in what capacity, the public will be able to participate in the development of policy which affects us all. It is imperative that the legislature chooses an approach which allows for equal opportunities for all individuals to participate. The voices of our urban and rural communities must be heard, and our opinions and stances considered. During a typical 60-day legislative session it is common for over 2,000 pieces of legislation to be introduced, it will be interesting to see how the legislature balances hearings while addressing legislation of the highest priority. We anticipate seeing a lot of legislation being introduced this upcoming year. The people of NM along with our economy are hurting severely and will be looking to the Governor and the legislature to help address and fulfill their needs. Potential legislation includes: COVID assistance/relief, a special appropriation to assist the tourism industry with impacts of COVID, legalization of recreational marijuana, an agriculture omnibus package, creation of an agriculture/natural resource trust program, reinstatement of the state meat inspection program, funding for weather stations, amending the Governor’s emergency powers, tax issues, tax rebate for healthy soils, weather modification funding, healthcare, crime prevention, increased access to broadband and much more. Although there are many uncertainties surrounding the session right now, there is one thing we can promise. We promise regardless of what the session, looks like we will be working hard to advocate for you, our members. We encourage you to join us in these efforts and stay in close contact with your legislators, while letting them know what is important to you. Make calls, send texts and emails and make your name familiar to them. Also, remember to always mention your affiliation to your county and state Farm Bureau, we are more effective together! If you need assistance or tips for advocating, please reach out to me and I am glad to help you. I will be sending out periodic updates to keep you all informed with what is going on and how the legislative session is proceeding. Let’s work collectively to be a strong voice for New Mexico Agriculture.
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LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP Senate Leadership Republican Leadership Senator Greg Baca - Minority Leader Serves as the chief spokesperson for Senate Republicans Craig Brandt - Minority Whip Assistant to the floor leader Works to mobilize votes within the party on major issues Mark Moores - Minority Caucus Leader Chairs the meetings of the caucus Works to communicate the caucus’ messages to its members
Democrat Leadership Peter Wirth - Majority Leader Manages the agenda of the floor sessions, determines what gets heard when and in what order Mimi Stewart - Democratic Nominee President Pro Term (Pending a vote in January) Top leadership position in the senate Presides over the senate in certain circumstances and serves as the chair of the committee’s committee (chooses the chairman and membership of the senate’s committees) Linda Lopez - Majority Whip Works to mobilize votes within the party on major issues Brenda McKenna – Majority Caucus Leader Chairs the meetings of the caucus Works to communicate the caucus’ messages to its members
NM House Leadership Republican Leadership Jim Townsend – House Minority Leader Works to promote and publicize the party's agenda Rod Montoya – Minority Whip Works to mobilize votes within the party on major issues Rebecca Dow – Caucus Leader Chairs the meetings of the caucus Works to communicate the caucus’ messages to its members Page 15
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Democrat Leadership Brian Egolf – Speaker of the House Presiding officer of the House Sheryl Williams Stapleton – Majority Floor Leader Works to promote and publicize the party's agenda Doreen Gallegos – Majority Whip Works to mobilize votes within the party on major issues Wonda Johnson – Caucus Leader Chairs the meetings of the caucus Works to communicate the caucus’ messages to its members
TWENTY-THREE NEW LEGISLATORS Representative Ryan Lane (R) House District 3
Representative Stefani Lord (R) House District 22
Representative Brittney Barreras (I) House District 12
Representative Luis Terrazas (R) House District 39
Representative Meredith Dixon (D) House District 20
Representative Roger Montoya (D) House District 40
Representative Kristina Ortez (D) House District 42
Representative Joshua Hernandez (R) House District 60
Representative Linda Michelle Sarrato (D) House District 45
Representative Randall Pettigrew (R) House District 61
Representative Ambrose Castellano (D) House District 61
Representative Tara Lujan (D) House District 48
Senator Leo Jaramillo (D) Senate District 5
Senator Gregg Schmedes (R) (former House Rep.) Senate District 19
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Senator Brenda McKenna (D) Senate District 9
Senator Martin Hickey (D) Senate District 20
Senator Katy Duhigg (D) Senate District 10
Senator Harold Pope Jr (D) Senate District 23
Senator Siah Hemphill (D) Senate District 28
Senator Joshua Sanchez (R) Senate District 30
Senator Carrie Hamblen (D) Senate District 38
Senator Crystal Diamond (R) Senate District 35
Senator David Gallegos (R) (former House Rep.) Senate District 41 Ogden cont. from page 2 there in person. It is a pleasure to be involved in an organization where people are willing to step up to help. I think everyone would agree that given the circumstances we had a successful annual meeting conducting the business of the organization. I would also like to thank the districts and their voting delegates for their flexibility and willingness to adapt to a unique virtual caucus. And I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to thank Casey Spradley for her service to the organization. I know she will continue to be a valued volunteer member, but we will miss her playing an active role on the board and at the same time welcome our new board member, Mario Trujillo, and look forward to having him on the board. The 60-day legislative session is going to be another obstacle that we will have to deal with. Without in-person access to the process, we will be counting on you now more than ever to contact your Representatives and Senators, so our voice won’t be lost in the shuffle. We have had to cancel AgFest in which agriculture’s face won’t be seen like it has in the past. With fewer of us in rural New Mexico it is imperative that we come together and present a unified front as much as we can. We have worked our separate operations or businesses as we pleased but when it comes to Santa Fe, differences will need to be set aside, or we may slowly perish into the abyss. On the bright side, rain will come, commodity prices will increase, we will have all the help we need, and government or industry won’t interfere with our businesses. But until that time comes, we are stronger together. Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
AgFest Announcement With the current health restrictions, and to ensure the safety of our members and staff, we’ve decided to cancel this year’s AgFest. We look forward to seeing you as soon as circumstances allow. Thank you for all you do for New Mexico agriculture. Page 17
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Noxious Weeds of New Mexico By Benjamin Segovia, NMF&LB Regional Director Livestock producers in New Mexico and other Western states have historically declared war on weeds. For this article, let’s focus on noxious weeds. First, it is important to define what a noxious weed is. It is a plant species that is not indigenous to New Mexico, and that has been targeted pursuant to New Mexico’s Noxious Weed Management Act of 1998 for management or control because of its negative impact on the economy or the environment. Three common noxious weeds in New Mexico are the Russian Knapweed, Canadian Thistle, and African Rue. Noxious weeds cause significant economic loss and failure to identify these weeds has the potential to cause greater damage to livestock industries. When the presence of a noxious weed exists, range resources may be used at less than their potential. The type of animal used to graze may not be the best choice based on forage and topography but may be the best choice based on avoidance of poisonous plant problems. These weeds also dictate the season of range use. The amount of poisonous plants eaten may vary from area to area on a ranch. Range managers rely on four cardinal practices for range management to minimize livestock poisoning: 1. Proper number of livestock; 2. Proper season of use; 3. Proper distribution of grazing areas; and 4. Proper type of grazing animals. Grazing systems should allow for occasional rest from grazing, which allows favorable plants to become established, and provides a good feed reserve. Proper turn-out time provides forage plants time to grow enough to support grazing. Providing adequate nutrients, like salt, helps improve herd distribution. Know when you have plants that are poisonous. Because new animals introduced into an area may be less selective in their grazing, it is important to graze animals familiar with the area. Graze the proper kind of livestock, many poisonous plants are only poisonous to certain kinds of livestock. Proper use of ranges, a common situation where livestock are poisoned, is when ranges are repeatedly overgrazed. As an example, Mr. Jim Ellett, a rancher in Otero County, explained that he will not graze horses on one of the pastures where Locoweed is present. To avoid increased poison exposures, he pastures livestock that has been on the ranch several years. The management of grazing is effective in poisonous plant control if the plant is not originally present in the native vegetation, and it is controlled before it affects established native plants. Early detection of noxious weeds is critical as seen by the spread of Spotted Knapweed in the state of Montana. The weed was detected and identified in 1920, had infested half the state by 1940, and spread to the entire state by 1982. To reduce plant numbers sooner and slow the spread, control measures are necessary. Control practices may include mechanical or chemical, the use of fire, and occasionally the use of biological agents. These treatments can be expensive and may only be practical in small areas, such as shipping pens or calving pastures. Identifying the presence of noxious weeds can be confirmed by resourcing information provided by NMDA, USDA or your county extension agent. New Mexico State University range specialists have compiled a list of noxious weeds present in New Mexico and the counties they have been identified in. These weeds are identified by classes: Class A Weeds: Not currently in NM or limited distribution; Class B Weeds: Limited to a particular area in NM; Class C Weeds: Widespread throughout NM; and Watch List Weeds: Species of concern, that have the potential to become a problem. Special acknowledgement to Mr. Jim Wanstall, Weed Specialist, NMDA for providing information for this article. Below is a list of additional resources. B-816: Managing Rangelands and Cattle in Drought-Prone Areas of the Southwest http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B816/welcome.html CR-678: Poisonous Plants of New Mexico Rangelands https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR678/welcome.html CR-374: New Mexico Range Plants http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/cr-374/welcome.html CR-636: An Annotated Checklist of Poisonous or Injurious Range Plants of New Mexico http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR-636/welcome.html Troublesome Weeds of New Mexico http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs Page 18
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program in New Mexico
Come join the growing number of private landowners, Native American Tribes, and others who have restored fish and wildlife habitat on their land in New Mexico, with the help of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program! General Information
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (Partners Program) is a voluntary partnership program that provides technical and financial assistance to non-Federal landowners to improve fish and wildlife habitats for Federal trust species (e.g., threatened, endangered, and candidate species, migratory birds, and other declining species). With over 50 percent of New Mexico in private ownership, there are ample opportunities for habitat restoration on private land. Restoration activities that may be funded include, but are not limited to, the following habitat types: riparian areas, in-stream areas, wetlands, and uplands. Examples of funded projects include: controlling invasive plants, planting native vegetation, fencing sensitive areas, and installing wildlife water sources, prescribed fire, livestock grazing management, and reseeding disturbed areas. Private landowners generally provide 25 percent or more of the cost-share funding and/or in-kind services (labor, equipment, and materials). One-to-one cost share may be achieved by partnering with a host of nationally-based and local partners with wildlife habitat funding programs and technical expertise. Generally, the maximum funding amount is $25,000 per project. Funding is provided through a reimbursable costshare agreement, called a Private Lands
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Agreement (PLA). The term of the PLA is 10 years.
Emphasis Areas
In New Mexico, three emphasis areas have been identified to receive priority ranking for qualified projects. These areas were selected based on habitat and fish and wildlife species needs. The Emphasis Areas are displayed on the map to the left, as follows:
Possible Conservation Actions • Involve more stakeholders in private lands conservation. • Habitat restoration on a broad scale. • Improve cienega (spring-fed) habitat. • Improve riparian habitat. • Implement prescribed fire projects in wooded uplands and grassland ecosystems to improve those habitats.
Emphasis Areas Mogollon Rim The Rio Grande The Great Plains Mogollon Rim (Gila-Mimbres) The Gila-Mimbres Focus Area in southwestern New Mexico encompasses about 7.8 million acres in Grant, Sierra, Hidalgo, and Catron counties for the Gila River watershed, and Grant, northern Luna, and western edge of Dona Ana counties for the Mimbres River watershed. Vegetation in the GMFA is mainly grassland, scrub, woodlands, and forest habitat types.
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Rio Grande (Upper and Middle)The Upper Rio Grande Focus Area is located in north-central New Mexico. It consists of approximately 6 million acres and encompasses eight counties: Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Taos, Mora, San Miguel, and Bernalillo. Approximately 75 percent (4,470,036 acres (6,984.4 square miles)) of the focus area is dominated by four habitat types: montane coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, coniferous and mixed woodlands, and pinyonjuniper savanna. Possible Conservation Actions • Enhance stream, wetland, and riparian habitats for increased species presence and diversity. • Enhance and improve grassland and upland habitats. • Enhance and promote habitat conservation and wildlife-compatible practices with farming and ranching communities.
Mainstem Rio Grande The Mainstem Rio Grande Focus Area encompasses more than 3.25 million acres in a 2-mile wide corridor along both sides of the Rio Grande from Cochiti Dam to the Texas state line. Approximately 77 percent of the area supports a combination of Chihuahuan desert scrub, desert grassland, and plains-mesa sand scrub habitats. Farmlands and open water cover over 16 percent of the focus area. Possible Conservation Actions • Broad-scale habitat restoration along the middle reach of the Rio Grande. • Improve riparian habitat. • Improve emergent lakes and wetlands. • Maintain agricultural lands with practices to benefit priority species. • To improve the ecosystem integrity to approximate the historic conditions
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Increase landowner participation in conservation programs.
Great Plains (High and Southern) The NM High Plains Focus Area is located in eastern New Mexico and covers nearly 12 million acres. It is part of a sub-region of the Great Plains of North America and the dominant vegetation type is plains-mesa grassland.
• Remove invasive shrubs, and reseed native grasses and forbs. • Facilitate improved grazing management (e.g., cross fencing, stock tanks, and fence removal). • Improve grazing management (e.g., pasture rotation and deferment from grazing) to enhance habitat for grassland-dependent species. • Expand partnership opportunities to provide broader, landscape-scale benefits to Federal trust species. Outdoor Classrooms/Schoolyard Habitats The Partners Program is committed to Connecting People with Nature and our staff works with educators to design and
Possible Conservation Actions • Improve stakeholder involvement in private lands conservation. • Improve riparian habitat in the Canadian River watershed. • Improve riparian habitat in the Pecos River watershed. • Improve playa habitat. • Improve upland habitats.
implement outdoor learning areas, such as small native wildflower pollinator gardens or large community habitat restoration projects with an integrated outdoor education focus.
Southern Great Plains The Southern Great Plains Focus Area in southeastern New Mexico covers nearly 6 million acres and includes the occupied range of the lesser prairie-chicken, a candidate for Federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. The dominant vegetation types are plains-mesa sand
Once funding decisions are made, Partners Program biologists assist these landowners through the project implementation process. To find out more about the Partners Program in New Mexico, please visit this website: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/NewM exico/PFW_home.cfm or contact: Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2105 Osuna Road NE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113 Phone: (505) 346-2525 and extension FAX: (505) 346-2542 Gwen Kolb – State Coordinator Albuquerque Office Ext. 4711
scrub, including shinnery oak habitat, and plains-mesa grassland. Possible Conservation Actions • Improve habitat for the lesser prairiechicken.
Maceo Martinet - Partners Biologist Albuquerque Office Ext. 4752 Angel Montoya - Partners Biologist Las Cruces Office: (575) 525-4350 All photos by USFWS
Winter 2021
Duvall cont. from page 2 U.S. agriculture has made great strides, in the last several decades especially, when it comes to leaving a smaller footprint on the land we farm. American farmers 30 years ago would have needed 100 million more acres to match production today. That progress has come thanks to better seeds, technology and climate-smart farming practices that protect the soil, conserve water, retain nutrients, prevent runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, U.S. agriculture contributes less than 10% to overall GHGs by industry, and we’re working to get that number even lower. Farmers are also doing more to recapture carbon and convert waste into clean energy with innovative tools like methane digesters and voluntary conservation programs that preserve grasslands, forests and wetlands. We need to do a better job of telling this story. Consumers are eager to hear from farmers and have a high level of trust in the people who grow their food. A recent survey by American Farm Bureau shows that trust has increased over this year to 88%: that’s almost 9 in 10 Americans. That same survey also found that while most folks couldn’t accurately identify agriculture’s low impact on GHGs, their support grew when presented with the facts. More than 80% were impressed to learn that farmers have put 140 million acres in conservation programs, more than doubled renewable energy sources used on the farm, and nearly tripled food production in the last 70 years with the same or fewer resources. The public also agrees that sustainability means keeping family farms in business for generations to come, and that the work of sustainability should not fall solely on the farmer’s shoulders. Farmers and ranchers haven’t made these impressive strides alone, and we can’t move forward alone either. Investments in agricultural research and innovation will continue to be critical in taking us to the next phase of climate-smart farming. At Farm Bureau, we also know the importance of coming together across the industry and reaching outside our fencerows to partners who share our goals for strengthening sustainable agriculture. Just last week we announced a historic alliance with organizations representing farmers, ranchers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments and environmental advocates, called the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance. The founding members are diverse, but we are united around the goal of developing and promoting voluntary, market- and incentive-based climate solutions. At the American Farm Bureau, we are proud of agriculture’s sustainability story, and we believe that we can continue to build on that success together. This new alliance was formed in February and has been working diligently to develop 40 recommendations built around three key principles: • Support voluntary, market- and incentive-based policies. • Advance science-based outcomes. • Promote resilience and help rural economies better adapt to changes in the climate. As momentum builds around climate action, agriculture can continue to play a positive role in reducing emissions and protecting our natural resources, and we want to lead the way in finding solutions that promote sustainability on and off the farm. Voluntary and market-based conservation efforts have a proven track record of success on and off the farm, and together we will continue to work for policies that respect farmers and support positive change. There’s still much work to do, not only on climate but on other critical issues facing rural America and the farm economy now and in the coming year. But as I reflect on harvest time, I am reminded that the seeds sown will yield a fruitful harvest. Farmers and ranchers never shy away from hard work. That perseverance has carried us through many a hard time, grown us closer as communities and carried us on in hope of better harvests to come. Smith cont. from page 2 on the year that we as an organization were forced to adapt. I believe agriculture is better today than it was a year ago and I know NMF&LB is certainly bigger and better today. We continue to adapt and work hard to be the voice of New Mexico Agriculture. As I write and reflect back on our year, I am excited and grateful for what was accomplished. We published our annual report, which can be seen here https://www.nmflb.org/News/Annual-Report. It gives you a glimpse into some of our accomplishments, but there was much more work done. This year we worked hard to repeal, replace and amend burdensome regulations, defended agriculture in numerous litigious efforts, advocated for safety nets for our members impacted by COVID-19, and many other successes. We worked with you, our members, during the food supply disruptions we all witnessed to provide food to the Navajo Nation. We built partnerships, collaborated with traditional and non-traditional organizations, all in an effort to advance New Mexico agriculture. We built partnerships that have provided well over $250k in funding opportunities. While life as we knew it stopped, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau did not skip a beat. We adapted to the virtual world, providing value to your membership through various opportunities. Opportunities to talk to our congressional leaders, state officials, as well as state and federal agencies. We hosted live virtual debates and organized our ongoing First Thursday’s speaker series. The list continues, but to accomplish all of this in one year with a pandemic that shut down our state and our economy, is success in my book. It is important to note that when I say we or our – I mean you, our members, our board, our county leaders, your state staff and all of our producers out there. We made New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau and New Mexico agriculture bigger and better in 2020. I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and dedication to New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau. It is our membership that allows us to accomplish success and drives what we do. Thank you and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Page 22
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
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Non-profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Las Cruces, N.M. Permit No.2093
2220 N. Telshor Las Cruces, NM 88011 ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED
NEW MEXICO FARM & LIVESTOCK BUREAU Since 1917 . . . a Leader in New Mexico
ISSN 0028-6192 2220 N. TELSHOR BLVD. LAS CRUCES, NM 88011 575.532.4700 • FAX: 575.532.4710 PUBLISHER: New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau New Mexico Farm & Ranch is published monthly. A yearly subscription is $12.00. New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau members receive a complimentary subscription with yearly dues. U.S. Postage PAID, bulk rate, PERMIT #31, Las Cruces, NM 88001. FORWARDING/ RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED, ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED. OFFICERS Craig Ogden President, Loving Larry Reagan 1st Vice President, Ft. Sumner Boe Lopez 2nd Vice President, Springer Chad Smith Chief Executive Officer Page 24
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New Mexico Farm & Ranch
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Burl Brown, Des Moines Bud Deerman, La Mesa Crystal Diamond, Elephant Butte Jim Ellett, Hope Duane Frost, Claunch Travis Harris, San Antonio Don Hartman, Deming Gary Hathorn, Flora Vista Leon Hemann, McDonald John Jackson, Lake Arthur Deena Kinman, Elida Donald Martinez, El Rito Steve Myrick, Clovis Tommy Ortiz, Las Vegas Stewart Rooks, Gila Troy Sauble, Maxwell Mario Trujillo, Questa Tom Wilton, Ft. Sumner Anita Hand, Chair Women’s Leadership Committee Andy Ellett, Chair Young Farmer & Rancher Committee
REGIONAL DIRECTORS Benjie Segovia Katelin Spradley Valerie Huerta Director of Organization Tiffany Rivera Director of Governmental Affairs Traci Curry Director, Ag in the Classroom Britney Lardner Coordinator, Ag in the Classroom Francisco Hatay Marketing Coordinator Dalene Hodnett Director of Communications and Media Relations Cecilia Diaz-Johnson Bookkeeper Theresa Widner Director of Membership Services
Winter 2021