Monday, February 27, 2017

Quaterly meeting.

A few Items to discuss. Including the water plan, the process of the water plan. Here is the link to the doodle poll. Quarterly meeting http://doodle.com/poll/r8tntkbmuruh8cem

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

TEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL VEGETABLE GARDEN

TEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL VEGETABLE GARDEN It is that time of the year when people start thinking about vegetable gardening. The same basic steps are used no matter the size or shape of your garden. Step 1. Select a good location, in Eddy County that means a place without rocks if possible. You want an area with good sunlight and I like to have some afternoon shade just because it gets so hot. If you don’t have shade plant your taller crops like corn on the west side of the garden. Step 2. Plan your garden out. Planning ahead will help avoid problems and make your garden easier to work in. I recommend people keep a journal from year to year; this is true for farmers as well. Measure and write down the size of the garden and any containers you may plan on using. I am a visual person so I like to draw out my garden on paper. Decide what vegetables species you want to grow. Mark them out on the paper with room for the plant growth, especially vine plants like watermelons and squish. Step 3: Grow recommended varieties for Eddy County. The Extension office gives two publications away that you may want Circular 457, Gardening in New Mexico and Circular 457-B Growing zones and crop varieties for home vegetable garden. These are both available on line as well. Step 4: Obtain good seed, plants, equipment and supplies. I tell everyone but don’t always do it make a list with alternate varieties before you go shopping. Try not to impulse buy too much, but it is fun to experiment and try different item. Buy from reputable suppliers. Step 5: Prepare and care for the soil. The most important thing you can do to Eddy County Soil is add organic matter. Soil sample and fertilize at the correct abount. Step 6: Plant you vegetables at the correct time and at the correct spacing, usually it is on the seed package or our garden guide. Step 7: Irrigate with care. Rainfall is supplemental to irrigation in Eddy County. Because you planned out your garden you have plants with similar water need near each other. Step 8: Mulch and cultivate to control weed. Get the weed when they are small, the more you mulch the less you have to weed. Step 9: Be prepared for pest and problems, spend time out in your garden and observe, if you see an insects or plants in distress, find out what it is and why. Step 10: Harvest at peak quality, after all this work you do not what it to immature or to mature. For more details than I can write in this article see Circulars 457-A and B. Also I will be adding a few article as the growing season progresses. Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Wildlife water project draws partners together

Wildlife water project draws partners together Ruidoso News By Dianne L Stallings …The project involved a partnership of multiple agencies, a working rancher with a science background and volunteers willing to invest their muscle and sweat to finish the on-ground installation. The result will benefit wildlife and livestock in a self-sustaining network of a productive well, storage, pumps, a float box, overflow pipes, tough and dirt tank…"We’ve done a lot of improvements on the ranch that have helped the wildlife tremendously and that’s where the idea for this came from. Everything we do for wildlife obviously helps livestock as well. We’ve added a lot of small little ponds for surface water and in doing so, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in wildlife populations during the drought, everything from quail and rabbits all the way up to antelope and deer."

Friday, February 3, 2017

Year planning for Eddy County Extension Agricurture programs

It the first part of the Year and I was wondering if there were any particular educational program you would like us to schedule or set up. Examples would be Wildlife issue programs like Predators, gophers, deer any thing along those lines. Livestock program, Beef quality assurances, etc. Think about it and if there is something that would help you do a better job of feeding, supplying our nation let me know, either by comments or email or give me a call.

This year's fee, which goes into effect March 1, will be 24 cents lower than the 2016 fee FMN Grazing 020

This year's fee, which goes into effect March 1, will be 24 cents lower than the 2016 fee FMN Grazing 0202 (Photo: Courtesy of Jacob Chavez) 92 CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE FARMINGTON — The Bureau of Land Management has announced a reduction in the federal grazing fee for 2017. This year's fee, which will go into effect March 1, will be $1.87 per animal unit month for BLM-administered lands and $1.87 per head month for lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, according to a BLM press release. The grazing fee last year was 24 cents higher at $2.11. One animal unit month or head month represents the use of public lands for one month by one cow and her calf, one horse or five sheep or goats, the release states. Jacob Chavez lives in Turley and operates Majestic Enchantment Fly Fishing on the San Juan River. He and his family also graze 60 to 80 beef cattle on public and private lands at various sites in Blanco and their farm in Turley. Chavez said the fee reduction is welcome news. "Every little bit helps us," he said. "Especially in this economy, the cost of feeding and branding the cows can get expensive." Chavez, who also grows alfalfa to feed his cattle, said falling beef prices have been hard on the ranching portion of his business. “Prices are just not where they need to be," he said. "But we're fifth-generation ranchers and have been here since 1906 — it's in our blood.” Jacob Chavez "Prices are just not where they need to be," he said. "But we're fifth-generation ranchers and have been here since 1906 — it's in our blood." A larger cattle operation is run by Patrick Montoya, who also lives in Blanco. He and his family own four beef cattle ranches near Gobernador and have about 900 cattle that graze on BLM and Forest Service land in New Mexico and Colorado. "I think (the fee reduction) is going to help," Montoya said. "Anything that is cheaper as far as money out of your pocket is a plus." Montoya said the fee decrease is significant. And he said it's uncommon to see such a dramatic decrease in grazing fees. Like Chavez, Montoya said the price he's paid for his beef is low, but store prices remain high. For a 600-pound steer, Montoya said he receives $1.50 per pound, and for a 600-pound heifer, he receives $1.30 per pound. "Two years ago, it was much higher," he said. "I just wish they'd do something about the prices in the store — those prices are still high." According to the BLM release, the grazing fee is determined by a congressional formula. It applies to nearly 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM, as well as almost 6,500 permits administered by the Forest Service. The fee applies to 16 western states, including New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah, for public lands administered by BLM and the Forest Service. Each year, the grazing fee is determined by using a 1966 base value of $1.23 per animal unit month or head month for livestock grazing on public lands in those western states. "This figure is then calculated according to three factors — current private grazing land lease rates, beef cattle prices and the cost of livestock production. In effect, the fee rises, falls or stays the same based on market conditions, with livestock operators paying more when conditions are better and less when conditions have declined," the BLM release states. BLM officials could not be reached for comment today. Leigh Black Irvin is the business editor for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4621.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

USEPA Biosolids/Sludge Training

Surface Water Quality Bureau Our mission is to preserve, protect, and improve New Mexico's surface water quality for present and future generations. ________________________________________ USEPA Biosolids/Sludge Training Surface Water Quality Bureau has been asked to share information from USEPA Region 6 on electronic reporting for the Biosolids Annual Program and upcoming training schedule. Biosolids Electronic Annual Program Report Training will provide participants with an overview of Biosolids Annual Report and background information to the eRule and how it affected the development of the Electronic Biosolids Form. The training will explain the Central Data Exchange (CDX) registration process and how to complete the NPDES ID security form, as well as provide a demo of how to complete the Electronic Biosolids Form. The next training date is February 8, 2017 (12 to 2 pm Mountain). For more information and registration, see USEPA’s NeT Biosolids web site at https://epanet.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/207108787-General-Biosolids. Interested in more PSRS/NPDES updates? Join our new PSRS/NPDES email list here. ________________________________________ POINT SOURCE REGULATION SECTION CONTACT: Sarah Holcomb 505-827-2798 https://www.env.nm.gov/swqb/PSR/