To celebrate National New Mexico Day on June 14, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is highlighting the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) Agricultural Experiment Station (AES).
Historical Background
New Mexico State University was founded in 1888 as the Las Cruces College. The Territorial legislature of 1889 established the Land-grant Agricultural College and Experiment Station, which officially opened on January 21,1890. Part of the original research land was donated by citizens of the Mesilla Valley and with another piece of land that was acquired made a farm of over 200 acres. From humble beginnings, the NMSU AES later started to acquire either through lease or purchase 11 additional experimental sites throughout New Mexico (totaling 12 Agricultural Science Centers). The NMSU AES conducts research within eight research departments at the main NMSU campus and the agricultural science centers around the state.
Successes and Innovations
One of the most notable successes of the AES is rooted in the history of NMSU’s Agricultural Experiment Station. Fabian Garcia became the director of the AES in 1913 and was the first Hispanic named as a director of agricultural research for a U.S. Land-grant University – holding the position until 1945. Dr. Garcia is known as a horticulturist who developed new varieties of chile peppers that were milder in taste for those not used to spicy foods. This chile variety became the first commercially viable chile pepper. He also developed other varieties of cotton, apples, grapes, peaches and even potatoes that were better suited for New Mexico’s climate. The NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station continues this legacy by continuing to conduct research and plant breeding on chile pepper plants.
Agricultural science centers around the state have contributed to advances in areas as diverse as small plot; periurban agriculture; ranching and grazing; irrigated pasture and dairy production; and urban forestry and forest ecosystem research.
NIFA-Funded Research
Agriculture represents over $3 billion in revenue in New Mexico annually and provides more than 149,000 jobs for the state. The need for research projects and outreach programs that help New Mexicans facing multiple agricultural production challenges is extremely high. There are vast food deserts within the state, a concern that was heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional challenges include severe drought and intense weather patterns, supply-chain issues and labor access. The AES has many research projects with a focus on identifying drought-tolerant and genetically improved varieties for crop producers; has continued to expand a state-wide weather network to provide more immediate access to local weather in rural parts of the state; and has projects that support the cattle industry by identifying alternative nutrient strategies for calf health and increasing sustainability for the beef and dairy industry in New Mexico.
Unique Agricultural Challenges
New Mexico is geographically unique with three crop production regions, 10 plant hardiness zones, five defined watersheds and 126 distinct soil types. Therefore, agricultural production varies from north to south and east to west. Having strategically placed agricultural science centers allows AES research to inform agricultural producers from around the state about best practices and advancements specific to their climate zone.
In addition to geographical challenges, New Mexico has been faced with severe ongoing drought, which greatly impacts agricultural producers in the state. Agricultural commodities in the state include cattle, chile, onions, alfalfa and pecans, which are some of the larger economic producers. With continual drought followed by intense short periods of rainfall, agricultural researchers at NMSU have focused on crop variety trials that can provide producers with varieties that will withstand conditions in arid to semi-arid landscapes.
Future Research
NIFA-funded research supports research at NMSU that directly impacts the citizens of New Mexico. While water and climate become challenges even outside the desert southwest region, NMSU AES researchers are expanding research projects to include carbon management to help support the global initiative for reducing carbon. This initiative which is partially funded by NIFA is supporting research to engage farmers, ranchers and minority and Native American communities in New Mexico on carbon management and soil health. The impacts of this will include improving knowledge of carbon sequestration and soil health in arid and semi-arid regions; enhancing climate resilience in the Southwest; and developing climate change mitigation practices applicable to 40% of the globe.
Other NIFA funding research that addresses New Mexico’s pressing issues includes expanding digital agriculture efforts; water and crop management; and improving the health and well-being of humans and animals.