ACES Impact Stories | 2018

Food and Fiber Production and Marketing

Enabling Value Chains to Create Sustainable Income for Vulnerable People in Crop-Livestock Systems of Burkina Faso and Niger (ENHANCE)

The African Sahel suffers from many challenges including extreme poverty, food insecurity, high fertility rates, and climate uncertainty. Dr. Hurd collaborates with a team of ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) researchers to improve production and management of crop-livestock systems. The goal is to increase animal protein availability to benefit communities throughout the region where protein deficiency is widespread. Dr. Hurd's focus is on student training that will provide enduring food security support.

Brian Hurd, bhurd@nmsu.edu, Professor, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business

Consumers know best: jujube cultivar taste test

In today's market, consumers are the deciding factor for product success and failure. Recognizing the importance of understanding consumer behavior, multiple taste tests were completed to evaluate these new to market jujube cultivars. These experiments identified several cultivars as being preferred by consumers for fresh eating cultivars based on seven different taste preferences. These results will be used to further evaluate the new cultivars to assist New Mexico growers with cultivar selection.

Chadelle Robinson, chadelle@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business

Potential of using the cover crop for enhancing farm profitability and improve soil quality

Use of cover crop to maintain land cover has many direct and indirect benefits including reduction in soil erosion, improvement in soil quality, and enhanced soil water retention. Recent studies show that the annual social benefit of reducing soil erosion alone can be more than $20/acre. Our analysis indicates that oats, peas, and a mix of six different crops are the best options. Even at a twenty percent adoption rate, the total social benefit of incorporating cover crops in current field crop production system in New Mexico would contribute more than $2 million/year.

Ram Acharya, acharyar@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business

Improving the resilience of water-food systems in the Southwest

Water availability represents a challenge to maintaining or improving agriculture in the Southwest. Researchers at NMSU (and elsewhere) have been approved for funding on a research project aimed at improving and sustaining water-food systems in the region. The project will characterize key system dynamics and provide information/tools to stakeholders in the region. The system dynamics modeling will be informed by water, plant, economics, and community components to develop decision tools to help producers identify new crop management combinations that simultaneously are economically productive and maintain water supply longevity. Pillars: Food & Fiber Production and Marketing; Water Use and Conservation.

Steven Ramsey, smramsey@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business

Placental development in sheep as a model to study pathological pregnancies and tumor biology

Attachment and implantation of the embryo into the maternal endometrium and development of the placenta is central to pregnancy success. Similarities exist between placental and cancer cells such as evading the immune system, promoting inflammation, and sustaining proliferative signaling. Molecular mechanisms that underlie these similarities allow us to investigate factors controlling not only pregnancy establishment, but also tumor biology. Using sheep as a model, we are able to address gaps in knowledge relevant to agricultural production concurrent with biomedical research in hopes of identifying novel targets for diagnosis and treatment of pathological pregnancies and cancer.

Ryan Ashley, ryashley@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Developing independent, creative, and critical thinking in ANSC students

To highlight importance of reproduction in my courses, I discuss issues/topics in popular press associated with reproduction (e.g., in vitro fertilization, human population growth, stem cell research, hormone therapy, etc.). This has proven positive as students realize how reproductive biology is associated with numerous "real-life" situations, which are frequently controversial and leads to productive class discussions. Students appreciate how I bring in "real-world" issues and research areas associated with reproductive physiology, which helps them, retain information. I also set up review sessions outside of class prior to each exam to help students prepare for exams.

Ryan Ashley, ryashley@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Genetic selection could help reduce concerns with livestock grazing on public lands

Cattle tend to graze near streams and gentle terrain, which can adversely impact fisheries and wildlife habitat. A collaborative team led by New Mexico State University are developing tools for ranchers to select cattle that are more willing to use rugged terrain and travel farther from water. Using genomics, GPS tracking and geographic information system technologies researchers identified genetic markers associated with cattle movements and plan to develop breeding values for cattle distribution patterns using relatively inexpensive DNA tests.

Derek Bailey, dwbailey@nmsu.edu, RGSC Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Chihuahuan Desert Research Center

Data from the Chihuahuan Desert Research Center show that since the 1970s, forage production decreased 38%, variability in annual precipitation increased, summers have become hotter, and monsoon seasons are occurring later. Beef production in the desert SW will need to adapt and the feasibility of raising desert-adapted Criollo cattle is one alternative. During 2018, a Pan-American network of long term grazing studies comparing Criollo vs. beef cattle breeds was launched and includes sites in the USA, Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay. The NMSU-led network is expected to produce highly relevant climate adaptation science benefiting ranchers in New Mexico and beyond.

Andres Cibils, acibils@nmsu.edu, Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Clayton Livestock Research Center

The Clayton Livestock Research Center has focused on health and performance of newly received beef cattle which costs the industry $2 to 3 billion annually. Meta-analysis of data for the last 40 years will be conducted with Texas Tech University. A study was initiated with collaboration of the National Animal Disease Center to evaluate preconditioning programs on performance of cattle received on wheat pasture and analysis of nasal samples for Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida. Data will help to identify management factors that had the greatest impact at reducing sickness of newly received beef cattle both in the feedlot and on irrigated wheat pasture.

Glenn Duff, glennd@nmsu.edu, Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Invasive plants and California vernal pools

Commonly found in Mediterranean climates, vernal pools are precipitation fed temporary wetlands that host a variety of endemic and endangered species. As invasive species encroach into California pools, restoration efforts are needed to mitigate the impact of invasion on native species. A recent faculty hire to New Mexico State University Dr. Akasha Faist and her collaborators have found that soils and native plant species can quickly rebound after invasive species removal efforts, such as through grazing. This research demonstrates a resilient system and helps direct future vernal pool restoration efforts. Pillars: Natural Resources.

Akasha Faist, afaist@nmsu.edu, Asst. Professor/Rangeland Ecology, Animal and Range Sciences

Plant responses to a changing climate

Working in collaboration with Christopher Javornik recent faculty hire to New Mexico State University Dr. Akasha Faist has developed a working case study for undergraduate classrooms. This two-day lesson plan guides plant ecology students through seminal climate change papers using best practices in active learning. By the end of the module students have a better grasp on the potential impacts of climate change as well as assimilating ecological principles and explaining these principles to their peers. The case study is to be published in the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.

Akasha Faist, afaist@nmsu.edu, Asst. Professor/Rangeland Ecology, Animal and Range Sciences

Towards Resilient Food-Energy-Water Systems in Response to Drought Impacts and Socioeconomic Shocks: New Mexico

Humans, exemplified in this project by New Mexico (NM) residents, seek to meet their needs for Food, Energy, and Water (FEW). These components function in an integral way to address and meet human needs as long as they operate within their limits. The proposed research seeks to advance knowledge of how FEW components are interconnected and operate in response to drought and economic shocks, and how humans utilize these components to meet their livelihood demands. Proposed research will have societal benefits and will be conducted through activities that engagement with stakeholders and support underrepresented minorities in STEM.

Hatim Geli, hgeli@nmsu.edu, Asst. Professor/Hydrologist, Animal and Range Sciences

Regulation of ovarian estradiol production to impact fertility

Approximately 7.3 million women have used some kind of infertility services achieve pregnancy. As the population is postponing the age at which they have children due to socioeconomic pressures, the impact on reproductive viability is greater. Our lab studies the role of intra-ovarian signaling molecules on estrogen production. We found a novel intra-ovarian signaling pathway that converges with pituitary gonadotropins to mute estrogen production in cell culture systems and cattle experiments. Understanding signaling pathways will allow greater perspective on signals affecting estrogen levels in health and disease.

Jennifer Hernandez Gifford, jgifford@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor , Animal and Range Sciences

Long-term Climate Impacts on Chihuahuan Desert Forage Production

We evaluated perennial grass production (PGP) in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico in relation to ambient temperature and precipitation over 30 years. In the latter half of our study mean maximum and mean temperatures were higher, PGP decreased by 38%, and precipitation was 21% lower and more erratic. Additionally. Nine drought years occurred in the second half of our study compared to two in the first half. Our research supports predictions that more frequent droughts and lower precipitation rates are occurring and these events have adverse impacts on grazing capacity of rangelands in the southwestern United States.

Jerry Holechek, holechek@nmsu.edu, Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Impacts of Climate Change on New Mexico Range Livestock Production

A statewide historical database involving livestock numbers, precipitation, temperature, drought frequency, and drought severity was used to evaluate climate effects on rangeland livestock productivity between 1920 to 2017. Of interest was difference in precipitation and temperature were between (1920 to 1975; Period 1) versus (1976 to 2017; period 2). Precipitation and temperature were higher in period 2 than period 1. Livestock grazing levels, productivity, and capacity were lower in the second period. We attribute these declines primarily to woody plant invasion and climate change.

Jerry Holechek, holechek@nmsu.edu, Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Effect of two stocking levels on cattle production, forage production, and financial returns on the Chihuahuan Desert

For 30 years we have assessed the impact of light and conservative stocking levels on the Chihuahua Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC). There was no differences in calf crop between light and conservative grazing (91 versus 85%, respectively). Calf weaning weights did not differ by stocking rate (278 vs 279 kg) and death loss was less than 2% during the study. No difference occurred in perennial grass standing crop between treatments. Lightly stocked pastures recovered more quickly from drought in terms of basal cover and perennial grass productivity.

Jerry Holechek, holechek@nmsu.edu, Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Horn fly population control

Pasture based cow-calf operations common throughout the Southwest are continuously searching for profitable and sustainable management options to overcome a variety of environmental challenges. Horn flies constitute one such threat that requires managerial intervention to avoid economic losses. In fact, horn fly population control on New Mexico cattle resulted in an average increased weaning weight of ~30 lbs in comparison to calves paired with horn fly infested cows across a 4 year trial. Informal estimates based on recent market prices and the insecticide regimen employed during this study would suggest ~$11 return for every $1 dollar spent on fly control.

Brandon Smythe, bsmythe@nmsu.edu, Research Assistant Professor, Center for Animal Health and Food Safety

Cattle AI Management course trains students and producers

Utilization of artificial insemination (AI) in beef cattle production systems has remained fairly constant (7.2%) over the past 30 years. Many producers would benefit from the use of reproductive technologies with proper training; however there are limited opportunities within the state for producers to gain the proper skills to manage cattle AI. This short course was developed to provide producers and students an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to implement successful AI programs through lecture and hands-on instruction.

Adam Summers, asummers@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Growth promoting implants increase weaning weights without impacting reproduction

Growth promoting implants have been utilized by the beef industry in suckling calves to improve efficiency of gain; However, previous studies suggest mixed results when utilizing implants in female progeny. Due to this, many producers hesitate to utilize growth promotants on heifers as selection for animals retained in the herd has yet to occur. Providing growth promoting implants to heifers at 3 months of age increased weaning weight by 8% (40 lbs) without reducing pregnancy rates. These data suggest providing growth promotant to heifers prior to weaning may improve cattle growth and the amount of product available for producers to market.

Adam Summers, asummers@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Everything is Chemical

Chemistry is everywhere, especially in agriculture, but while most agricultural majors require chemistry, students are often poorly prepared and unenthusiastic about this subject. In "Everything is Chemical", we show how plants, animals, and the environment are comprised of atoms and molecules and that the just a few elements are combined or bonded affects their use. By incorporating concepts early, we hope students will be more engaged and less resistant to learning chemistry. The products are being integrated into introductory and upper level courses and will be evaluated using pre- and post-testing. All modules are posted online for free use at ScienceofAgriculture.org.

Laura White, lmwhite@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor, Equine Science Director, Therapeutic Riding Program, Animal and Range Sciences

Hands-on learning boosts students’ confidence and makes them more ready for the work-force

Traditional style classroom lectures have difficulty teaching and assessing a student's ability to perform a hands-on task or skillset. Equine courses with laboratory sessions allow students to experiment and practice hands-on tasks in a safe and controlled environment. Laboratory sessions also allow instructors to assess student's skillset acquisition throughout the semester. Students appreciate the opportunity to learn real-world skills and are better prepared for the workforce.

Laura White, lmwhite@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor, Equine Science Director, Therapeutic Riding Program, Animal and Range Sciences

Optimizing metabolizable protein of growing cattle grazing wheat pasture

Winter wheat pasture is a unique and economically important renewable resource in north east New Mexico and the southern Great Plains. Production risk with respect to rate of live weight gain of growing cattle grazing wheat pasture decreases the value of cattle. Research at NMSU increased cattle performance by optimizing metabolizable protein (microbial protein synthesis and bypass protein). Weight gain increased 0.20 lb/day representing an increase in profit of about $30 per grazing period per animal.

Sergio Soto Navarro, ssoto@nmsu.edu, Professor, Animal and Range Sciences

Economic Entomology

My program studies the taxonomy, morphology, and bionomics of insects, especially the Heteroptera (stink bugs, assassin bugs, and relatives). Members of this group have tremendous economic impact as pests of crops, as biocontrol agents, as vectors of human disease, etc.; individual species cause millions of dollars in losses in the US alone.

Scott Bundy, cbundy@nmsu.edu, Professor, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)

Understanding the Swainsonine Biosynthetic Pathway

In collaboration, the Creamer laboratory helped determined the swainsonine biosynthetic pathway. Swainsonine is a toxin produced by specific fungi that live inside locoweed plants. When grazing animals such as cattle, horses, and sheep consume the plants, they are poisoned, causing large losses throughout the western USA and western China. Determining how fungi produce the toxin is an important piece of the puzzle that researchers have been actively trying to determine for more than 25 years. The work unexpectedly showed that dermatophytic fungi of animals and humans such as ringworm and athlete's foot produce the same toxin using the same pathway.

Rebecca Creamer, creamer@nmsu.edu, Professor, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)

Collaborative Insect and Plant Disease Studies

My group continued with several interdisciplinary collaborations. Outputs included continued work on the evolution of tomato spotted wilt virus that led to an invited talk on this topic and an accepted interdisciplinary manuscript showing that bed bugs may be able to transmit the Chagas disease parasite. With the continued loss of support for GMO work, my group continued to transition to work on biocontrols and biopesticides. Promising leads include the identification of microbes that strongly interfere with reproduction of nematodes on chile and microbes that produce biopesticides that may be useful for reducing the impact soilborne pathogens on crop production.

Steve Hanson, shanson@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)

Agronomic and Invasive Weed Management

Overall my program focused on research and teaching about agronomic and invasive weeds. While the research program is still in initial stages, interesting data are being obtained, and results will directly benefit local growers (e.g., testing new herbicides and adjuvants; assessing cover crops for weed management) and invasive weed managers (e.g., integrating conventional and biological control). I continued research on ecology and management of invasive weeds and also management of agronomic weeds, advising four graduate students on these projects. I received a NIFA seed grant ($150K) and an NMSU IMPACT grant ($40K) to expand this research.

Erik Lehnhoff, lehnhoff@nmsu.edu, Asst. Professor/Weed Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)

Management of Pecan Weevil

Pecan weevil is a regulated insect pest that has moved into eastern NM. EPWS in collaboration with the NMDA are working on new techniques to manage and control weevil populations. In collaboration with the Insect Sensory and Behavior Ecology Laboratory (ISABEL), we are developing both chemical attractants, to improve our ability to determine the extent and spread of the pest, and isolating chemical repellants produced by the weevils themselves to protect non-infested pecans. A large percentage of the annual NM pecan crop is exported and it is critical to keep the pecan weevil out of our major pecan growing regions.

Brad Lewis, blewis@nmsu.edu, NMDA

Weed Management

Weed interference is considered as one of the major obstacles that prevent the achievement of maximum crop yield. Depending on the weed species/density and crops, yield losses could range from 25% to complete crop failure. Weed research at the Center focuses on identifying and developing methods that enhance weed control and reduce crop yield losses due to weed competition. Results show that controlling weeds early in the season could reduce crop yield losses by 50 to 75%.

Abdel Mesbah, aomesbah@nmsu.edu, Superintendent/Weed Specialist, Agricultural Science Center at Clovis

Genetic tools

My laboratory is investigating pecan which has huge economic impacts on both New Mexico and the United States with a direct economic impact of more than 500 million dollars annually. My lab is leading the development of genetic tools with colleagues from University of Georgia, Noble Foundation, Texas A&M, USDA, and University of Arizona. These genetic tools are essential for effectively addressing key constraints for stable and high-quality nutmeat production. These genetic tools include obtaining high resolution genomic sequences, gene expression data and identification of the genetic elements controlling specific traits.

Jennifer Randall, jrandall@nmsu.edu, Research Associate Professor, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)

Soilborne Disease Research Program

Cash crops such as chile, onion, peanut, cucurbits, and cotton generate annually more than $200 millions dollars to the state of New Mexico. Production is significantly reduced by soilborne diseases, which can wipe out crops and reduce yield up to 100%, therefore limiting monetary returns to producers and revenues to New Mexico. The Soilborne Disease Research Program has provided New Mexico producers with knowledge on new diseases, factors that aggravate diseases, and tools for optimal management of soilborne diseases. In addition to benefiting New Mexico agricultural producers and industries, the Soilborne Research Program has a seamless impact on teaching and education of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students by providing training materials and projects to students to ensure the availability of next generation of scientists to tackle soilborne disease problems in New Mexico.

Soum Sanogo, ssanogo@nmsu.edu, Professor, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)

Weed management in chile peppers

I completed studies necessary for registering a new herbicide, flumioxazin, for mid-to-late season weeds in chile pepper. If not controlled, mid-to-late season weeds cause 76% reductions in chile yield, potentially costing New Mexico's agricultural economy over 31 million dollars. Recognizing the threats from weeds, chile farmers repeatedly pay individuals for hand-hoeing. A hand-hoeing intervention typically cost $80.00 acre-1, but can be as high as $350 acre-1 for severe infestations. Flumioxazin applications cost only $30.00 acre-1 and control weeds for 6 weeks. Thus, this research provides chile farmers opportunities to reduce production expenses by using a herbicide in place of hand-hoeing.

Brian Schutte, bschutte@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor/Weed Physiology, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)

Sugarcane Aphid Pest Management in Sorghum

A sugarcane aphid management program is being developed based on biological control, cultural controls and host plant resistance. Implementation will save growers in New Mexico $4.6 Million per year in reduced costs and losses as well as $20 Million in adjacent Texas counties.

Jane Pierce, japierce@nmsu.edu, Extension Entomologist, Extension Plant Sciences
Associate Professor, Entomology, Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science (EPPWS)
Associate Professor, Research and Extension Entomologist, Agricultural Science Center at Artesia

Glandless Cotton

Glandless cotton cultivars can increase gross returns from $876 to $1,576 per acre. This $700 increase per acre is due to seed that is free of gossypol which can be used for shrimp feed or even as a protein source in food for human consumption. One of the issues with production of glandless cotton is that gossypol protects cotton from insect pests. Our project is evaluating risk and developing tools to manage this new crop for New Mexico.

Jujube farmers require alternative processing of the fruit Jujube offers an opportunity for the development of new functional foods

Producers in the country will have an alternative to have value-added products with nutritional and healthy properties. NMSU's Departments of Family and Consumer Sciences and Plant and Environmental Sciences are working on technical aspects to optimize the drying process of the fruit to preserve their antioxidant properties. The drying curves of jujubes are a first step into describing the drying process of the jujube fruit. This project will impact the growth and development of the jujube industry in the United States.

Efren Delgado, edelgad@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences

HRTM 301 Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Marketing

Graduates of the School of HRTM will work for a variety of businesses and may become independent business owners upon graduation. After taking HRTM 301 - Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Marketing all students, with various levels of competency, will be able to analyze their current business situation, establish marketing goals and objectives, segment a market, and devise action plans using a variety of marketing mix elements to attract various target markets increasing business revenues and expand market share. These skills help students intelligently contribute to business marketing efforts or plan their own marketing efforts should they become independent business owners.

Daren Bloomquist, dbloomqu@nmsu.edu, College Assistant Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM)

HRTM 363 – Quantity Food Production and Service

The goal of the School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management is to provide high-quality managers and employees to the Hospitality Industry. HRTM 363, Quantity Food Production & Service provides a large part of the Food & Beverage Management training. Students not only receive training, but practice those lessons in a hands-on environment, working both in the dining room and kitchen. They are exposed to and practice food safety, sanitation, customer service, culinary skills, cost control, sales, and sustainability. By using an immersion method of training, we hope to maximize the scope and understanding of our students' skill sets, thereby minimizing the cost and time spent by their future employers in continued training of our graduates.

John Hartley, jhartley@nmsu.edu, College Assistant Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM)

New Mexico Department of Agriculture Chef Ambassador

The goal of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture is to support, promote, and grow demand for New Mexico agricultural products. As a Chef Ambassador, I promote these products, create new recipes using them, and travel to other states introducing them to new markets and training food service industry professionals how to use them. The hope is that through these activities, we can grow local markets for NM agricultural products, and create new markets both locally and out of state for them as well.

John Hartley, jhartley@nmsu.edu, College Assistant Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM)

Gastronomic Festivals and Events

Dr. Keith Mandabach is studying Gastronomic Festivals and Events in New Mexico. After a thorough review of current research on the topic, he is currently cataloging all events in New Mexico county by county and surveying event organizers on success factors for events and their economic impact. Dr. Mandabach published his overview of the topic in a book chapter "Gastronomic Festivals and Events: Future Scenario" in The Routledge Handbook of Gastronomic Festivals and Events edited by Dr. Saurabh Kumar Dixit (2019).

Keith Mandabach, kmandaba@nmsu.edu, Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM)

Promoting Specialty Crops and Gastro Tourism

The annual International Council of Hotel, Restaurant, Institutional Educators (ICHRIE) conference is the largest gathering of hospitality educators from all over the globe with approximately 500 attendees annually. Dr. Keith Mandabach is the Co-Chair of the Food and Beverage Track Refereed Poster and Paper Committee responsible for the double-blind reviews of over 20 papers and 25 posters per year and the Symposium Track Review Chair which receives 40 to 50 submissions per year. With these responsibilities, he promotes quality research that impacts hospitality and tourism industry professionals and educators throughout the world.

Keith Mandabach, kmandaba@nmsu.edu, Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM)

HRTM 434 – Hospitality Capstone

HRTM 434 - Hospitality Capstone was restructured to focus on teaching students how to analyze a hospitality business problem and provide solutions. The class partnered with the owners of a local restaurant, Salud! de Mesilla to provide students with a real-world case study. Students analyzed several business opportunities, and presented the options to the owners. In addition to bringing real-world content to the course, the class had a practical impact on a local business.

Betsy Stringam, betsys@nmsu.edu, Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM)

Developing Guar as a Stress Tolerant, Water Efficient, Low Input, Soil Building, Economically Viable, and Industrial Crop for the Southern High Plains for Sustainable Bioeconomy

With new uses of guar gum, including fracking, the demand for gum has exponentially increased. United States imports $1 billion worth of gum annually. Since the growing environment in New Mexico is very similar to where guar is currently grown (Thar desert of India and Pakistan), we are trying to develop guar as an alternative crop for rainfed and limited irrigation conditions. A 25% of guar produced locally, will assure steady supply and stabilize guar gum market. In addition to sustaining Ogallala aquifer for longer, guar crop produces raw materials for oil and natural gas, food, dairy and bioenergy industries.

Sangamesh Angadi, angadis@nmsu.edu, Crop Physiologist/Professor Agricultural Science Center at Clovis
Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Genetic Improvement of Chile Pepper (Capsicum) Germplasm for New Mexico

In New Mexico, processing of chile pepper is nearly a $500 million industry. Chile wilt caused by Phytophthora capsici and Verticillium dahliae can destroy up to 100% of a field. Resistant cultivars is arguably the best way to manage disease. Molecular markers linked to resistance genes can obviate the need for testing to identify resistant individuals from early generations, leading to an effective breeding procedure. The increase in efficiency can shorten the breeding cycle and save literally thousands of dollars.

Paul Bosland, pbosland@nmsu.edu, Emeritus Faculty, Plant and Environmental Sciences

Breeding for disease resistance class

The Breeding for Disease Resistance course introduced students to the theories and concepts of breeding for disease resistance. The students had to develop and create a disease screen that would differentiate susceptible from resistant individuals. Students gained an appreciation for the amount of time, effort, and planning that goes into breeding for disease resistance. Furthermore, students gained real-world experience by culturing the pathogen and the host plant. Among the many positive results student course evaluations results was revealed was that all rated the instructor as excellent compared with other instructors at NMSU.

Paul Bosland, pbosland@nmsu.edu, Emeritus Faculty, Plant and Environmental Sciences

Quantifying groundwater resilience through conjunctive use for irrigated agriculture in a constrained aquifer system

Drought is persisting at Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) and along the Rio Grande. Irrigated agriculture uses surface and groundwater to meet crop requirements. Both drinking water and food production sustainability are required for our industries and population. NMSU researchers collaborating with EBID discovered conjunctive use controls over spatial and temporal water variability, developed groundwater-surface water ratio of application (GSRA) as a metric for system resilience, and found storage was more correlated with surface water than groundwater use. Resilience can now be determined for managed and natural systems, and GSRA is a novel planning metric to support water sustainability.

Kenneth C. Carroll, kccarr@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor/Water Resource Mgmnt, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Developed onion germplasm exhibits reduced Fusarium basal rot disease development

Breeding for FBR resistance has been successful in producing germplasm that is more resistant than currently-available short-day commercial cultivars. If the levels of FBR resistance observed this past year is consistent over years, FBR-resistant germplasm will be released to commercial breeding programs for the development of FBR-resistant cultivars. The developed inoculation protocol has proved successful at identifying resistant bulbs, so it could be used by other onion breeding programs to develop FBR resistant cultivars.

Chris Cramer, cscramer@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Strip tillage impact on New Mexico Corn

Tillage research in corn has a potential impact on various aspects of soil and environmental quality, sustainability, economics, and crop production in more than 120,000 acres (about 17% of New Mexico's crop area) across the New Mexico. Based on a two-year study conducted at Tucumcari, strip tillage yield advantage in corn is estimated to be $12.9 million in value (based on 2017 New Mexico's acreage and price) over conventional tillage, in addition to the considerable energy savings. Additionally, conservation tillage has relative advantages of controlling soil erosion and improving water and nutrient use efficiency in the production systems.

Murali Darapuneni, dmk07@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari

Adopting deficit irrigation strategies could help irrigating additional 20-25% of irrigated land

Conservation agriculture targeting limited irrigation strategies improves crop water productivity across the Southwestern US. The preliminary results of our research showed water saving about 25% of seasonal irrigation amount while maintaining crop yield. The extrapolation of this study into the farmers' field targeting the Navajo Agricultural Product Industry (NAPI) with more than 72,000 acres developed, NAPI could use its actual capacity to irrigate additional 15,000-18,000 acres of the 35,000 acres that can be potentially developed by NAPI. Soil moisture sensors help optimizing irrigation management and improving water productivity.

Koffi Djaman, kdjaman@nmsu.edu, Asst. Professor, Agricultural Science Center at Farmington

For the good of the farm; understanding soil and water testing

While "The Devil is in the details" is an aphorism, it speaks to the challenges found in agriculture. Salinity and sodium prevent farmers from reaching intended production goals even with sufficient nutrients. Testing soil, water, and manure are three means to determine challenges that best target management practices to combat these serious issues. Calcium from gypsum is an important tool that addresses soil sodium issues. At $600/ton gypsum requirements need to be planned. Salinity can only be mitigated through crop tolerance and water management. Interpretations through NMSU spreadsheets arrive at the correct rate to effect change and improve crop health.

Robert Flynn, rflynn@nmsu.edu, Interim Superintendent/Extension Agronomist, Extension Plant Sciences
Interim Superintendent/Extension Agronomist, Agricultural Science Center at Artesia

Intragenic approach to confer tolerance to Roundup in chile

We have developed an intragenic approach to confer tolerance to Roundup in chile. The intragene used in this genetic engineering approach is made up entirely of chile DNA while a transgene is the artificial combination of elements derived from different organisms. This approach should dispel the concerns of the public with regards to genetic engineering.

Champa Gopalan, csgopala@nmsu.edu, Distinguished Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Tepary as a non-thirsty short-seasoned hay option for New Mexican farmers

Tepary bean, a short-seasoned legume, was a mainstay in the diet of native peoples of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts. Improved cultivars' introduced into the marketplace, have received little culinary interest. NMSU researchers, looking to take advantage of tepary's heat and drought tolerance, have investigated its potential as an annual warm-season forage crop. Hay quality of tepary bean was similar to that of other legume hay. Variation in hay nutritional quality among different cultivars suggests the potential for improvement in forage nutritive value through selection and breeding. Tepary has potential as a non-thirsty short-seasoned hay option for New Mexican farmers.

Lois Grant, loigrant@nmsu.edu, Research Associate Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Guar research

Identifying alternate crops that can grow with minimum irrigation water, reduce inputs, improve soil quality, and also provide economically sustainable returns to the growers of the region is important. Guar research at NMSU has shown that guar can be successfully grown in New Mexico conditions and can help reduce reliance on imports (estimated US guar imports in 2012 $1 billion) to meet needs of the US gas and oil industry. Cover crop research has provided cover crop options that can be integrated in organic or conventional cropping systems by local growers to meet their sustainability goals.

Kulbhushan Grover, kgrover@nmsu.edu, Assoc. Professor/Sustainable Crop Production, Plant & Environmental Sciences
Assoc. Professor/Sustainable Crop Production, Extension Plant Sciences

High tunnel research

By enhancing the ability of local growers to have product year-round through use of high tunnels, they can pursue additional markets, including school lunches, restaurants, and year-round farmers' markets (such as began in Santa Fe several years ago). Prices received for local winter greens can be much greater than for local summer-grown greens. Winter temperatures inside the high tunnels have been found to be at least 20-30 degrees F higher than outside.

Steve Guldan, sguldan@nmsu.edu, Superintendent, Agronomist, Agricultural Science Center at Alcalde
Jose Fernandez Memorial Chair, Agricultural Science Center at Alcalde
Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Alcalde ASC field day

Close to 200 people learned about ASC-Alcalde research projects and results through a field day held August 10, 2018. At a Winter Greens field day held January 19, 2018, over fifty attendees increased their knowledge related specifically to producing greens such as spinach, lettuce, and kale in high tunnels during winter months.

Evaluation of a year-round high tunnel fruit and vegetable production system is crucial to the environmental stewardship of New Mexico’s food & fiber production

The USDA's "Know your farmer, know your foods" initiative supports local food production. In New Mexico, high tunnels offer season extension for high value specialty crops and have been shown to reduce water usage. We developed an intercropping growing system of kale, spinach, and blackberries that will provide our farmers high value crops year-round. Our high tunnel produced up to 23 pounds of kale, 7.3 pounds of spinach, and 80 pounds of blackberries in one year.

Ivette Guzman, ivguzman@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Microalgae as a source of beneficial metabolites

My research continues to promote microalgae and plants as sources of a variety of beneficial metabolites as well as bio-renewable feedstocks. My lab specifically captures data on the metabolism and accumulation of a variety of metabolites with health benefits and industrial interest.

Francisco O. Holguin, frholgui@nmsu.edu, Assistant Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Alfalfa variety testing potentially returns $38 million to New Mexico’s growers

Choosing a good alfalfa variety is a key step in establishing a highly productive stand of alfalfa. Differences between the highest- and lowest-yielding varieties in established irrigated alfalfa tests statewide ranged from 0.99 to 2.41 tons per acre in 2018. If sold as hay, this translates to a potential difference in returns of $213 to $518 per acre due to variety, or an increase of at least $38 million for the industry in 2018 alone.

Leonard Lauriault, lmlaur@nmsu.edu, Superintendent, Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari
Forage Crop Management Scientist/College Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Adjusting alfalfa planting dates can have significant and immediate impacts on returns and cost recovery

Alfalfa remains one of New Mexico's premier crops, valued at over $175M annually. Producers incur significant costs associated with planting alfalfa, including land preparation, fertilizer inputs, seed purchase, and pest management during establishment. Traditional recommendations have been for late-summer or fall plantings. Our research is showing that despite harsh spring/summer growing conditions, alfalfa can be successfully established earlier in the year, and yields in the first 3 years are 3 to 7 tons/acre greater due to harvestable forage in the establishment year (2-3 cuts). This faster cost recovery comes with no negative effect, to date, on long-term plant productivity.

Mark Marsalis, marsalis@nmsu.edu, Extension Forage Specialist, Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas
Extension Forage Specialist, Extension Plant Sciences

Development of plants rich in bioactive metabolites

We have developed methods to quantify the accumulation of plant metabolites that improve human health in plants grown in New Mexico. We have described methods for the proper chemical analysis of medical marijuana. These results were published in two publicly available venues, providing details of the method and a detailed description of all of the essential oil compounds in a wide range of strains, 72 lines used in New Mexico. Well-described chemical compositions of plant oils and extracts are essential to ensure public safety and quality control.

Mary O’Connell, moconnel@nmsu.edu, Emeritus Faculty, Plant and Environmental Sciences

Plant science courses to meet modern industry needs

Highly interactive hands-on research elements have been incorporated into two courses: Gene 452 Applied Bioinformatics and Hort 310 Medicinal Herbs. In Gene 452 students work throughout the term conducting independent research on a gene of their choice using publicly available databases and analysis tools. In Hort 310 students extract and chemically characterize a medicinal plant of their choosing using research instrumentation available in the departmental Phytochemical Analysis laboratory. Former students in both classes report they use the skills learned in those courses in their future careers and programs of graduate study.

Mary O’Connell, moconnel@nmsu.edu, Emeritus Faculty, Plant and Environmental Sciences

Active learning in plant tissue culture

Commercial tissue culture laboratories have become a major source of new plants for the horticulture industry. Students must become industry-prepared for plant tissue culture beyond reading assignments and lectures. That is, students must actually practice the art and science of tissue culture. In HORT/AGRO 250, 22 students received intensive training in plant tissue culture. Subsequent to the training, over 80% of the students became more interested in tissue culture as a career, and were confident that they would be able to train inexperienced lab employees in plant tissue culture techniques.

Geno Picchioni, gpicchio@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Landrace corn

Blue corn has received a lot of attention due to increased demand for Hispanic, gluten-free food products, and locally grown "heritage" foods. Southwestern heirloom or "landrace" corn varieties have been disappearing. The NMSU corn breeding program has partnered with private foundations, producers, food scientists, and end-users to encourage production of landrace varieties for the specialty food market. Improved varieties are being selected, and producers are learning about sustainable farming practices and receiving premium prices for the grain. The required cooking time for alkali-processing (nixtamalization) is less for most landraces because they have soft kernels. They also make good tasting tortillas!

Rich Pratt, ricpratt@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Valencia peanut development

New Mexico is known for producing Valencia type peanuts (3-4 seeded pods, red skin, sweet taste and good flavor). Valencia A and Valencia C peanuts, which were developed at the Clovis Agricultural Science Center, account for 70 percent of the peanuts grown in New Mexico. A new high oleic peanut cultivar namely NuMex-01 that was released in 2014 is gaining popularity among the growers due to high yield and extended shelf life. New Mexico's peanut production is valued in excess of $8 million annually. Our current research contributes to improved peanut production in the state.

Naveen Puppala, npuppala@nmsu.edu, Peanut Breeder, Agricultural Science Center at Clovis
College Professor/Peanut Breeder, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Alfalfa breeding and genetics research

NMSU plant breeding research uses conventional and molecular approaches to improve alfalfa drought resilience so that farmers can conserve irrigation water resources while meeting the feed demands of the region's dairy livestock industry. Estimated NM hay sales of the NuMex Bill Melton drought resilient alfalfa cultivar generated approximately $500,000 in 2018. Novel molecular breeding strategies are being applied to 260 experimental populations to evaluate their potential to accelerate development of drought-resilient alfalfa varieties with high nutritive value. Collaborative agreements between NMSU and two private industry sponsors are in place to facilitate marketing of improved future alfalfa varieties.

Ian Ray, iaray@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Improved red pigment production in New Mexico Chiles

Carotenoid pigments are valuable, food safe, complex chemicals, that increase the profitability of the New Mexican chile product. Developing fruit with unique profiles of selected pigments and/or fruit with maximum pigment production are highly desirable products for the chile industry. We identified novel transcripts that encode a xanthophyll acyltransferase (Xat) that are highly expressed specifically in Capsicum pericarp samples. These research results provide evidence on the evolution of genes for secondary product accumulation. Also, it is very likely that these acyltransferases participate in the acylation of polar lipids providing a mechanism to increase the concentration of carotenoids in peppers.

Laura Rodríguez, laurodri@nmsu.edu, Research Assistant Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Brackish groundwater and RO concentrate can be used to grow halophytes

Our strategy towards developing new irrigation scheduling protocols for safe and low cost reuse of RO concentrate for growing food and fodder crops can be a key for sustaining agriculture in fresh water scarce areas where only low quality (brackish) surface or groundwater is available (for example southern New Mexico). Selected halophytes, Atriplex, Triticale, and Switch grass, can grow well in RO concentrate and can be used as a salt substitute in animal fodder. These can also be grown along desert margins to control desert expansion.

Manoj Shukla, shuklamk@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences
ACES Global Initiatives Program Coordinator, Dean's Office

Drought workshop

I organized a drought workshop in Ogden, Utah to bring together U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) authors from the National Drought Mitigation Center and state and federal agency decision makers. Our major goal was to help agency personnel learn how USDM maps are made so that they have the knowledge to better respond to their stakeholders. Quoting one agency participant - whose reaction nicely captures this goal: "This meeting prepared me to explain the process in a very contentious public meeting. Because of the understanding I gained at the workshop I was able to defuse misunderstandings."

Caitriana Steele, caiti@nmsu.edu, College Asst. Professor, Jornada Experimental Range

Impact of digital teaching tools in science classes

Working with the Innovative Media Research and Extension Department, we created computer animations, videos and "virtual" labs to help fill gaps in student understanding of key concepts about soils. Before watching our video, only 64% of the students tested knew that clay and organic matter have a negative charge. This jumped to 84% after students watched the video. Those who knew calcium would be preferred on the soil exchange phase jumped from 31% to 54%. Students indicating that chemistry was used in all of the agricultural science careers increased from 24% to 88%. These learning videos are available at ScienceOfAgriculture.org.

April Ulery, aulery@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

New Mexico soil agricultural and environmental quality

Crop production in New Mexico is challenged by drought, contamination and poor soil quality in many areas. Our Soil Chemistry research lab analyzes plants, water and soils from all over the state for many agricultural and environmental projects. Results show that while soils may have higher than recommended levels of arsenic, toxic metals, and salts, the plants are not absorbing the contaminants and the produce is safe for human and animal consumption. We are helping to design and implement effective management strategies to improve profitability through better crop choice, alternate water sources, and sustainable practices like composting.

April Ulery, aulery@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

A new fruit crop-jujube is gradually adopted in New Mexico

The fruit industry in New Mexico is threatened by late frosts each year. Jujube can avoid late frosts and produce a reliable crop annually. With annual workshops, field days, and numerous media coverages and promotion, hundreds of home gardeners have planted jujubes in their backyards and over then fruit growers start to plant them commercially in New Mexico.

Shengrui Yao, yaos@nmsu.edu, Associate Professor, Agricultural Science Center at Alcalde
Associate Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences
Associate Professor/Extension Fruit Specialist, Extension Plant Sciences

One glandless Upland cotton cultivar, NuMex COT 17 GLS is released

One glandless Upland cotton cultivar, NuMex COT 17 GLS, was approved to be released from the New Mexico Cotton Breeding Program in 2018, and its production for added-value of its seed as feed and food will significantly increase the net income of the New Mexico cotton producers. Furthermore, it is resistant to Fusarium wilt race 4, representing one of the first commercial Upland cotton cultivars with race 4 resistance. It will become the most important source of resistance to race 4 in developing resistant Upland cotton cultivars in the US.

Jinfa Zhang, jinzhang@nmsu.edu, Professor, Plant & Environmental Sciences

Scroll to Top